The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza were constructed over four thousand years ago. The builders were mainly Egyptians, and the building materials were limestone and granite. This ancient pyramid complex also includes the Sphinx, which is located in the Giza Necropolis. The pyramids were the world’s tallest pyramids at the time of their construction, and today they are still considered among the most amazing structures ever built.

Construction began over 4000 years ago

Construction has a long and illustrious history. There is no definite definition of construction, but early humans manipulated their environment to construct temporary structures. They also made tools from stone and animal bones. They used sticks, branches, grass, mud, animal skins, and stone to build.

Workers were mainly Egyptians

The Pyramids of Giza were constructed by a crew of 2,000 men. These workers were organized into four groups. Each group had its own supervisor. The workers lived in barracks with a bakery, a dining room, and sleeping platforms. In ancient times, the pyramid builders were highly organized and had a hierarchy.

The pyramids were not built by slaves but by skilled Egyptians. Some of the workers were bureaucrats and others were farmers. The work force was much larger than what is currently believed. The construction teams likely consisted of skilled Egyptian workers and a number of slaves. The Egyptian workers were highly respected members of society.

The laborers were mostly Egyptians, but some scholars believe that they were peasants or conscripted workers. They were hired on rotational shifts and worked alongside highly skilled craftsmen and pyramid builders.

Building materials were limestone and granite

The two main building materials for the great pyramids of Giza were limestone and granite. The large blocks were heavy at the time, weighing between one and two tons. The stone blocks were cut and shaped using soft copper tools such as chisels. The stones were placed in order and fitted together using a high degree of precision.

The pyramids are made of natural rock. There was no artificial concrete used in their construction. The stone blocks are a pale grey-beige colour, and they contain many small fossils. The outer facing limestone blocks have honeycomb weathering patterns that are easily recognized.

Sphinx is in the Giza Necropolis

The ancient Egyptians were master stoneworkers, and the Sphinx is no exception. While there are some disagreements over the age of the monument, other ancient monuments have stood the test of time. Some experts believe that the Sphinx was originally carved with a different head. In fact, there is evidence that the Sphinx once had a lioness head.

The Sphinx is one of the oldest sculptures from the Old Kingdom period, also known as the Age of the Pyramids. It stands on the west bank of the Nile and depicts a half-man, half-lion creature. It is part of the Giza Necropolis, which also houses the Pyramids of Khufu and Khafre.

Threats to the pyramids

The great pyramids of Giza are threatened by rising groundwater levels and water infiltration from the surrounding suburbs. This is the result of irrigation canals and mass urbanization that surrounds the GPP. The pyramids are built on top of two regional aquifers, one of which is the Khufu Branch. These aquifers range in depth from four to seven meters. In the past, the area surrounding the pyramids was covered with lakes and grasslands. At that time, the Khufu Branch retained 40 percent of its water. It was suitable for pyramid construction because it was deep enough to navigate but low enough to prevent major flooding.

There are also risks of earthquakes. A few strong earthquakes have hit the area in the past, causing minor damage to the pyramids. Seismic events like these can cause large damages. However, the Giza pyramids were built to resist earthquakes