Why did the Egyptians build Pyramids?
The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They preserved the bodies of the dead by mummification. Members of the royal family were kept in the pyramids which were actually grand graves made for the pharaohs. Scientists have found mummies in many pyramids. The Egyptian empire arose 5000 years ago when the first Pharaoh united the people in the south and north. The pyramids and the temple of Abu Simbel, which have already been converted once, witness the highly advanced civilization of the Egyptians.
The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They preserved the bodies of the dead by mummification. Members of the royal family were kept in the pyramids which were actually grand graves made for the pharaohs. Scientists have found mummies in many pyramids. The Egyptian empire arose 5000 years ago when the first Pharaoh united the people in the south and north. The pyramids and the temple of Abu Simbel, which have already been converted once, witness the highly advanced civilization of the Egyptians.
How were the pyramids built?
The pyramids are massive graves built by the Pharaohs. They wanted to make sure that they were indestructible. Everything was planned keeping that in mind. They got rocks weighing more than 2500 kg from quarries. More than two million such rocks were needed for building the pyramid of Cheops. About 4000-8000 labourers worked constantly at the construction site. Around the pyramid was a ramp, on which the stones were carried upwards on a kind of sledge. the king died, food, clothes, furniture, and small servant figures were laid beside him for his life after death. Since robbers looted the graves, the Pharaohs got themselves buried deep in rock after about 1550 BC in the Valley of the Kings.
The pyramids are massive graves built by the Pharaohs. They wanted to make sure that they were indestructible. Everything was planned keeping that in mind. They got rocks weighing more than 2500 kg from quarries. More than two million such rocks were needed for building the pyramid of Cheops. About 4000-8000 labourers worked constantly at the construction site. Around the pyramid was a ramp, on which the stones were carried upwards on a kind of sledge. the king died, food, clothes, furniture, and small servant figures were laid beside him for his life after death. Since robbers looted the graves, the Pharaohs got themselves buried deep in rock after about 1550 BC in the Valley of the Kings.
What is a mummy?
The Egyptians believed that after death, the soul would wander in the world. For this reason, the dead body must be maintained. This was done by the process of mummification, Embalmers took out the internal organs and dried the body. They then made the skin flexible by applying oil and gave back the body its shape by filling it with sawdust and winding it with linen straps. Only the Pharaohs and the rich could afford this. All the others were buried in the desert.
The Egyptians believed that after death, the soul would wander in the world. For this reason, the dead body must be maintained. This was done by the process of mummification, Embalmers took out the internal organs and dried the body. They then made the skin flexible by applying oil and gave back the body its shape by filling it with sawdust and winding it with linen straps. Only the Pharaohs and the rich could afford this. All the others were buried in the desert.
Who were the Pharaohs?
The word "Pharaoh' comes from per aa meaning large house The Egyptian rulers were called Pharaohs from about 150o BC. The Pharaoh was worshipped like a God. He was the topmost judge and the supreme commander of the people. One of the most famous pharaohs was Ramses ll. He built the temple of Abu Simbel in order to show his power in the southern part of the country. The Pharaoh Cheops built the Great Pyramids of Giza. Almost all graves have been robbed by treasure seekers. The grave of the young ruler Tutankhamen, discovered in 1922, was the only grave in which the archaeologists found golden grave furnishings.
The word "Pharaoh' comes from per aa meaning large house The Egyptian rulers were called Pharaohs from about 150o BC. The Pharaoh was worshipped like a God. He was the topmost judge and the supreme commander of the people. One of the most famous pharaohs was Ramses ll. He built the temple of Abu Simbel in order to show his power in the southern part of the country. The Pharaoh Cheops built the Great Pyramids of Giza. Almost all graves have been robbed by treasure seekers. The grave of the young ruler Tutankhamen, discovered in 1922, was the only grave in which the archaeologists found golden grave furnishings.
Why was the temple of Abu Simbel relocated?
When the Aswan High Dam was built on the River Nile in 1970 , large parts of south Egypt got flooded. As a result, the inhabitants of these regions had shifted elsewhere. Both the rocky temples of Abu Simbel also faced the threat of sinking in floods, The UNESCO, which has been entrusted by the United Nations to preserve the cultural heritage of the world, got the temples relocated. To do this, they were cut in blocks each weighing a ton and were reassembled at a new location.
When the Aswan High Dam was built on the River Nile in 1970 , large parts of south Egypt got flooded. As a result, the inhabitants of these regions had shifted elsewhere. Both the rocky temples of Abu Simbel also faced the threat of sinking in floods, The UNESCO, which has been entrusted by the United Nations to preserve the cultural heritage of the world, got the temples relocated. To do this, they were cut in blocks each weighing a ton and were reassembled at a new location.
Why was the Nile so important?
The River Nile flows through Egypt, which is very important for the country and makes it rich. A large part of Egypt is covered by desert. It hardly rains here but the country gets enough rains during the monsoons. During that period enough water gets collected in the River Nile. Earlier, the increased water levels would often lead to floods. In place of being harmful, these floods brought fertile soil to Egypt and guaranteed a good crop, In addition, Nile was an important transportation route and a major source of fish. This was the case till about 40 years ago. In 1970, a huge dam was built on the river in south of Egypt and everything changed.
The River Nile flows through Egypt, which is very important for the country and makes it rich. A large part of Egypt is covered by desert. It hardly rains here but the country gets enough rains during the monsoons. During that period enough water gets collected in the River Nile. Earlier, the increased water levels would often lead to floods. In place of being harmful, these floods brought fertile soil to Egypt and guaranteed a good crop, In addition, Nile was an important transportation route and a major source of fish. This was the case till about 40 years ago. In 1970, a huge dam was built on the river in south of Egypt and everything changed.
