The sides of the Great Pyramid climb at an angle just shy of 52 degrees, peaking at 480 feet. One of the enduring mysteries is how the ancient Egyptians managed to lift blocks weighing two and a half tons each to such heights, without the use of cranes or modern lifting gear. This question has puzzled even expert Egyptologists like Mark Lehner, who has dedicated 30 years to hands-on study of the pyramids.
Lehner’s approach involves examining where the quarries were and how the ancient builders might have used ramps to transport these colossal stones. While most Egyptologists agree that ramps played a crucial role, the exact design remains debated. Did they use straight ramps, zigzag paths, or spiral routes? The mystery persists because these ramps were dismantled after the pyramid was completed, leaving only fragments of evidence for archaeologists to study.
Once the hefty blocks were in position, the next challenge was fitting them together with precision. The internal stones were usually rough and gaps were filled with rubble and mortar. It’s akin to modern concrete. However, the stones meant to be visible were placed with remarkable accuracy. For instance, the burial chamber in the Great Pyramid showcases meticulously joined blocks. Achieving such precision involved surprisingly basic tools: rods, strings, and rudimentary scrapers made from flint and sandstone. Using these tools, workers could identify and correct imperfections with remarkable accuracy.
In the final construction stages, the rough internal blocks were enveloped by a smooth outer casing of high-grade limestone, transported across the Nile. This polished casing would have made the pyramids dazzle brilliantly in the sun, much like newly fallen snow. Thousands of these outer stones once covered the Great Pyramid of Giza, but most were later taken to construct mosques and castles in Cairo. However, you can still see some of the original casing stones on the cap of Khafre’s pyramid.
Despite their skills and tools, constructing the pyramids was a herculean task, requiring millions of man-hours to complete. Contrary to popular belief, new archaeological findings reveal that the pyramids were not built by armies of slaves. These discoveries are helping to put a face to the skilled and dedicated workers who truly built these iconic structures.
