Giza pyramid complex (also called the Giza Necropolis) is located on the Giza Plateau near the city of Cairo, Egypt. It is located about eight kilometres (5 mi) inland into the desert from the ancient town of Giza on the Nile, and about 25 kilometres (12.5 mi) southwest of Cairo city centre. The Great Pyramid is the only remaining monument of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Major
parts of the complex
Construction of the Great
Pyramid
There have been many theories to expain how the pyramids were
built. These theories include:
- the use of external or outside ramps
- the use of cranes
- the use of an internal or inside ramp. This idea was developed
by Jean-Pierre Houdin, a French architect. He has also made
detailed computer models of the Great Pyramid. Houdin says that the
ramp spirals upward. There is evidence in the notched corners of
the pyramid. Not only was the spiraling internal ramp used, but an
external ramp was probably used to move the bigger blocks. These
are found in the lower half of the pyramid and probably used simple
cranes to lift them.
- the rack and pinion theory developed by Paul Hai. Hai published
his theory on 27 August 2006 as part of an Australian university
assignment. Herodotus of Halicarnassus asked the ancient Egyptians
themselves how the Giza Pyramids had been built. This is a rampless
theory and fully explains the workings of the wooden machines
described by Herodotus. This uses a three wheel step trolley,
climbing steps so that ramps are not needed. In Part One of his
book, the full details are carefully explained with many pictures
and photographs of a working model.
Further
reading
- Lehner, Dr. Mark, "The Complete Pyramids", Thames &
Hudson, 1997. ISBN 0-500-05084-8.
- Manley, Bill (Ed.), "The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient
Egypt", Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05123-2.
- "Mysteries of Egypt" National Geographic Society, 1999.
ISBN 0-7922-9752-0.
- Rhys-Davies, John, "Riddles of the monument builders: Who
built the Sphinx", Time-Life Video, 1995.
- Hai, Paul, "Raising Stone 1: Paul Hai's racks & pinions
theory", 2007, ISBN 978-0-646-47679-7.
Other
websites