Introduction
The pyramids of Egypt are undeniably full of mysteries, especially regarding how they were managed to be built. However, it seems easier to focus on the number of pyramids, instead of their architecture or engineering, because of the existence of historical texts and archaeological data found within these pyramids that could explain their purpose (Rawlison & Gilman 59-67).
Most historians and scientists agree that the pyramids were made as a monument for a deceased pharaoh. The pyramids would serve as the ruler’s palace in the afterlife, so they were made with highly decorated rooms and passages filled with worldly possessions. The reason for this custom is mostly attributed to beliefs of the ancient Egyptians about the life after death (Cunningham & Reich 12). This paper provides a history and the evolution of the rituals and the customs of the ancient Egyptians regarding afterlife. Also, the history and the origins of the earliest pyramids could provide explanations for the pharaohs’ obsession of building the grandest pyramids. The evolution of the burial tombs will be discussed in the context with how pyramid building became a trend to the pharaohs.
The Evolution of the Pyramids
It is undisputed that the ancient Egyptians' concept of the afterlife was very unique. Considered as the most striking aspect of the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians, their obsession with immortality and the life after death focused on offering the hope of survival in the next world. For the Egyptians, death is when a judgment takes place, and to those who wish to survive in the next world shall prove themselves to the test. Needless to say, ancient Egyptians believe in the concept of the afterlife (Kuiper 152; Mark n.p.).
Burial rituals emerged as a reason to provide the necessities of the dead to continue a life after death. At first, the funeral rituals consisted only of putting the remains of the dead inside jars or vases, and were eventually buried within their houses. However, as the concept of the afterlife became more established, early Egyptians equipped the dead with tools and earthly belongings that could help them start a new life in the next world. Thus, ancient Egyptians assumed that equipping more of earthly belongings may increase the chances of having a better afterlife. Therefore, wealthy and royal people buried their dead with better belongings such as vases, jewelries, and garments (Kuiper 152; Mark n.p.).
Eventually, burial grounds evolved from simple underground tombs, into big compartments called mastaba, a rectangular, mud-brick tomb that contains an underground chamber that houses the coffin known as the sarcophagus. The designs and size of mastabas vary depending on social status, however, it is important to note that most Egyptians, if not all, attempted to construct a big and well-designed mastaba. This is because ancient Egyptians believed that the mastaba will eventually be the dwelling place of the dead in the next world (Kuiper 152).
During the next period in time, more sophisticated tombs evolved as more wealthy families including royals dreamed on having a very well-designed mastaba complete with all the amenities the dead would need in the next world, such as bathrooms, wash basins, and food supplies preserved in jars. And with the constant evolution of burial tombs, eventually, mastabas became a crucial key in the development of the colossal structures that we all praise: the Pyramids of Egypt (Kuiper 152-153).
The First Pyramid: A Great Mastaba
It was in the year 2667 BC that a new pharaoh sat on the throne as the second ruler of the Old Kingdom period of Egypt. His name was Djoser (also spelled as Joser or Zoser), and would establish an image as a wise and pious leader. However, upon owning the crown, one of his first orders was the construction his final resting place, thus, began the construction of a tomb that will become an inspiration and the foundation of the wave of pyramid builders in Egypt (Engineering an Empire).
It was his vizier Imhotep who headed the construction of the pharaoh’s final resting place. Most royal tombs during that time, including the tombs Djoser’s predecessors, were big and lavished with earthly materials, however, Djoser’s tomb complex was ordered to be made out of stones instead of mud-bricks. Thus, to proceed with the architecture at Saqqara, the construction of the tomb complex required the use of around 10,000 men, while thousands of women were drafted for keeping the men properly fed and clothed (Rawlinson & Gilman 59-67; Engineering an Empire).
With the workforce in place, the construction of the tomb complex began with underground tomb complex packed with a series of underground passages and subterranean rooms that are highly decorated. These underground passages and subterranean tombs would serve as the pharaoh’s palace once he is resurrected (Rawlinson & Gilman 59; Engineering an Empire).
With the constant supply of materials, and because of the tradition that the construction of the pharaoh’s tomb must continue until his death, Imhotep decided to construct a structure on top of the mastaba. This structure was planned to be made out of stone, carved from a hill into symmetrical slabs. At first, the plan was to construct a layered structure, with the one layer to be placed on top of the mastaba, and another layer on top of it, and again, another layer on top of it, thus, forming a four-layered structure. However, because of the steady supply of stone bricks, Imhotep decided to expand the project by expanding the first four layers and adding two more. The finished construction gave birth to a colossal structure unlike anything the Egyptians ever saw. This ground-breaking architecture was known as the “Step Pyramid”, and would set the stepping stone of the new architectural and engineering innovation of Egypt. It would set as an inspiration for the next generation of pharaohs, which would ultimately lead to a wave of pyramid builders that would eventually leave the deserts of Egypt full of pyramids (Rawlinson & Gilman 59-67; Engineering an Empire; Kuiper 38-41).
The Pyramid Builders
After the construction of the breath-taking structure at Saqqara, the Step Pyramid became an inspiration to a lot of pharaohs. The pharaohs who ruled Egypt after Djoser wished of constructing a majestic engineering feat surpassing if not similar to, what Imhotep did.
After the death of Djoser, a man named Snefru (also known as Snofru or Soris) took over the kingdom and gave birth to the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom period of Egypt. Wanting to imitate the legacy of Djoser, Snefru attempted on constructing his own pyramid at Meydoum. The initial plan was similar to the architecture planned by Imhotep, but after the construction of the eight layers, Snefru wanted a smoother surface, so he commissioned to fill in the steps from top to bottom with packing stones, after which, a layer of polished white limestones will cover the insides. When finished, his pyramid would have a smooth surface. However, the structure was flawed, and as from what archaeologists suggest, the pyramid must have experienced a collapse. Nonetheless, the attempt gave birth to what we call as the “Meydoum Pyramid”. Abandoning the previous construction, Snefru commissioned another pyramid building, but this time, at Dashur. However, they were faced with another problem. Halfway through the project, the engineers saw cracks inside the rooms and passages. They believed it must have been caused by an unstable bedrock, and so, the issue was handled by expanding the base, but changing the slope the sides. Thus, a bent-looking pyramid was born and was eventually named as the “Bent Pyramid” (Kuiper 41-43; Rawlinson & Gilman 59-67; Cunningham & Reich 13-14; Engineering an Empire).
Unsatisfied with the results of the first two pyramid building projects, Snefru pushed forward into one last pyramid project by channeling all of Egypt’s resources, money and manpower for his legacy. This time, Snefru succeeded in making the first smooth-sided pyramid, and will later be known as the “Red Pyramid”. The Red Pyramid’s success was because of the strengthened base made out of large blocks of superior limestone and a more gradual angle of inclination. At last, Snefru’s quest for perfection gave birth to the first true smooth-sided pyramid, and the construction of the Red Pyramid was copied by the next generations, creating bigger smooth-sided pyramids (Kuiper 41-43; Engineering an Empire).
After Snefru’s death, his son and successor, Khufu, took the crown and commissioned the creation of the biggest pyramid in Egypt, the Great Pyramid at Giza. The perfect geometry and size of the Great Pyramid became so popular throughout the world and was named as one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Its smooth surface is still intact today. The success of the construction of the Great Pyramid can be attributed to the fact that Egypt was the height of wealth and power. With this, every new pharaoh ordered the construction of their own pyramids, filling the desert of Egypt. Thus, the first wave of pyramid builders began. New waves of pyramid builders will then emerge from time to time. Thus, the last of the pyramids was believed to have constructed in the 1700 BC (Kuiper 43-47; Rawlinson & Gilman 59-67; Cunningham & Reich 13-14; Engineering an Empire).
Summary
In summary, the evolution of the pyramids can be traced back to ancient funeral rituals. After the development of the mastaba, the royal families sought to create highly decorated and grand mastabas. Thus, when Djoser took the crown, he ordered the creation of a grand mastaba made out of stones. Then the first pyramid was constructed and was named the Step Pyramid because of its structure. This first pyramid became inspirational that after Djoser died, the successor, Snefru, wanted to create a perfect and smooth-sided pyramid. Although with two failures, Snefru succeeded, and the Red Pyramid became so influential that almost a millennia later, smooth-sided pyramids were a trend. Thus, waves of pyramid builders emerged from time to time.
References:
Cunningham, Lawrence & Reich, John. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, 7th edition. Boston: Wadsworth and Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.
Engineering an Empire: Egypt. Dir. Christopher Cassel. Narrated by Michael Caroll. KPI Productions, 2006. Film.
Kuiper, Kathleen. Ancient Egypt: From Prehistory to the Islamic Conquest. New York: Britannica Educational Publishing in association with Rosen Educational Services, LLC, 2011. Print.
Mark, Joshua. “Ancient Egyptian Burial.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, 19 January 2013. Web. 27 November 2014. Retrieved from < http://www.ancient.eu/Egyptian_Burial/ >.
Rawlinson, George & Gilman, Arthur. Ancient Egypt, 10th edition. London: T Fisher Unwin Ltd, 20 April 2005. Web. 27 November 2014. Retrieved from < http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15663/15663-h/15663-h.htm >.
