The Science of Pyramid Construction: Weighing the Great Pyramid

^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.}

The Great Pyramid of Giza is an awe-inspiring example of ancient Egyptian ingenuity and architectural prowess. It was built around 2560 BCE during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu. And, it is the oldest and biggest of the three pyramids which make up the Giza pyramid complex. This colossal structure held the record as the world’s tallest human-made structure for over 3,800 years. The current record-holder is the Burj Khalifa in the UAE. The Great Pyramid’s precise construction uses an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks and continues to baffle modern engineers and archaeologists. What they can all agree on, though, is that it is incredible.

Details and Dimensions of the Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Giza originally stood approximately 146.7 meters (481.4 feet) high, and each side of its base measured 230.6 meters (756.4 feet). The construction is extremely precise, with an average discrepancy of only 2.23 inches (58 millimeters) in the length of the sides.

The core structure of the Great Pyramid is primarily composed of limestone blocks. The interior passages were crafted from a finer, light-colored limestone. Enormous granite blocks were used mainly in the King’s Chamber and the relieving chambers above it. They were transported from Aswan, over 559 miles away. These granite stones weigh between 25 to 80 tons each (the size of an adult whale shark or more!). The pyramid’s design includes three known chambers: the unfinished underground chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, and the King’s Chamber, which houses a granite sarcophagus.

The internal layout of the Great Pyramid is complex and contains a series of passages and chambers. The Grand Gallery, leading up to the King’s Chamber, is about 151 feet long (46 meters) and has corbelled walls, rising to a height of approximately 28 feet (8.6 meters). The King’s Chamber measures 34 feet (10.47 meters) in length, 17 feet (5.23 meters) in width, and has a flat roof composed of nine slabs of granite weighing up to 50 tonnes each.

In addition to these, the pyramid’s design includes several shafts. These may have served religious or ventilation purposes, but their exact function remains debatable. The pyramid is also completely aligned to the cardinal points (the four chief directions on the compass; north, south, east, and west).

The detailed architecture supported the Great Pyramid’s structural integrity but also served another purpose. It aligned with the religious and ceremonial purposes it was meant to serve.

Pyramid Materials and Their Origins

The primary materials for pyramid construction were sourced from strategically located quarries. Limestone, the primary material, was predominantly quarried at the Giza Plateau. This plateau has natural limestone deposits. Higher quality limestone, used for the outer casing, came from the Tura quarry, east of Cairo. Granite was used in key architectural elements. It was quarried near Aswan, in the south of Egypt. The Mugattam hills were another critical source of limestone, and basalt and granite were also extracted near Aswan.

Transporting the massive stone blocks required innovative methods. There was no modern machinery to make the job easier! The exact way the Egyptians transported and lifted the stones is still up for debate. But, the most commonly agreed upon and supported method for transportation involved wooden sleds lubricated with water to reduce friction. Huge teams of workers pulled these sleds to the construction site. For longer distances, especially from Aswan, the stones were transported via the Nile using barges. The use of canals and a well-maintained network of roads facilitated the movement of materials from quarries to construction sites.

The tools used in quarrying and shaping the stones were simple yet effective. Copper chisels and saws were utilized to cut softer stones like limestone. Harder stones like granite require more robust methods. One such method is dolerite balls for pounding — dolerite is one of the few things harder than granite. Another tool was a wooden mallet, which was used to drive chisels into the stone. Plumb bobs and set squares ensured the precision of angles and alignments before cutting and also during stone placement. Bow drills and copper blades were used to create detailed carving and intricate architectural designs.

Great Pyramid Weight Calculations

The Great Pyramid of Giza consists of approximately 2.3 million stone blocks with an estimated total weight of about 5,750,000 tons. This immense weight is derived from the individual stones, each weighing roughly 2.5 tons on average. Before construction, the dynamic weight of the pyramids was estimated to be between 67.5 to 81 million tons. This is based on the waste rubble from shaping the blocks.

The limestone blocks primarily used in the pyramid’s construction typically weighed around 2.5 tons each. However, the granite blocks used in the King’s Chamber weighed significantly more, ranging from 25 to 80 tons. This weight variation contributed to the complexity of the construction. It made it complicated to position and align the heavier granite blocks.

Theories and Myths Surrounding Construction

The Great Pyramid’s construction continues to fascinate and puzzle historians and archaeologists. The most widely accepted theory involves the use of ramps. This theory explains that the ancient Egyptians constructed long ramps using mudbrick, limestone, or other materials. They used these ramps to transport massive stone blocks to the elevated construction site.

The Counterweight System Theory

According to this theory, the ancient builders used a system of counterweights and levers to raise the heavy stone blocks. The basic principle involves using the weight of one object to lift another of similar weight. In pyramid construction, this would mean using large stone blocks as counterweights to lift other blocks into place.

This system involves a wooden structure that would act as a lever. One end of this lever would be attached to the stone block that needed to be lifted. The other end would be connected to a counterweight. As the counterweight was lowered, it would cause the lever to pivot. This pivoting would then raise the stone block on the other end.

Proponents of this theory argue that it could explain how the ancient Egyptians managed to lift stones weighing several tons. They did this without advanced machinery. They suggest the builders used a series of these counterweight systems. With these, builders could have gradually moved stones up the pyramid during its construction.

This theory has several advantages. It relies on simple physics principles. And these principles were within the realm of understanding for ancient engineers. It also doesn’t require the massive ramps proposed by some other theories. These ramps would have been almost as large as the pyramid itself.

However, like many theories about pyramid construction, the counterweight system theory has its critics. Some argue that while the principle is sound, applying such a system practically on the scale required for the Great Pyramid would have been extremely complex. It would also have been time-consuming.

The Internal Ramp Theory

French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin developed this theory in the early 2000s. According to Houdin’s theory, the pyramid was built from the inside out using an internal ramp system. This ramp would have spiraled up the inside of the pyramid as it was being constructed. The spiraling ramp would allow workers to transport massive limestone blocks to the upper levels. The theory suggests that as each level was completed, the ramp would be enclosed within the structure. And we don’t see evidence of this because the enclosed ramp would leave little trace of its existence.

The internal ramp is proposed to have started at the pyramid’s base. It wound its way up through the interior in a clockwise direction. It would have had a gentle slope of about 7 degrees. This design made it easier for workers to drag or roll heavy stones upwards. The ramp would have turned 90 degrees at each corner of the pyramid, creating a continuous path to the top.

One of the key advantages of this theory is that it addresses some of the problems associated with external ramp theories. External ramps would have needed to be extremely long to maintain a gentle enough slope for transporting heavy blocks. And, they would have required constant extension and modification as the pyramid grew taller. An internal ramp, on the other hand, would have been more efficient and practical.

Houdin’s theory also accounts for the presence of certain anomalies within the pyramid’s structure. For instance, it explains the existence of a peculiar notch in the pyramid’s edge. Houdin believes the notches were used to maneuver blocks around the corners of the internal ramp. Another interesting point was revealed with thermal scanning and muon radiography. These new technologies showed density differences within the pyramid that could potentially correspond to the proposed ramp system.

While the internal ramp theory has gained attention and support from some Egyptologists and engineers, it remains controversial. Critics argue that there is still insufficient physical evidence to conclusively prove the existence of such a ramp.

The Alien Theory

This is, of course, a controversial and widely debated topic. Proponents of this theory suggest that the pyramid’s remarkable precision and engineering feats are evidence. They believe such preciseness could only come about with extraterrestrial involvement in ancient Egyptian civilization.

According to this theory, aliens with advanced technology visited Earth thousands of years ago. They either directly constructed the Great Pyramid or provided the ancient Egyptians with the necessary knowledge and tools to build it. Supporters often point to the pyramid’s precise alignment with cardinal directions. They highlight its originally smooth limestone casing, now mostly gone. They also mention the incredible accuracy in its construction as evidence. Supporters claim these features were beyond the capabilities of ancient humans.

The sheer size and weight of the stones used in the pyramid’s construction are astounding. This is one of the main arguments put forth by alien theorists. Some of the largest blocks weigh up to 80 tons. The theory suggests that moving and placing these massive stones with such precision would have required technology far beyond what the ancient Egyptians had. Proponents argue that anti-gravity devices were used to lift these enormous blocks. And, they believe advanced alien technology must have positioned them.

Another aspect of the alien theory focuses on the complex system of chambers and passageways inside the pyramid. Some theorists claim that these intricate designs serve purposes beyond what would be necessary for a tomb. Instead, they suggest that the pyramid may have been a power plant, a beacon for spacecraft, or a device for communicating with extraterrestrial beings.

It’s important to note that while these theories capture the imagination, they are not supported by mainstream archaeologists or historians. The scientific consensus maintains that the Great Pyramid was built by ancient Egyptians. They used ramps, levers, and other ingenious but terrestrial methods. Extensive archaeological evidence supports the idea that the pyramid was constructed as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu. This construction occurred during the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, around 2560 BCE.

Modern Archaeological Evidence

Recent archaeological findings have provided new insights into the construction techniques of the pyramids. The discovery of papyrus documents at Wadi el-Jarf detailed the logistics of transporting limestone from quarries to the construction site. These documents have been crucial in understanding the daily operations involved in building the Great Pyramid. The muon tomography and infrared thermography have identified potential internal voids within the Great Pyramid. These voids led some researchers to think that the pyramids were built with sophisticated construction techniques that are yet to be fully understood.

FAQS