The Pyramids of Giza are among the most iconic structures ever created. Built over 4,500 years ago in ancient Egypt, they still raise one of the biggest questions in history.
The history books tell us the pyramids of Giza were built to preserve the bodies of Egyptian kings for eternity. A father (Khufu), his son (Khafra) and grandson (Menkaure) in the 26th century BCE. Despite being studied for centuries, the pyramids of Giza still hold secrets, with hidden voids still being discovered both within and below the pyramids.
Some blocks making up the main structure weighed up to 15 tons. However there are some which make up the kings chamber weighing up to 80 tons. There are about 2.3 million blocks, stacked with millimetre accuracy.
Looking specifically at the Great Pyramid, it's believed to have taken about 20 years to build. It is thought they were built by skilled workers who lived in nearby villages and they were fed, housed, and organised. Likely worked in rotating labour crews. The granite used in the inner chambers was likely transported from Aswan 800 km away. This material is extremely hard and required advanced techniques to cut, transport via the Nile river and position. Ancient paintings show workers pouring water on sand to reduce friction.
This was an unimaginable industrial-scale operation in the ancient world. My calculations assuming the great pyramid took the suggested 20 years to build equates to 315 blocks a day, or 26 blocks an hour ((each weighing at least 2 tones and made of extremely hard granite). Each stone would maybe need up to 50 people working a 12 hour daylight shift. That's up to 16,000 people working flat out 12 hours a day for 20 years without a day off. That's per pyramid remember each stone has to travel 800km and be lifted and slotted into place with millimetre precision.
Given what seems an impossible task some theories have even suggested the technology needed was too advanced for humans and that the pyramids were built with extra-terrestrial help. Few figures have shaped public imagination about this theory more than Erich von Däniken. In his 1968 book Chariots of the Gods. He believed aliens provided advanced knowledge and suggested it was “taught” by extra-terrestrial visitors, even possibly unknown energy or levitation methods. Interpretations of his theory proposed pyramids may have served as landing markers, energy devices, communication beacons.
