Importance of Pyramids
Pyramids remain one of the world's unexplained mysteries although much more is now known about why they were built. Found in Mexico and Egypt, they leave a legacy of architecture and are not only a testament to ancient civilizations' mathematical skills, they're a vital key to the past.
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Origins
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The first Egyptian pyramid was built in 2750 B.C. They originate from the ancient creation myth in which the Sun God Ra rose from a primeval ocean, leaving a big, cone-shaped mound of earth in his wake. The mound of earth is physically represented in the shape of the pyramids.
Mexican pyramids were not only of religious importance. For the Aztecs they also showed military strengt; in Mayan culture they symbolized the all important and life-giving mountains.
Calculations
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The Great Pyramid of Giza is built at the exact geodetic center of earth's landmass (see References 2) The pyramids were precise structures built to exact measurements and plans. The compass point of an Egyptian pyramid is so finely tuned to north that it can be used as a reference by modern compasses.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is a good example of mathematical precision. The sides are almost completely equal sizes, only varying by under 2 inches.
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Society
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Fueling fascination in the pyramids is the detailed information they provide about ancient civilizations. In Egypt, for example, they weren't built by slaves as originally thought but a permanent workforce of up to 5000 men. The organization of such enormous teams had to be as efficient as any modern workplace, requiring complex scheduling and bureaucracy.
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References
- Photo Credit great pyramid of giza image by Sammy from Fotolia.com great pyramid image by Svetlana Privezentseva from Fotolia.com
