The Egyptian Pyramid Mysteries

Prepared by : (Group 17)

1 Muhammad Lutfil Bin Dzolkarnain (66837)

2 Long Muhammad Sulaiman (66515)

3 Ahmad Munir Bin Mahadzir (68448)

4 Mohamad Nor Arief bin Norazmi (66668)

THE COUNTRY OF EGYPT

Egyptian pyramid has been long regarded as one of the seven famous wonders in the world. In fact, it is the oldest wonder to be listed in the list. The existence of the pyramid has made the modern world ponder around the pyramid and made a series of archaeological expeditions to find wonders around the country of Egypt. Egypt is a Mediterranean country that is considered as one of the countries in the world that is transcontinental. Egypt’s land spans from the Northern East corner of Africa to Southwest Asia connected by a land bridge that the Sinai Peninsula had formed. (Goldschmidt, 1988, p.5)

Egypt’s history has a rich background to lean into. The Egyptian heritage traces back to the 4^th Millennia BCE. Ancient Egypt is considered the cradle of human civilization. The reason why is because the Egyptians from the ancient eras had developed many of the humans’ early developments such as agriculture, urbanization, writing, organized religion, and central government. There are many monuments that can be seen that are a result or rather proof of what the ancient Egyptians had been developing. One of the famous monuments is the Great Sphinx. There are also ruins in the area of Memphis, Thebes, Karnak, and the Valley of Kings. (Goldschmidt, 1988,)

2. THE PYRAMIDS

The pyramid is considered as a structure where its outer surfaces are triangular and the structure converges to a single point at the top. Generally when we are talking about pyramids with our peers or acquaintances. The conversation usually will refer to the Pyramids of Egypt. However, do we know what is the purpose of the pyramid? Maybe, the creation of the pyramid is simply created to fulfill the ego of humans.

(Photo 1 : Djoser Pyramid)

(Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.4840670.1583441022!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_1020/image.jpg )

The first identified pyramid was built for the pharaoh Djoser who was identified as the first or second king of the third dynasty of the Egyptian Old Kingdom. According to Lehner(2008), it is believed that Djoser has ruled for 19 biennial taxation years which is 38 years. He has ruled long enough to ensure that his pyramid was complete in his lifetime. The pyramid that was built for Djoser is known as the Step Pyramid. Djoser’s pyramid architecture can be seen as distinct from the other pyramids in Egypt as the pyramid is seen with stairs as its architectural feature. However, it provides the basis of calculation for the bases of the future pyramids in its time.

(Photo 2 : Pyramids of Giza)

(source : https://s27363.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Pyramids-of-Giza-Guide.jpg.optimal.jpg)

The most notable pyramid in the history of Egyptian pyramids would be the Pyramid of Giza. The great pyramid is also known as the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of Khufu. The Great Pyramid of Giza is known to be the largest and the oldest in the Giza pyramid complex which also houses two other pyramids. (Lehner,2008) The Great Pyramid of Giza is known to be the oldest wonders of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also the one to remain largely intact and considered well preserved compared to its age.

3. PYRAMID AS A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL

Pyramids serve as religious symbols to society in the past. They use the pyramid to offer the offering to the god that they believe. There are a lot of types of offerings that society in the past offer such as human, valuables and animal remains. Usually the type of sacrifice or offering is usually the same to all pyramids in this world. Pappas (2020) mention that the offerings include pieces of obsidian and pottery as well as animal remains. As we can see that the society in the past also made the same offering at the Pyramid of the Sun which is the largest structure in Teotihuacan, an archaeological site northeast of Mexico City. The pyramid of Giza was built for their king around 4500 year ago. It serves as a burial ground but the Egyptian pharaoh believes in the afterlife. Handwerk (2020), says that Egypt's pharaohs expected to become gods in the afterlife. To prepare for the next world they erected temples to the gods and massive pyramid tombs for themselves—filled with all the things each ruler would need to guide and sustain himself in the next world. They were all associated with the god of Sun, Ra. So in order to ensure their death will turn them to divine, they created Pyramids, which one of the famous is Giza Pyramids. Based on History.com Editor (2019) the pyramid’s smooth and angled side resemblance ray of sun, and to help pharaoh’s soul to rise in heaven and associate with the Ra. it is not at all surprising that the Egyptians sought the power of the benben in their funerary monuments and the text on the interior of the pyramid also shows the present of religion in the past. Handwerk (2020) from History website conclude that pyramid builders began to inscribe written accounts of events in the king’s reign on the walls of the burial chamber and the rest of the pyramid’s interior. Known as pyramid texts, these are the earliest significant religious compositions known from ancient Egypt. So, we can see that when the archeology excavation was executed on the pyramid of Giza, the archeologist wondered about the religion in the past.

4. ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES

The discoveries of pyramids led us to many archaeological artefacts, ecofacts, scripture and the functions of pyramids itself. Famously, people often thought that a pyramid is only a tomb for pharaohs. Furthermore, once a pharaoh dies, his body will be preserved and things that he needs in the afterlife were buried with him. So, a mummified body of pharaoh can be found in the pyramid along with other items. However, there are also few things that have been excavated from pyramids, which one of them is ancient scripture.

Ancient scripture tells much necessary information to archaeologists and historians, providing information of the purposes and reasons. Book from James P. Allen, titled The Ancient Pyramid Texts is a book consisting of ancient pyramid texts from different pyramids. The pyramid text was first discovered in 1880, and led to more excavation after the discoveries (Allen, 2005). The text consists of mostly rituals and spells, which Allen (2005) wrote as “ The Pyramid Texts contain three major groups of such spells: the Offering and Insignia Rituals, the Resurrection Ritual, and the Morning Ritual.” (p.5). Also, the scriptures were about the pharaoh’s relationship with Osiris and Sun (Ra), the two Gods. The texts, mostly about the journey of the pharaohs in afterlife to become an akh, a spiritual entity, or enable their “ka” (life force) and “ba” (personality) to become one again after death.

Besides, one famous artefact that people typically saw and thought about pharaohs is the Tutankhamun Death Mask.

Tutankhamun Death Mask were found by the American archaeologist, Howard Carter on 28th October 1925. He wrote in his diary:

“The pins were removed and the lid was raised. The penultimate scene was disclosed -a very neatly wrapped mummy of the young king, with a golden mask of sad but tranquil expression, symbolizing Osiris. The similitude of the youthful Tut.Ankh.Amen, until now known only by name, amid that sepulchral silence, made us realize the past.” (Carter, 1925)

(Photo 3 & 4 : Tutankhamun Death Mask)

source : 3 : https://www.ancient.eu/uploads/images/1048.jpg?v=1569516799 4 : https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/cairos-egyptian-museum-in-10-artefacts/

The beautiful mask resembles the wealth of the pharaoh. The long beard, and the inscription on the back complete one of the greatest art in history. The discoveries of pyramids have opened up society’s eyes on the importance of archaeology, in explaining us to the great and mysterious human past.

References

Allen, J. P., & Der Manuelian, P. (Eds.). (2005). The ancient Egyptian pyramid texts (No. 23). Brill.

Carter, H. (1925-1926). Excavation journals and diaries made by Howard Carter and Arthur Mace: Howard Carter’s excavation diaries. The Griffith Institute. http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringTut/journals-and-diaries/season-4/journal.html

Editors, H. (2019). Egyptian Pyramids. History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids

Handwerk, B. (2020). Pyramids at Giza. National Geographic. Retrieved 26 June 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/archaeology/giza-pyramids/

Goldschmidt, A. (1988). Modern Egypt: The Formation of a Nation-State. Boulder, CO: Westview Press

Lehner, M. (2008). The Complete Pyramids. New York: Thames & Hudson.

Marzouk, S. (2017, January 27). Cairo’s Egyptian Museum in 10 artefacts. Culture Trip. https://theculturetrip.com/africa/egypt/articles/cairos-egyptian-museum-in-10-artefacts/

Pappas, S., 2020. Ancient Offering Discovered Beneath Pyramid Of The Sun.

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