The ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife awaits a person after death. In order for it to be successful, a number of conditions had to be strictly observed. The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul of a person (ka) continues to live after death only if the body (ba) remains intact. Therefore, it was so important to keep the mummy. For ordinary people, simple tombs are built, for the nobility - mastabas, and for the pharaohs, even during their lifetime - huge pyramids with small hard-to-reach chambers, where a sarcophagus with a mummy and everything needed for "eternal" life were placed.
The "ba" needs a dwelling - a tomb. She is inviolable: anyone who harms her will be cursed by the dead and punished by the gods. So that the deceased did not need anything in the afterlife, the walls of the tomb were covered with numerous reliefs and paintings. Their task is to replace for "ka" what surrounded a person on earth.
Sometimes they built rock-cut tombs with a façade in the form of a relief on the surface of the rock, reminiscent of living quarters in their interior decoration, in other cases, mastabas and pyramids, which were erected in the form of a stone tomb over underground burial chambers up to 30 m deep.
Mastaba (in Arabic - a bench) had, as a rule, the shape of a truncated pyramid. The mastabas, most often erected near the pyramids, were located in regular rows and were oriented, like the pyramids themselves, to the cardinal points, forming "cities of the dead."
Initially, the pyramids arose as a result of a stepped adjustment of the mastaba. So it arose around 2800 BC. e. one of the oldest monumental structures made of stone in the world is the step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, 60 m high. It is a rectangle in plan with sides of 107 and 116 m. Later, the pyramids had a square at the base.
The pyramids of the pharaohs Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin are dwellings intended for the afterlife of the rulers. The most famous of the dozens of pyramids that have survived to this day, located between Cairo and Fayum in a strip about 60 km long, include pyramids built in the third millennium BC. e. in Giza.
The largest (with an area of 52,900 sq. m.) and the oldest of them, the pyramid of Cheops is 1.5 times higher than, for example, the Cathedral of St. Vita in Prague. It was built from many stone blocks weighing up to 2.5 tons. In total, more than 2.5 million cubic meters were required for its construction. m stone. Outside, the pyramids were lined with carefully crafted stone slabs, which are preserved in small quantities on the top of the Khafre pyramid. The tomb of Cheops was built by the architect Hemiun in the 27th century. BC e. near Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt. In an effort to express the idea of the exclusivity of the pharaoh, the inviolability of his power, belonging to the rank of gods, unconditional and absolute rulers of man, Hemiun chose a place for construction so that it was visible from everywhere. One hundred thousand people built it for 20 years: they broke out stone blocks, hewed them, dragged them to the construction site with the help of ropes.
Hemiun, who knew mathematics, astronomy and other exact sciences, found the only true proportions of the pyramid. Imagine it narrower at the base - it will appear taller, but lose its stability; with a wider base, the feeling of grandeur, upward aspiration will disappear. Thus, geometry was not at all alien to art.
The latest of the Giza pyramid complex and the smallest is the Pyramid of Menkaure, once faced with polished granite. Huge pyramidal structures are not buildings, but monuments with burial crypts and long-plundered treasuries inside.
Lost Tombs of Egypt
At the word “Egypt”, we are presented not only with modern resorts, but also with “grey-haired, like the world, antiquity”, the great pyramids, from which “forty centuries” of history look at us, the Sphinx, Luxor, Abu Simbel ... It seems that Egypt, like no other country, all in the past. And the past is thoroughly studied by archaeologists. The same pyramids are not birch bark letters, you cannot hide them in the ground. They are all discovered, described, recalculated. Is that left to look for some hiding places, secret passages inside the pyramids. Everything else has long been known. All discoveries have been made. And what is the use of an archaeologist to hasten to Egypt? Meanwhile, the news reports never cease to amaze. Every few months in the Nile country they find either a pyramid, or a tomb, or, at worst, a mummy or a sarcophagus. Most of the discoveries are made in Saqqara, which has become almost the "archaeological capital" of Egypt. So what is there in Saqqara?
... Once upon a time, on the border of Upper and Lower Egypt, there was the city of Memphis, "The Scales of Both Earths" (this poetic name of Memphis is often found in ancient Egyptian texts). It was the capital of the country during the era of the Old Kingdom, in the III millennium BC.
In the first centuries of our era, Memphis gradually became empty. People left him. When the Arabs came here, the ruins of the city became a huge quarry for them. From the stone collected here, over time, the new capital of Egypt grew - nearby Cairo.
The ruins of Memphis have disappeared over the centuries. Only the grandiose “city of the dead” remained, which neither the new rulers of the country nor ordinary people ever dared to disturb again (only robbers visited there for their feasible bribe). 20 kilometers from Cairo, on the west bank of the Nile, is the necropolis of Saqqara. This is one of the most monumental monuments of ancient Egyptian civilization. For three thousand years, prominent people of Memphis were buried here - kings and generals, officials and scribes. Many tombs of those ancient times have not yet been discovered, waiting in the wings for discovery. For archaeologists, this is a real “conveyor of glory”. Ancient tombs and mummies, one by one, are removed from the thickness of the sand, like rabbits from an illusionist's hat.
Pyramid of Djoser
The whole history of Egypt is briefly, exactly in outline, recorded in this underground "book of the dead." People began to be buried in Saqqara during the 1st Dynasty, almost 5,000 years ago. The oldest burials found here are located in the northern part of the necropolis, at the edge of the desert. These are mastabas, a kind of rectangular superstructure over the grave, built of raw brick and reminiscent of a person's earthly dwelling. Their architecture is similar to Mesopotamian, because both there and here the main material is still clay, raw brick. This is where the similarity ends - along the banks of the Nile, ridges of limestone hills stretched for many kilometers, from where it was possible to take stone for construction.
Here is one of the pharaohs orders to overlay his tomb with granite slabs. For another king, all of its ground part is erected from limestone slabs. But only under the III dynasty finally triumphs the main material of Egyptian culture - stone. In its processing, the Egyptians achieve amazing skill.
Almost all types of tombs known to the ancient Egyptians can be found in Saqqara: the step pyramid of Djoser, the classical pyramids of the 5th and 6th dynasties, shaft and gallery-type tombs, as well as numerous mastabas.
Excavations have been going on here for a century and a half. But the opening season is far from over. What can not be found here! In the last three decades alone, 45 tombs have been discovered. Let's look at some of the remarkable finds made recently.
So, in the summer of 2010, two tombs were discovered to the west of the pyramid of Djoser, distinguished by their magnificent decoration. Both of them belong to the reign of the kings of the VI dynasty (2318-2168 BC). This is perhaps one of the most beautiful tombs built in the era of the Old Kingdom, said Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. Special admiration of scientists caused two false doors, covered with colorful paintings, which are surprisingly well preserved. Their paints glow brightly, as if applied recently. Similar doors were painted in Egypt on the walls of the tombs of kings and prominent officials. It was believed that through them the soul of the deceased is removed to the afterlife. The inscriptions on the doors preserved the names of the people buried here. This is Shenduai and Khonsu, father and son. The first during his lifetime was the chief scribe of the pharaoh and "overseer of the expeditions." His son eventually also became chief scribe, and was also a trustee of the fine arts. According to Zahi Hawass, these tombs were not plundered in antiquity, as they were covered with a layer of sand.
A little earlier, in May 2010, archaeologists discovered in Saqqara the tomb of the mayor of Memphis, Ptahmes, which was considered lost for more than 100 years. Then it was reconnoitered by robbers who stole several panels with reliefs from its walls. And then the “curse of the pharaohs” came true, if I may say so in relation not to the king, but to one of his officials. A young, angry Tutankhamen a few decades later destroyed, according to legend, almost the entire expedition of Howard Carter. The same official seemed to have collected, as arrears, everything that was in his tomb with the walls together, and hid it in the "bins of sand." Or to put it more simply: huge sand dunes covered the tomb so that for many decades archaeologists searched for it and could not find it.
In early 2010, French archaeologists unearthed the tomb of Behenu, the wife of one of the pharaohs of the VI dynasty, Piopi I or Piopi II. On the walls of her burial chamber, 10x5 meters in size, the so-called "pyramid texts" were preserved - ritual formulas and spells designed to ensure a safe journey to the afterlife. These texts were undoubtedly addressed to Queen Bekhen. Among the ruins of the pyramid erected for her, her statue and a sarcophagus were also found, in which, however, there was no mummy. It is worth noting that most of the pyramids of the VI dynasty are located in Saqqara. Since 1988, seven pyramids built for the queens of this dynasty have been excavated here, including the second one with “pyramid texts”.
In the summer of 2008, archaeologists discovered the pyramid of Pharaoh Menkauhor, a little-known ruler of the 5th dynasty who reigned over Egypt for eight years. The German archaeologist Karl Richard Lepsius mentioned it among his discoveries back in 1842 (only in the vicinity of Memphis, he studied and described 64 pyramids). He called it a “headless pyramid” because it had no upper part (probably, the inhabitants of the surrounding villages over the centuries dismantled the entire top of the tomb, using it as material for their dwellings). However, this stronghold was soon covered with sand. For almost a century and a half, her search continued. And finally, scientists managed to unearth the foundation of the lost pyramid of Lepsius - it was hidden under a layer of sand 8 meters high.
Judging by these discoveries, Saqqara still holds many secrets. Obviously, the white spots on her map are not empty lots at all. It just hasn't been excavated until now. Zahi Hawass believes that no more than a third of the necropolis in Saqqara has been explored so far. “I believe there are quite a few pyramids that we have not been able to find yet,” he admits. So, the time of archaeological discoveries continues.
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Many legends and mysteries are associated with the ancient Egyptian rulers. Archaeologists and lovers of ancient history were constantly interested in the graves and tombs of the pharaohs. And no wonder, because these are real treasures.
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Pharaoh's tomb: interesting facts
The pharaoh, who was literally equated with a deity, was considered the supreme ruler of ancient Egypt. He was sacredly revered and respected during his lifetime, and after his death they also showed a lot of honors, especially during the funeral. The tombs were equipped according to special schemes; they still know how to keep their secrets and secrets.
For example, they searched for the tomb of Tutankhamen for six years, and when the archaeologists were already completely desperate, when the hope of finding a secret door was lost, a miracle happened. The tomb was not at all where it was supposed to be found. In 1922, the search was successful, and then many years of careful excavation, autopsy, and so on followed. You really should take the time to read a thorough description of the tomb of Tutankhamun, in which the mummy alone is striking in its size and luxury. When scientists dug out the entrance, the wall was walled up, but traces of robbers immediately became visible inside. No one can explain why they did not take out an uncountable amount of treasures from the tomb of the young ruler. It is unlikely that they were not found, most likely, another mystery is involved here. Inside the rooms there was so much gold, jewelry, dishes, clothes, shoes, interior items, symbols of royal power, chariots, ships, that the head of the expedition had to stop excavations and go to negotiate with the authorities. Also found were two bodies of girls, the daughters of the pharaoh, who were born dead. To take out the treasures, it was necessary to build a separate railroad to the grave.
Egyptian legends say that Tutankhamun ruled for only a few years and died at the age of 18-19, still a very young boy. But they buried the pharaoh with great honors, he was the last ruler of his dynasty.
They talked a lot about deaths, allegedly related to the excavations of the grave of the famous Tutankhamun. Many have been cursed. But is this really so, or is it just fiction of journalists, historians and other lovers of spicy stories? There was indeed an inscription on the wall of the tomb that death threatens those who dare to disturb the peace of the sleeping Tutankhamen. After the well-known excavation of the grave, many members of the archaeological team and their close relatives or friends died within 10 years. A series of deaths attracted the attention of the press and sensational news spread around the world. But many archaeologists were already old, someone had asthma, and someone after the discovery lived for more than a dozen years. So there is no reason to believe in the non-existent curse of the pagan gods. Although, of course, one cannot exclude the fact that a special fungus is common in the tomb, there are many radioactive substances, poisons, and the mummy itself is thoroughly saturated with harmful bacteria. Still here you need to take into account the musty cave air. So death or poisoning can be explained scientifically, not mystical. The inscriptions in the tomb honestly warn of the possible consequences. The ancient Egyptians were quite smart and wise people, many secrets were available to them.
Excavations in Egypt, the discovery of a new tomb, rumors of mythical bugs, mysticism and the "curse", all this alarmed not only the world of science, but quickly leaked into other areas of society. Ancient Egyptian themes have become popular in world popular culture. Many books have been written, several science fiction films have been shot, one of which bears a quite predictable title - Tutankhamun: Curse of the Tomb (2006).
But the tomb of Tutankhamen is not the only one of its kind. Many interesting facts are known about the tombs of Khafre, Cheops, Nimrod. The largest tomb, which belongs to one of the wonders of the world, is the pyramid of Cheops. It is a very beautiful building, which has practically retained its original appearance.
In 2017, a huge number of tourists visited the monument of culture and architecture. Now there are not so often new excavations in Egypt. After all, much has already been found, everything is protected by law, scientists are trying to preserve and not damage what they managed to restore from the bowels of the earth. Although many are interested in the presence of burial places of the mysterious Nefertiti. It is said that her remains may be kept in Tutankhamun's tomb.
What is the name of the pharaoh's tomb?
Today, the names of the tombs of the pharaohs are very simple, they simply assigned the names of their owners or architects. So it is easier for scientists to classify the found burials. We have already told a little about what is known about Tutankhamun today, we also mentioned that outsiders had already visited the tomb before archaeologists. But how the robbers got into the treasuries is not exactly known. They risked their lives because there were guards everywhere, guards, caretakers. But, apparently, the treasures were worth it. By the way, during the fall of Egypt, economic difficulties, robbers were not only scammers, but also representatives of the royal family. It was not considered a sin to borrow a couple of golden bowls or frescoes from deceased ancestors.
Even if you have never been to Egypt, you probably know what the pharaoh's pyramid looks like. The pyramids did not look like the dwellings of ordinary people, they resembled a peculiar form of a three-dimensional triangle and were located not just in a chaotic order from one another. It is difficult to say why the tombs of the pharaohs were in the form of a pyramid, but we should not forget that the ancient Egyptians never did anything for nothing. There was a meaning in everything, which sometimes remains a mystery to us. There are many versions of the construction of pyramidal buildings, but no one can claim to be right.
We can judge how the rulers of the ancient kingdom looked like from the mummies found. In the field of embalming bodies, creation, the Egyptians had no equal in the whole world. This people possessed countless mysteries and secrets, Egyptian science was really at a high level of development. Perhaps close communication with the pagan gods and the other world helped the Egyptians to achieve such high results.
You will probably be interested to know what the first forerunners of the tomb pyramids were called. These were original mastaba buildings. It was the first pyramid of Djoser that consists of steps that resemble mastabas.
Inside, the pyramids, with their countless number of corridors, hiding places, rooms, tombs, resemble mysterious caves. Great importance was given to painting in different rooms, this was the so-called decor. Until now, the adornment of sarcophagi in the tombs has not ceased to cause admiration. Until then, the inhabitants of ancient Egypt did not think of anything. At that time, the cult of the dead was so developed that not just essentials were placed in the tombs, but even chariots, ships, all treasures. The Egyptians made sure that the representatives of the authorities on earth did not need anything even after the transition to the other world. The architecture of the pyramids will not leave anyone indifferent, because everything here is thought out to the smallest detail (ventilation, protection from the effects of the external environment, protection from moisture). Centuries have passed, and many things have retained a beautiful appearance, which would not have happened if they had simply been buried in damp earth.
Of course, since so much attention was paid to the construction of graves, then we can already talk about the palaces of the pharaohs. If these magnificent buildings were preserved in their original form, then modern architects would have something to learn from their ancestors. The Egyptians were far ahead of the development of civilization, they really managed to leave behind a unique mark.
Just look at the unusual rock temples, which, by the way, were also created by hand. Sometimes it took several centuries to build the original temple. Huge niches, corridors, rooms, sometimes even whole streets are found in some special rocks. Among tourists, the city in the rock called Petra, which is located on the territory of modern Jordan, is extremely popular. Rock temples were built in honor of the gods and also played the role of tombs.
The emergence of the legend was facilitated by a series of mysterious deaths
In one of the ancient manuscripts that have come down to us from the depths of millennia, a descendant of the pharaohs instructs the heirs so that they do not violate the tombs. The violator of the terrible spell supposedly awaits a terrible punishment.
For many centuries, people under the influence of mystical horror avoided places where there was a high probability of incurring heavenly punishment. But in the enlightened XX century - the century of technological progress and science, ancient curses turned into a beautiful ancient fairy tale. Scientists do not believe her - but, according to mystics, in vain.
pixabay.comThe first revenge of the pharaohs
Having found the burial place of one of the great rulers of ancient Egypt, Tutankhamun, in the 20s of the twentieth century, British researchers Lord George Edward Carnarvon And Howard Carter opened it without hesitation. At the same time, they discovered that the tomb had already been opened once about three thousand years ago. But all the treasures remained in place.
Question: “What prevented those ancient grave diggers from taking possession of the jewels of Tutankhamun?” and remained unanswered. And the joy of scientists who made the discovery of the century was short-lived. A few months after the end of the expedition, Lord Carnarvon died unexpectedly. His death shocked his relatives and associates on the Egyptian expedition. And after him, his own brother died just as suddenly, and then several friends who were related to the expedition, and even the beloved dog of the lord.
In total, more than 20 people became victims of the “curse”, which was immediately talked about in the press.
By the way: In the middle of the 20th century, a hypothesis was put forward that researchers accidentally reopened the virus brought into the tomb of Tutankhamun by ancient grave diggers. But later this theory was refuted.
pixabay.com Questions without answers
For many centuries, scientists have been trying to find rational explanations for the sinister secrets that entangled the burial sites of ancient Egyptian rulers. Even the hypothesis was put forward that some radioactive materials were used inside the pyramids that irradiate the thieves. But the authors of this theory have failed to link radiation to car accidents, accidents and other situations in which many treasure seekers have died.
History remembers many examples of the tragic fate of those who encroached on the wealth of the pharaohs. So in 1805 a British physician Henderson stole two mummies from the pyramid at Thebes. He soon went insane and ended his life in a psychiatric clinic. The same fate befell the Swedish traveler Felix Lidman. The collection of treasures he had looted perished in a terrible fire, the causes of which could not be established. Russian archaeologist Vasily Krasovsky, in 1912, the first to discover the pyramid Hirena, died a few years later - as the scientist wrote shortly before his death, he was very tormented by some mysterious "soul of the pyramid." The English scientist, descending with him into the burial, also soon died in a car accident.
By the way: There is a version that the famous Titanic also sank due to the curse of the pharaohs. In its hold they carried the mummy of the great Egyptian soothsayer Amenophis IV- and, according to supporters of this version, it was she who destroyed the giant ship. In support of their theory, they cite the fact that under the head of Amenophis lay a figurine of a god. Osiris, on which was written: "Rise from the dust, and your gaze will crush all who stand in your way."
pixabay.com Last victim
The exact number of workers who died during the excavation of the tombs of the pharaohs has not been established. The score goes to tens or even hundreds. The unfortunate were covered with earth, crushed with stones, and some superstitious archaeologists tried to make the workers go ahead - and, in which case, they would take on the main "wrath" of the pharaohs.
In 1953, under the guidance of an Egyptian archaeologist Mohammed Ghoneim pyramid research was carried out Sekhemkhet- heir to the great Djoser who is supposed to build the first pyramids. While clearing an underground corridor, a huge boulder suddenly collapsed from the ceiling, killing one worker to death. Goneim then miraculously survived, but the "curse of the pharaohs" overtook him three years later. He was wrongly accused of drug smuggling. In a fit of desperation, Mohammed threw himself into the Nile and drowned. The scientist is considered at the moment the last well-known victim of the "wrath" of the ancient Egyptian rulers.
Skeptics argue that the “curse of the pharaohs” is nothing more than a legend, it was fueled by numerous works of art about tomb robbers, in which evil demons that escaped from the crypts pursue violators of their peace. Researchers are confident that the recorded tragic cases that have occurred with archaeologists specializing in the study of Egypt are just coincidences. Nobody would have betrayed any significance to them if it were not for the obsessive myths about the revenge of the ancient rulers of Egypt. However, proponents of the “curse” theory have a different opinion on this matter.
8-07-2016, 15:07 |
Egyptian pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are the most unique structure of the ancient world. The land of ancient Egypt has always been a place of unique scientific discoveries of archaeologists. Most of the finds naturally gave us the pyramids - the ancient tombs of the pharaohs. They were created in order to provide immortality to the spirit of the pharaoh. Pharaoh Djoser, the first king of the 3rd dynasty, was the first king to build a pyramid. It consists of six steps, about 60 meters high. Authorship is attributed to Imhotep - a scientist, physician and architect. Djoser was very pleased with the construction, so he was allowed to engrave the name of the architect on his statue - this is truly an unheard of honor for that time. Excavations on the Pyramid of Djoser opened the eyes of scientists to many tombs of the king's family members and his entourage.
egyptian pyramids pyramid of cheops
The largest pyramid is the pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu or Cheops. Its age is about five thousand years, the height was previously 147 meters, and now due to the collapse it is 137 meters, the length of the side is 233 meters. Until the end of the XIX century. The pyramid of Cheops was considered the tallest architectural structure in the world. It was found that it was built from 2,300,000 known blocks, they were polished and weighed about two tons. The most interesting thing is that the gap between the blocks is extremely insignificant, it is even problematic to stick a knife blade there. This is amazing ... Many still argue how the Egyptians managed to move them. It is also important to understand how laborious this work was, because those artisans who were engaged in grinding also used stone tools. On the right bank of the Nile there were quarries, it was there that stones were mined for the construction of the pyramids. In the rock, the boundaries of the stone were marked, along these cut-offs the workers dug a furrow. Then a dry tree was placed there, it was poured with water, it expanded and the stone broke off from the mountain. The stones were polished on the spot. Workers had to work in any weather. Further, on the boats, the blocks were transported to the other side of the Nile, on wooden sledges they were taken to the place where the pyramid was built. They were built for many years, many workers died. According to the ancient scientist Herodotus, the pyramid of Cheops was built for about twenty years, the workers changed every three months, and there were about 100,000 of them. Two-ton blocks were lifted only with the help of human power.
