969).A Greek historian named Herodotus, writing 2,400 years ago, estimated that 100,000 men labored for 20years to complete the Great Pyramid. It is also estimated that 2.3 million stone blocks were used to build the pyramid. It was once thought that the blocksweighing an average of 2 tons eachwere floated on rafts down the Nile from quarries hundreds of miles away. Amore recently developed theory holds that the blocks were cut from limestone quarries that have been found near the pyramids. Yet another theory suggests that the blocks were formed in wooden molds at the site. Many authorities believe that the blocks of stone were moved up a circular ramp constructed around the pyramid as it was built up (Fahkry, 1978)Scholars have also studied the relationship between the position of the pyramids and the apparent motion of the sun and other stars. They suggest that the pyramids design may have been influenced by a religion based on sun worship (Edward, 1978).It should be noted that the pyramids of Giza were not the first built in Egypt. Structures of this type appeared during the century preceding Kufus reign. After burying their dead in sandpits, the early Egyptians placed a mastaba over the grave to keep the sand from blowing away. This structure is considered the prototype of the true pyramid. Later King Djosers architect, Imphotep, designed the step pyramid, which was simply a stack of six matabas, each smaller than the one below. King Snefru, the father of Khufu, built a smooth-sided pyramid. It is called the bent pyramid because its lower half is steeper than its upper half. At least 80 royal pyramids have been found in Egypt, but none rival the three Giza. Many of the lesser pyramids have been reduces to rubble (Edward, 1987).The oldest pyramid known is the Step Pyramid of King Zoser Saqqara (c.2650 BC). It has a larger mastaba as its nucleus and consists of six terraces of diminishing sizes, one built upon the othe...
