Everybody knows about the Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. What people may not realize is that each pyramid represents a Pharoahs power during the Old Kingdom. The three biggest pyramids represent three rulers – Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
A lot of Egyptian art had relation to their fundamental beliefs and had connections to the gods. There was no room for mistakes without dire consequences. With this in mind, the pyramids were a ramp for the pharoahs to climb to the sky. It is a place for the passed pharoahs to “regenerate”.
Map of Giza pyramid complex (map by: MesserWoland, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Pyramid of Khufu makes it pretty clear that he was a significant Pharoah. It was the greatest of the 3 initial ones, with a base length of 750ft per side at a height of 481ft. His pyramid is estimated to have 2,300,000 blocks weighing close to 50 tons!
Entrance, Pyramid of Khufu, c. 2551–2528 B.C.E. (photo: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0)
The interior of his pyramid is very unique compared to the others having mysterious subterranean chambers along with ‘air shafts’ that radiate out at the upper chambers. His pyramid had a Grand Gallery with a hieght of 26ft after squeezing through an cramped chamber which then leads to the Kings Chamber. Obviously, the Kings Chamber is the most important having stress relieving chambers of massive granite to keep the pyramid from weighing on it so heavily. Even though its not the only pyramid of Giza, it shows how important he was having a huge tomb built just for him for the afterlife. It was important for the civilians to build the pyramid to show his importance as well. Also being the first pyramid of the three to be built has huge meaning aswell.
Pyramid of Khafre, c. 2520–2494 B.C.E. (photo: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 2.0)
The Pyramid of Khafre was the second Great Pyramid built. Khafre is Khufus’ son with his pyramid appearing bigger compared to Khufu, but in reality is 33ft higher on the plateau.
Khafre’s pyramid had one burial chamber and a small subsidary chamber with two passageways with a very complex mortuary temple. His mortuary temple was filled with at least 52 life-size statuary of himself. There was one sculpture buried that represented the “binding” of two lands, Upper and Lower Eygpt. The scuplture had the papyrus and lotus around a hieroglyph along with the King seated on a lion throne.
Khafre was not only showing his power through the Great Pyramid built for himself, but also through the Great Sphinx.
The Great Sphinx (photo: superblinkymac, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Khafre was always represented through a lion which coralates with being a royal symbol along with being connected to the sun. It is a full circle of being connected with the pyramids representing sunrays along with the sphinx being a representation of Khafres power. Khafre has a lot to show for his power through these art pieces, making sure to show us that he was a powerful Pharoah.
King Menkaure pyramid held multiple statues, including one of Menkaure with a queen. This staue in particular shows his power through his stance being very sturdy along with the Pharoahs headwear. The material also helps to show his connections to get other material.
King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Queen, 2490–2472 B.C.E., greywacke, 142.2 x 57.1 x 55.2 cm (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The Pyramid of Menkaure was the smallest only with a hieght of 213ft, but had a lot of scupltures to make up for the simplicity of being the smallest.
Pyramid of Menkaure (photo: future15pic, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The pyramid had a lot more attention to detail with the decorative panels. and series of statues. While not as impressive as the other pyramids, still very important in showing his power.
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Each pyramid in the Great Pyramids of Giza has signifigant power of showing the importance of the Pharoahs. While it might be debatable if the pyramids are artwork, they really show the dominance each ruler has. Not one ruler was the same with different things important to them portrayed through their pyramids with what was important in the builds.