The Greek historian Herodotus once theorised that the pyramids in Egypt were built by slaves. Recently, that long-held theory was debunked, as researchers found that the pyramids were actually built by highly skilled workers, who were well-fed, well-paid and honoured members of the community. It begs the question – what else do we have wrong about this wonder of the world?
Click start to play today’s Crossword, where the pyramids make an appearance in the clue for 4-Across.
Here are a few other surprising facts about the Great Pyramids of Giza:
1. They once glittered
The pyramids were once like giant jewels. Encased in immaculately polished, glimmering white limestone, the enormous structures used to glitter in direct sunlight. Over time, however, those casings have fallen off – some fell off due to earthquakes and others were simply cut off and taken away.
2. Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt
Nubia, in modern-day Sudan, was once a part of ancient Egypt. It’s why the country has around 2,000 pyramids, compared with the 200 in Egypt. However, Sudan’s pyramids were built by the rulers of ancient Kushite kingdoms, who were known as the ‘black pharaohs’, in around 760BC. Their structures were much smaller in size, and were built to accommodate only one person – usually an ancient king or queen.
3. One of the pyramids was once the world’s tallest structure
The Great Pyramid of Khufu reigned as the world’s tallest man-made structure for nearly 3,800 years. Its original height was 146.5m, but it lost the title to the Lincoln Cathedral, in the UK, which was completed at a height of 160m in 1,300AD. After erosion and the absence of the topmost stone, the pyramid now rests at a height of 137m.
4. The pyramids lie above a labyrinth
Under the famed pyramids is an elaborate web of tunnels, chambers and shafts – with many still a mystery to archaeologists. The tunnels have long been thought to hold thousands of artifacts, but since excavations are managed by the Egyptian government, any information about its contents is considered to be highly confidential. Details of commodities found under the pyramids has never been released to the public.
5. No one knows what’s in the mortar
The pyramids were built at a time when there were no calculators or computers. Each brick – and there were over 2 million of them – weighed between 2.5 and 15 tons. Yet, ancient Egyptians managed to not just transport and lift these heavy bricks, they used a mysterious, incredibly adhesive mortar to fix them into place. The mortar worked so well, the pyramids have survived over 4.5 centuries and remain as the only surviving ancient wonder of the world! Scientists are still trying to figure out the ingredients of the mortar used, but there is no answer yet.
Have you visited the pyramids in Egypt? Play today’s Crossword and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
