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Ancient History

This is What Life Was Like for an Egyptian Worker Building the Pyramids

egyptian worker building the pyramids

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is complete

Great Pyramids of Giza
History of Europe Ancient and Medieval by J. H. Breasted and J. H. Robinson (1920). Public Domain

Smoothly polished white limestone covered the base stone layer, creating a gleaming, polished coat. The massive tomb stood 481 feet tall, with each of the four sides measuring 755 feet. In the end, around 91 million cubic feet of stone was quarried and used in the pyramid. A pyramidion capstone sat at the peak of the pyramid, connecting it to the sky – and to immortality.

The Pyramid’s ancient name was Akhet Khufu, or Horizon of Khufu. Khufu died in 2465 BCE. His body was mummified and laid to rest in the richly decorated tomb. Khufu was ready to take his place among the gods, and the work of his laborers would help the Ancient Egyptian culture achieve its own level of immortality. But pyramids and temple work continued on structures for Khufu’s sons. The work continued for decades.

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