Over the history of the earth, many artistic artifacts have outlasted the test of time and still stand today showing us the talent and lifestyle of humans in different time periods. Two pieces that were both monumental and have historically remained some of the greatest art creations of all time are the pyramids at Gizeh and the ziggurats of the ancient Near East. Both buildings, if you will, display enormous size, mathematical geometry, and impeccable engineering.
Being the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world says it all just in the title for the pyramids at Gizeh. Created by the Egyptians around 2560 BC, the pyramid took about 20 years to be completed while the latest Mesopotamian ziggurats date from the 6th century BC. While both these structures are built in a specific way and for a purpose, religious and sacred burial, they are more than just a structure to appease the Egyptian gods or a temple to worship in, but they are pieces of art greater than that of any other structures of their time.
The pyramid of Gizeh is one of the longest lasting buildings made on this earth. At a staggering 480.6 feet, the 2.3 million limestone blocks used for the structure in all weighs close to 6 million tones. The slaves forced to build the structure worked day and night for 20 years to complete this masterpiece. The Ziggurats on the other hand were made from bricks using two different techniques; one was the process that produced the internal layer for the structure, sun baked bricks, the other used for the outside layer, fired bricks. Although being build in a similar pyramid shape as the Gizeh, the material used the Ziggurats have not maintained as well the shape and structure as it may have if it were build out of limestone such as the pyramids.
These two structures were built for the practice of similar yet different reasons. The pyramid of Gizeh was created as a temple for the fourth dynasty Egyptian pharaoh, Khufu. With many rooms and tunnels leading throughout this pyramid the main room and also reason for this pyramid was a burial site for Khufu, in which many treasures such as rooms full of gold and jewels were stowed away as an offering to the gods to allow Khufu into what the Egyptians called the afterlife. On the other hand the Ziggurats were also building for a religious purpose, but one different than that of the Gizeh. The Ziggurat similarly shared the pyramid shape with the exception of layers creating platforms of which people could stand on. The priests used these platforms to hide upon when flood waters would come rushing at the temple and flooding them. At the top of the Ziggurats was placed a shrine, none of which have survived, but the shrine was used as the center of worship therefore it was placed at the top center of the structure.
Both of these structures were built with the intention of religious efforts. One reason why they may have been built in the same basic pyramid shape could be there way of getting closer to god or their gods, or it could at the same time be just a coincidence. We will never know. But we do know the beauty in the structures that were build and can see them ourselves today.
Do you think that there was a reason why the pyramids were built with a point on the top instead of a place where people could physically be closer to the gods? Do you think this symbolism is almost exactly like several registers placed on top of each other? So what I am trying to say is that the point on top of the pyramid could have been representing the gods, while the layers of brick could have been representing lower classes, perhaps the people who built the structures. Unlike the ziggurats, even though large structures, they were not as tall to reach out meaningfully to the gods.
ReplyDeleteI think it's truly incredible that people so long ago created such meticulous work that was engineered so perfectly. It is also amazing that people worked 20 years to build the pyramids-this alone can allow us to understand the massive size these structures must be. I liked your emphasis on the religious aspects of these two buildings. It seems that this was the important motive of these being constructed. Also your contrast between the two materials used was well described and brought up good points.
ReplyDeleteThe part where you mentioned the Ziggurats and the way they would stand on top of the structure during floods is really an intriguing thought. This is a smart idea and it shows the diverse use of the way they built it. By using this structure as a survival tool and a place of worship. This is highly intelligent and very useful and practical. I like the last little comment you made by saying there's beauty in the structures; these structures are here today for us to enjoy and we can always appreciate the time, effort, and devotion it took to create these massive structures.
ReplyDelete