Ancient Egyptian Architecture

The huge architectural achievements of the past are built of stone. Stone quarries supplied the large jams of granite, limestone, and sandstone that were used for construction temples and tombs. Designers planned carefully as building was done without mortar, so the stones had to fit precisely together. Only pillars were used to sustain short stone supports. At temple of Karnak, a ramp of adobe brick can be seen leading to the top of the temple wall. Such ramps were used to allow workmen to carry stones to the top of structure and allow artists to decorate the tops of walls and pillars. Pillars were built in the same way. As height was summed up, the ground was raised. When the top of the pillar was completed, the creative people would decorate from the top down, removing ramp sand as they went along.

As soon as a pharaoh was named, construction on his tomb was set out. Tomb building continued throughout his life and stopped only on the day on which he passed. As a result, some tombs are very large and finely decorated, while other tombs, like that of King Tutankhamun, are small because he ruled as a pharaoh for such a short time.

The computer architecture was based upon perpendicular structures and inclined planes since there was no structural assistance except the strength and balance of the structure itself. For this intellect, the square and the plumb-line were very important tools.

One of the most known and lasting accomplishments of the Ancient Egyptians are their pyramids. The size, design, and structure of the pyramids disclose the skill of these ancient builders. The pyramids were great monuments and tombs for the kings. The Egyptians believed that a king's soul continued to guide affairs of the kingdom even after his death. To ensure that they would continue to enjoy the graces of the gods, they preserved the pharaoh's body through the mummification process. They built the pyramids to protect the pharaoh's body, the pyramid was a symbolisation of hope, because it would ensure the pharaoh's join with the gods.

The hugest pyramid in existence is the Great Pyramid built by King Cheops (Khufu) at Giza. The Great Pyramid measures 481 feet high, by 775 feet long at for each one of its four bases. Other notable pyramids include the Step Pyramid built for King Zoser, and the pyramid built for King Huni, that was a transition between the step pyramid and the smooth sided pyramid we know nowadays.