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HUMM/266
Team A
Week Two

Chapter 10 Review
Castles of Eternity
Pages 79-90

Due By:
Rough Draft Saturday 8pm
Final Draft Monday 8 pm
Please write a brief summary of your assigned page listed by your name.
Please be sure to bullet point your prespectives of what you have read to share as a team.
PLEASE RESPECT THE DUE DATES FOR EACH PERSON TO REVIEW AS A TEAM

Danny: (pages 79-82)

Petra: (pages 83-85)
Imhotep
The Pyramid of Zoser, emerged in the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (c.2700 B.C.) (Boorstin, 1992). Pyramid of Zoser was noticed for the use of masonry casing. Imhotep was a recognized architect and Founding Father of the great Third Dynasty pharaoh Zoser as a patron of writing between c. 2613-2686 B.C. (Boorstin, 1992). Imhotep consulted and inspired scribes prior to writing. He was also inspired by the scribes as “poured a libation to him from their writing jar” (Boorstin, 1992). Two thousand years and centuries after his death as a mythical founder of Egyptian medicine and recognition of a divine status his proverbs are echoed (Boorstin, 1992). After his death devotees prayed for revelations of cures in dreams by honoring Imhotep by building a temple in Memphis on the island of Philae in the Nile. Greeks later recognize Imhotep as their medicine god and named him Asklepios (Boorstin, 1992).
Details of the Step Pyramid
In Cairo at Saqqara Imhotep’s step pyramid remains the world’s oldest hewn stone (Boorstin, 1992). The rectangular structure of stone is layered on the outside of six steps. The base measures 597 yards north to south and 304 east to west, with a 200 feet height. The pyramid of Imhotep “father of medicine” was estimated to contain 850,000 tons of stone and the white hewn limestone was a dazzling structure, before centuries depleted the pyramid by weather and robbers. The stones were nine inches square small-block masonry (Boorstin, 1992). Half a century later the Sphinx, Egyptians handled boulders of thirty tons (Boorstin, 1992).
Pyramids
The last king Huni of the Third Dynasty built the first true pyramid known as Meidum. The pyramid was unsuccessful as the bonding of limestone did not adhere for durability.
In the Fourth Dynasty King Seneferu (c.2650 B.C.) built the Bent Pyramid. The pyramid was structured on square ground plan measuring 620 feet at the base, with the first angle of 54 degree rising to the top, then 43 degree with the final level of 303 feet (Boorstin, 1992). This unfinished project was left mid- way to completion.
The Red Pyramid of Dahshur was the earliest tomb completed as a true pyramid (Boorstin, 1992). The pyramid is known for the use of underlying blocks of local limestone at stood at 43 degree angle (Boorstin, 1992).
In the stages of planning pyramids architects learned how to increase stability by layering stones of inner limestone base at a slope (Boorstin, 1992). The Fourth Dynasty revealed the Great Pyramids in Giza (c.2500-2650 B.C.) (Boorstin, 1992). Great Pyramids contained 2,300,000 hewn stone blocks weighing two and a half tons. The pyramid rose 482 feet and the base covered 13.1 acres.
Future Skyscraper The ancient Step Pyramid inspired man’s modern skyscraper mid-nineteenth century, commonly seen in major cities globally (Boorstin, 1992). Graffiti by pilgrims in the age of Rameses II revealed, a monument discovery evoked creative powers of man the architect, organizer, power of community and inspiration to awe (Boorstin, 1992). The Six Step pyramid was most likely used for a tomb but the structure was an early sign of constructive power of the state.
Katrina: (pages 86-87)
2000 years after the construction of the Great Pyramid, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing today, the tourist-historian Herodotus visited the pyramids and put together his theories on how and why the pyramid was built. Herodotus also based his assumptions and theories regarding the creation of the pyramid on pictures and inscriptions found in the stones.
According to Herodotus the pyramid was the work of forced labor of a hundred thousand men, relieved every three months by a fresh lot Herodotus came up with the number of workers by the Egyptian characters that were inscribed on the pyramid. Herodotus imagined that there was a machine that moved the stones to build the pyramid, but there is not documentation to prove this theory. Herodotus believed that King Khufu (Cheops) would have done anything to complete the pyramid that was to house his soul. Medieval Arabs believe that an ancient king foresaw the great floods and had the pyramid built to protect the secrets of science. Other visitors of the pyramid believe it was a warehouse for grain (Boorstin, 1992).
The word for pyramid may have meant "place of ascension" or the ascent to heaven giving some idea of why the pyramid is shaped as it is. Earlier versions of the pyramid have steps making the ascent to heaven theory a reliable assumption. The shape could have been done to reflect a symbol of life. The mound could have magic powers that continued life for those buried inside. The theory that has some clues is that the pyramid was built to ease the king's ascent and for him to accompany the sun-god. The rays of the sun would touch the tip of the pyramid sending rays all around. The rays were believed to be pathways to journey around the earth.
Rose: (pages 88-90)
Since biblical times the pyramids were thought to have been built by the backs of Hebrew slaves that were worked to death by merciless Egyptians. According to the text, travelers’ tales of legends and fantasies of Haggadah illustrators created a ruthless Pharaoh and overseers that forced numerous slaves to build the pyramids for the Pharaohs.
Today Egyptology proved through ancient Egyptian images displayed laborers cooperating with foreman without whips. These images provided evidence that the great pyramids were built by the community, volunteers and a few slaves that were prisoners of war. Further evidence provided clues in the tally marks found on the casing stones. The inscriptions read, “Boat Gang”, “Craftsmen Crew”, “Vigorous Gang”, “Enduring Gang”, “Sound Gang” special tasks were marked “Boat Gang” or Craftsmen Crew”, “Snofru” or “The White Crown of Khufu.” This suggests that the workers were very proud to have been part of great public works that united and strengthened Egypt. Egypt became a strong centralized nation. The pyramids represented the communal efforts and faith for their god. It was a communal effort to build a structure for the divine ruler to dwell eternally. Egypt became modernized as far as food supplies, mass transportation and sanitation.
After the Fourth Dynasty the power of the centralized state declined. As well as pyramid building and the quality of stone monuments deteriorated. The nobles began to build their resting places in provinces instead of around the great pyramid of the Pharaoh. According to the Arab chronicler Abd al Latif, Caliph Malek al Azis Othman believed the pyramids were monuments of idolatry and ordered them to be destroyed. The efforts were futile because the men spent eight months causing minor damage to the smaller pyramid, Menkaure then gave up. The damages are visible today. The pyramids are great reminders of grand public works by the community. It may be the reason why an unfinished pyramid is on the one dollar bill today.

References
Daniel J Broorstin, J. (1992). The Creators. New York, New York: Random House of Canada Limited.