The Great Pyramid of Giza is an engineering marvel. The intricate craftsmanship that went into building this colossal monument continues to amaze and baffle archaeologists around the world. How did the ancient Egyptians transport 6 million tons of stone without the help of modern technology? Produced by the award-winning documentary series NOVA, Decoding the Great Pyramid uses recently unearthed documents and other research material to outline the enormous effort behind the construction of this wondrous structure.
The pyramids were built 4,500 years ago as the holy tombs of fallen pharaohs. Huge and perfectly proportioned, the building is the oldest surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the World. Remarkably, the pyramids have remained largely intact through thousands of years of development.
Folklore about the existence of the pyramids is growing. The challenge for modern archaeologists is to separate fact from fiction. Recent discoveries have brought them closer to the truth than ever before.
For example, contrary to long-held belief, workers are not slaves. Researchers now believe that the bulk of the workforce consisted of farmers, all with a sense of national pride in their efforts. The existence of thousands of bread molds shows that this team has been well nourished through decades of hard work.
The film offers insights from several highly qualified archaeologists and Egyptologists. Together, they sum up aspects of the pyramid’s astonishingly precise construction.
Organized by order of Pharaoh Khufu, this pyramid may look typical in appearance, but its bold design is anything but. We’ve heard that the pyramid’s impeccable design begins with its perfectly horizontal foundation. We learn how the chambers used to house the tombs were protected from possible decay, and what tools may have been used to shape and move each solid limestone. The discovery of the world’s oldest papyrus text sheds further light on the inner workings of this complex endeavor.
With insightful narrative and stunning reenactments, The Great Pyramid Unraveled provides logical and sensible answers to many of the most puzzling questions surrounding the pyramid’s construction and purpose.
