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Human Experience
Section # 2340-04 (9441)
Journal Entry Three: Ritual Burial
It was only during the time of the Old Kingdom that the ancient Egyptians built pyramids to hold the royal tombs of their kings. Pyramids were huge structures. Pyramids had storage rooms, courtyards, secret passageways, and all kinds of fancy traps designed to catch robbers who tried to break into the pyramid to rob it. Pyramids were full of treasures. The average person created grave goods to take with them to their afterlife. Imagine the treasures a pharaoh might feel were necessary to bring along! Some of the building materials were limestone and stone. The pyramid wasn't just a symbol of regal power, but a visible link between earth and heaven. If we were to visit the location of the great pyramid when it was just finished, it would look very different than we see it today. Originally, the pyramid itself was encased in highly polished white limestone with a smooth surface which is now gone. At the very top of the structure would have been a capstone, which is also now missing. Some sources suggest that the capstone might have been sheathed in gold. (Khufu) In Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s case he was buried in a non-royal tomb. Some were above-ground structures, like the pyramid, others were cut in the rock underground. All the dead leaders were outfitted with the many things it was believed they would need in the afterlife to come. It was said that some kings were buried with gold pots and their jewels. Many were buried with untold treasures. It seems to me that many of the Pharaoh’s and emperor’s were buried within certain areas of the tombs to prevent treasure hunters from invading their burial place. A Greek from the democratic city of Athens, probably found the idea of a single man employing such staggering wealth and effort on his tomb an incredible act of egotism.
Works Consulted
Mantz, Dean. "BBC - A History of the World | Standard Of Ur | Diigo." Diigo - Web...