Who Built the Pyramids in Egypt?

Who built the pyramids in Egypt is a complex question. Different theories exist about who precisely erected the pyramids. The ancient Greeks claimed that slaves, perhaps Hebrew slaves, built the Egyptian pyramids. Many Egyptologists disagree as to who built the pyramids in Egypt.

The Pyramids of Egypt

There are nearly 140 known pyramids in Egypt, the most famous of which are the Great Pyramids in Giza. The pyramids are primarily constructed of limestone stones, and the Great Pyramid of Giza was believed to have taken nearly 20 years to build. According to some Egyptologists, it took nearly 100,000 men, working around the clock for nearly 2 decades, to build this one tremendous structure.

Who Built the Pyramids in Egypt?

The answer to "who built the pyramids in Egypt" lies, not surprisingly, in the remains of the ancient Egyptians. According to the study of remains of those believed to have built the pyramids, the builders of the pyramids were not slaves of foreign descent. Instead, it is believed those who built the pyramids were Egyptians who lived in local villages and were overseen by project leaders appointed by the pharaoh.

How could such a tremendous undertaking been sustained by a local community. According to archaeological evidence, the areas surrounding the pyramid sites were bustling with homes and activity, including butchers, grain workers, cemeteries, and more. In these communities, health care was provided, and archaeological evidence points to the fact that workers were treated for construction related injuries, including being crushed by falling rock and requiring amputations. In addition to health care services, locals working on the pyramids could also be fed from the ample local bakers, and could have resided in the homes near the construction sites. From these records, many Egyptologists formulate their theories that local, Egyptian workers built the pyramids.

In addition to this archaeological evidence, historical documentation helps to lend support to the theory that ancient Egyptian locals worked on building the pyramids. Records indicate some of the builders were the pharaoh's full-time employees, while others were hired to work on the pyramid projects for particular periods of time. It is believed some of these workers may even have been women. While artwork depicting the building of the pyramids does not necessarily include the images of women, many female remains have been found that indicate these women worked for extensive periods of time with heavy stone.

In addition to pointing to archaeological, written, and other evidences, Egyptologists argue that Egyptians built the pyramids based on graffiti located in and on various portions of the pyramids. Such graffiti shows the workers were proud of their work, and referred to themselves as "Friends of Khufu," among other references.

According to these Egyptologists, it is possible for the work to have been done by as many as 20,000 to 30,000 workers because much of the labor was done during the seasons when the Nile flooded its banks. The flooding made it possible for the stones used in building the pyramids to have been floated to the construction sites, rather than being carried for as many as hundreds of miles.

The limestone blocks were floated by the workers down the river to the place they would be used, and then pushed by workers of complex labyrinths of ramps to their final location in or on the pyramid. Such work involved those who guided the stones as they floated, to those who pushed the stones up ramps, to those who held ropes as they were hoisted to the right spot.

In addition to heavy laborers, those who worked on the pyramids included architects, who not only designed the pyramids, but also created complex ropes to help hoist the stones to their proper locations. Furthermore, answering "who built the pyramids of Egypt" would be incomplete if one did not mention the priests and astronomers, who contributed greatly to the effort of building the pyramids. Their work ensured the pyramids were built in such a way to honor the gods and effectively incorporate the constellations deemed sacred by the ancient Egyptians.