In ancient times many monumental structures were created. The Sumerians, in the ancient Near East built Ziggurats around 2100 BCE. The Great Pyramids were created by the Egyptians for their pharaohs during the fourth Dynasty, 2601 to 2515 BCE. When one comparing the Ziggurats to the Great Pyramids the underlying structures are similar.
Ziggurats are flat multi platform pyramid structures, made from countless mud-bricks, with a temple or shrine on the highest platform. In Gizeh there are three pyramids built for the fourth Dynasty kings, Menkaura, Khafra and Khufu. The Great Pyramids are similar being that their base is Ziggurat like. The Pyramids are constructed with a square base with four sloping triangular faces made from limestone blocks. The largest pyramid, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, covers thirteen acres and is four hundred fifty feet tall. The only example of a Ziggurat that still exists today is the Nanna Ziggurat at Ur Ur
The Ziggurats and the great pyramids at Gizeh were created for different religious reasons. The Ziggurats in the Near East symbolized bridges between earth and the heavens for humans to meet their protective gods. This is said because the Ziggurats are mountain like structures with long ramps leading to the entrance. The pyramids at Gizeh symbolize the deceased pharaohs climbing up the rays, slopped sides of the pyramids, to join the sun god Ra. The purpose for the Ziggurats was to proclaim prosperity, reputation and stability of its city rulers and to glorify their gods. The Great Pyramids were created as funerary structures, monuments for the afterlife. The pyramids purpose was to give the king’s Ka, soul, a suitable resting place. The Egyptians believed that the deceased king affects the well-being of the state. The Ziggurats were raised temples for the people to praise the gods. Comparatively, the pyramid and the ziggurat are similar because they both serve as a connection between humans and the divine.
The Ziggurats and the Great Pyramids at Gizeh are engineering and architectural marvels. There are similarities of the structures themselves, such as proportions and alignments. Over all the Ziggurats were built for the people and the Great Pyramids were built for the deceased Pharaohs.
The first thing I noticed is you probably just got the names mixed up but the largest pyramid is the Khufu pyramid, not the Khafre. I think that you make a really good point, that even though these structures vary in many ways; they were both built with the purpose of connecting the human to the afterlife and I think that is an effectively simple way of putting it.
ReplyDeleteNot exactly sure how to reply to comments on this thing. Thank you though, I did not mean to say Kafra. =)
ReplyDeleteThe Khafre pyramid often looks like it is the largest pyramid in images, since it is placed in the middle of the three pyramids. Ironically, even though Khufu is the largest, it appears to be the smallest in a lot of photographs (because it often is the furthest one in the distance).
ReplyDeleteEven though the Khufu period is 450 feet tall today, it actually would have been even taller originally. With its limestone casing and gold cap, the pyramid probably stood about 481 feet in height! That's huge!
-Prof. Bowen
I enjoyed reading your blog. The article was very informative and gave me time to consider each of the ideas within. I especially appreciated the way in which you addressed the religious aspects of the structures design. I was great reading about how the Ziggerats were designed with the worshiping happening in the open while the temples to the dead were indoors. Thank you for an insightful read.
ReplyDeleteYour post was really easy to read, very interesting and informative. The two structures seem so closely related yet you pointed out some good differences. Personally I am completely blown away by the size of the pyramids it is a pretty amazing creation. It is interesting that such amazing architecture results from strong belief systems, and the motivation that comes from the belief in the afterlife and ceremonies that it entails. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. I did the same assignment and I like that you go into more detail in some areas I did not. I like how you went into detail about comparing the size of the two structures and more detail about how they would have looked originally. I also like how you laid out the comparison between the religious aspects and differences between the ziggurats and pyramids. Good job.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post I had collected a lot of information that I had read over in the book and had not retained but they ways that you explained the religious side of the art work was very help full for me in understanding why they used these giant piece of work as a religious focal point at times. Over all great post it was so informative!!
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