Introduction
There were seven miracles: the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, Alexandrian lighthouse, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, statue of Zeus at Olympia, Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Their number was determined by the magic of the number seven, the limited possibilities of human memory, the limits of the ancient world and, most importantly, the stability of traditions. When, around the third century BC, someone proclaimed this particular seven-color as the standard of miracles, a part of humanity living around the Mediterranean Sea submitted to authority, and only a few local patriots, without challenging the principle itself, tried to amend in particular.
A thousand years after the fall of Rome, when again people revived their interest in what was happening outside their little world, the wonders of the world were remembered, and the strength of ancient authority was such that the seven miracles mentioned were already perceived as an unshakable whole.
Only one of the miracles has survived to this day, paradoxically, the most ancient is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Great Pyramid of Giza
This grandiose Egyptian pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of antiquity. In addition, this is the only one of the miracles that has survived to this day. At the time of its creation, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure in the world. And she held this record, apparently, for almost 4000 years.
Royal tomb
The Great Pyramid was built as the tomb of Khufu, known to the Greeks as Cheops. He was one of pharaohs, or kings of ancient Egypt, and his tomb was completed in 2580 BC. Later, two more pyramids were built at Giza, for the son and grandson of Khufu, as well as smaller pyramids for their queens. The Pyramid of Khufu, the furthest in the picture, is the largest. The pyramid of his son is in the middle and looks higher because it stands on a higher place.
pyramid building
The pyramids stand on the ancient cemetery in Giza, on the opposite bank of the Nile River from Cairo, the capital of modern Egypt. Some archaeologists believe that it may have taken 20 years for 100,000 people to build the Great Pyramid. It was created from over 2 million stone blocks, each of which weighed at least 2.5 tons. Workers dragged them into place using ramps, pulleys and levers and then pushed them together without mortar.
shiny limestone
When the main building was completed, it looked like a series of steps. They were then covered with blocks of white limestone with a polished, shiny surface. The blocks were so tightly fitted to each other that even the blade of a knife could not be inserted between them from the outside. Upon completion of the work, the Great Pyramid rose 147 meters. Now its top has collapsed, in addition, at present only the pyramid of the son of Khufu has retained limestone lining at its very top. The base side of the Great Pyramid reaches 230 meters. It occupies more area than nine football fields.
Pharaoh's funeral
The ancient Egyptians believed that in the event of a person's death, his body should be preserved so that the spirit could continue to live after death. They removed the internal organs, filled the body with salts and wrapped it in linen sheets. So the body turned into a mummy. The mummy was then buried along with clothing, food, jewelry, and other things useful for the afterlife. The mummified body of Khufu was placed in a burial chamber at the very heart of his pyramid.
The pyramids at Giza have long been recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Colossal structures keep centuries-old secrets. Under the giant stone massif the secrets of millennia are kept, which to this day are incomprehensible to our consciousness. These are the greatest monuments of world history.
The three main pyramids - Khufu (Pyramid of Cheops), Khafri (Pyramid of Khafre) and Menkaure (Pyramid of Menkaure) are best preserved and have become famous all over the world. The majestic tombs of the ancient pharaohs inspire respect. Egypt is the land of the pyramids. A total of 118 structures were found, of which most of lie in ruins. Some have survived a little better, and thanks to them we learn more and more historical details of the kingdom ancient egypt.
The word "pyramid" comes from the ancient Greek "pyuramis" - fire, because the Greeks believed that the pyramid was shaped like a tongue of flame. Even in geometry textbooks for the 16th century, the pyramid was called the "fiery body". There are versions that the prototype of the pyramid is a mountain of wheat. The ancient Egyptians had a funeral cake that had a pyramidal shape, and a number of scholars refer to the fact that the pyramids, being a symbol of death, could be identified with this cake. The Egyptians themselves called the pyramids "Purama".
The ancient pyramids are unique in that they have an ideal geometric shape. How the architects of the IV dynasty of the Egyptian pharaohs (2613-2439 BC) achieved this is still unclear. The angle of the walls with respect to the horizon is 53°, and the edges are perfectly aligned with respect to the cardinal points.
The pyramid of Cheops is the largest. Its original height was 146 meters. However, they began to build on a 9-meter rock, which is now at its base. Over time, the facing plates of the pyramid crumbled (this happened as a result of a strong earthquake) and the "growth" of the pyramid dropped to 138 meters. The length of each side is exactly 230 meters. According to mathematicians, the pyramid of Cheops consists of approximately 2.5 million stone blocks, each of which weighs 2.5 tons. Another mystery of the builders is how they managed to achieve such a perfect fit of each block. Incredible measurement accuracy comes to the point that the error in the size of the side of the pyramid is thousandths of a centimeter. Even modern technologies this is not possible. Unfortunately, facing slabs, which were polished pieces of fine-grained sandstone, did not reach us.
Initially, the entrance to the pyramid was on the north side, at the level of the thirteenth step. However, over time it was walled up. Now, in order to get inside, they use a manhole, which was made by ancient marauders.
In the view of many Egyptologists, the pyramid is a monolith, in which there are several large chambers and an extensive system of corridors. But this opinion is refuted by many scientists, who quite reasonably assume the presence of many other rooms, since only 1% of the entire structure is available for research. In addition, the Egyptian authorities themselves are not inclined to reveal all the secrets and mysteries of the great structures of antiquity. All finds pass first of all through their hands, and only then the world community becomes aware of them.
According to Herodotus, more than 100,000 slaves were gathered for the construction of the pyramids. However, having conducted more detailed historical research, modern Egyptologists tend to assume that the people who participated in the construction of the structure were simply serving a kind of "labor service" to the sovereign. This conclusion was made after a detailed study of the camp in which the builders lived. It was located a few kilometers from Giza, it had several bakeries, a smokehouse and even a brewery.
Massive burials of cattle bones were found in the vicinity, which indicates that the builders did not starve, they were taken care of and even monitored their health. The skeletons found indicate that almost every worker during construction received one or another work injury, which was well healed. This speaks of high level medicine that existed in Egypt even then. There is an assumption that groups of builders even had a certain competition among themselves.
The mechanism by which the pyramids were built remains a mystery to this day. The most common version was about the systems of blocks and counterweights, with the help of which huge pieces of stone were lifted up. However, it has been proven that such a system really existed, but it began to work after the construction of the main structure, when facing slabs were delivered upstairs.
There is another version that the builders created an embankment along which they lifted the blocks up. However, the version does not stand up to scrutiny. After all, in order for the embankment to be used effectively, its angle of inclination should be no more than 7 degrees. Consequently, the embankment itself had to stretch for two or three kilometers. It would take several years to build such a "ramp". And then it needed to be removed.
The French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin suggested that inside the pyramid itself there was a spiral ramp along which the blocks were pushed up. An ultrasound examination of the structure showed that there are indeed voids inside. Perhaps the inner ramp still exists today. But in order to find it, you will need to drill through the wall of the structure, which, of course, no one will allow an architect to do.
In 2006, a number of scientists, after discovering a human hair in the thickness of one of the blocks, leaned towards the version that the stone blocks were man-made. Perhaps this is an ancient type of concrete, which consists of limestone with salt, ash and lime. In this case, it becomes clear why the blocks fit so well together.
However, the main mystery is the purpose of the pyramids. Maybe these are just huge tombs for conceited pharaohs? Or messages to descendants, where the secret knowledge of ancestors is encrypted?
It is also known that the pyramids were built not only in ancient Egypt. The Tibetan pyramids, for example, are ten times larger than the Egyptian ones. Mayan pyramids are not inferior to them in age. And at the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle, another pyramid was found. Thus, it can be assumed that this is just part of a planetary plan that will soon come to fruition.
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Pyramids of Giza are among the oldest tourist attractions of our planet and symbols of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The largest of them is the Great Pyramid, which consists of 2.3 million stone blocks.
Until now, no one knows for sure how the multi-ton blocks were installed in their places, but it is known that it was the tallest building in the world for more than 3800 years, until the Lincoln Cathedral was built (1300).
Also, the Great Pyramid is the only one of the surviving seven wonders of the world. ancient world. It is considered the most massive structure built in the history of mankind.
great pyramid
The largest of all the pyramids of ancient Egypt is the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. On Greek Khufu is translated as Cheops. He was the pharaoh of the 4th dynasty and reigned for 23 years, from 2589 to 2566 BC. e. The Great Pyramid impresses with its size and mathematical precision, and personifies the apogee of the construction of the famous monuments of Ancient Egypt.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is made up of 2.3 million stone blocks. Average weight one block is 2.5 tons, and the maximum is 15 tons. Each block fit so tightly together that the entire monument was built without the use of any mortar. If we divide the construction time (20 years) by the number of blocks (2.3 million), we can conclude that a new block was installed every five minutes.
When completed, the Great Pyramid of Giza looked very different than it does today. On the entire surface of the structure there were white polished slabs, which are no longer there today. At the top stood a pyramidal stone, which is also no longer there. Having lost the lining and stone, the height of the pyramid became 138.75 meters (it was 146.5), and the length at the base was reduced to 225 meters (it was 230.33).
In order to get to the center of the pyramid of Khufu, you need to go through a poorly lit narrow corridor. Halfway through, you will enter a gallery 8.5 m high and 47 m long. The gallery leads to the tomb of the pharaoh, in which only the Cheops sarcophagus remains. The walls in the tomb are made of red granite, and the pharaoh's chamber was isolated from thieves with the help of shifted granite blocks. But, nevertheless, this did not save her from looting.
Near the pyramid of Khufu, archaeologists discovered two underground vaults in which solar boats were stored. According to legend, after death, the pharaoh on this solar boat should go on a journey along the heavenly Nile together with the sun god Ra. Archaeologists have discovered one solar boat, which consisted of 1224 separate parts. It took 14 years to reconstruct it, and now it stands in the Solar Boat Museum near the Great Pyramid itself. The size of the boat is impressive: 43 meters long and 6 meters wide.
Pyramid of Khafre at Giza
Khafre was the son of Khufu and ruled for 27 years, from 2558 to 2532 BC. Khafre tried to make his burial complex more majestic than that of his father. And to some extent it succeeded. Despite the fact that his pyramid is shorter by 3 meters and 15% smaller in volume, due to the fact that it is built on a high embankment, it looks significantly higher than that of his father.
But inside the Khafre pyramid is much simpler. Inside, two entrances are connected: one goes a little higher, and the other goes down below the base of the pyramid. A long corridor leads directly to the burial chamber, where there is nothing else besides a black granite sarcophagus. The lower passage leads to another chamber, which may have been intended for the queen.
Not far from the Pyramid of Khafre are two sanctuaries: the Welcome Temple and the Mortuary Temple.
Between themselves they are connected by a laid embankment about 500 meters long. Both sanctuaries are built from megalithic blocks covered with red granite. The meeting temple was preserved in good condition, and only ruins remained from the Mortuary.
Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza
The rest of the pyramids of Giza are already much smaller. For example, the pyramid of Menkaure is 10 times smaller than the Khafre monument. For its construction, high-quality granite and stone were used. This distinguishes it from other pyramids, which were built from low quality limestone. At the end of the 12th century, Sultan Osman ibn Yusuf was convinced of the strength of the walls of this pyramid, who tried to destroy the structure for 8 months, but eventually retreated.
Inside the pyramid of Menkaur, it’s rather uninteresting: if traces of decoration are still visible in the first chamber, then only stone walls further down. There is no sarcophagus in the burial chamber of Menkaur. It sank along with the Beatrice, which was carrying it, in 1838 on its way to England.
After the death of Pharaoh Menkaur, the construction of the pyramids continued, but on a smaller scale, and the center of construction moved from Giza to Abusir and Saqqara.
The Great Sphinx is depicted with the body of a lion and the head of a man. With a length of 73.5 m, a width of 6 m and a height of 20.2 m, it is the largest monolithic statue in the world.
The Sphinx is the most interesting monument of ancient Egyptian civilization. First of all, because no one can say what was the purpose of building such a huge sculpture. The most likely theory is that the Sphinx served as a defense for the two great pyramids of Cheops and Khafre.
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Over time, the pharaohs began to view the Sphinx as the holder of royal power, so the rulers of ancient Egypt constantly presented him with donations. It all started with Prince Thutmose IV, who dreamed that he would become a pharaoh if he cleared the Sphinx of sand. When this happened, he built a stele in front of the Sphinx for donations.
Over the past few thousand years, the Sphinx has been covered in sand several times. In 1905, the statue was finally cleared of sand. To date, the monument is in need of constant repair. The sandstone from which the Sphinx is carved is quite soft and is destroyed by time. Plus, it's rotting from the inside, in all likelihood due to the rising water table. There is a popular theory that the nose of the Sphinx was beaten off by Napoleon's soldiers, but it is not true: it was lost long before the birth of the famous commander.
Looting the pyramids
Even at the design stage, Egyptian architects tried to protect the pyramids of Giza from thieves. To do this, the passages were blocked by large granite blocks, and false entrances and chambers were also created. But, the robbers turned out to be smarter and all the tombs were looted.
Pyramids of Giza: useful information
- Almost every hotel in the city of Giza has the opportunity to purchase tickets for tours to the pyramids.
- To buy tickets near the pyramids, there are two ticket offices: one next to the main entrance, and the second near the Sphinx.
- In order to enter the pyramids, you will need an additional ticket. Also, the number of visits inside the pyramids of Khafre and Cheops is limited to 300 tickets: 150 of them at 8:30 in the morning and 150 after 13:00.
- Inside the pyramids it is very humid and hot, the corridors are dusty, and it is not easy to move. Therefore, for those who have problems with the lungs or heart, it is not advisable to enter. Well, for those who are not afraid of such conditions, visiting the pyramids will become very informative and interesting.
- Photography inside the pyramids is prohibited.
- Most best time to visit - in the morning at the time of opening. Later, crowds of tourists begin to arrive, and it gets very hot during the day.
- The pyramids of Giza not only attract millions of tourists, but also a large number of scammers. Even on the approach, people may come up to you and say that they won’t let you in without a guide (don’t worry, they will let you in), or that you need a camel or a horse, which you can’t do without (you can easily get by).
- The prices for a trip around the pyramid on a camel are very high, similar tours in other places in Egypt will cost you much less.
- Before taking a camel or horse ride, agree on a price, and don't pay in advance until you get what you agreed on. if you pay in advance, your horse will "lame" after a few meters and you will be offered another, but for a fee. Discuss all the details of the trip in detail. The arrogance of pet owners knows no bounds. For example, after a trip, you may be asked to pay extra to help you get off your camel.
- Theft is also not uncommon. For example, if you give your camera to a stranger, there is a chance they will lose it.
- Due to safety reasons, climbing the pyramids of Giza is currently officially prohibited, but in some places, guards for tips turn a blind eye to this.
Proteus Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disorder that results in the overgrowth of body tissues, such as bones. The overgrowth is often disproportionate and can seriously alter a person's appearance. The condition was named after the Greek god Proteus, who could take various forms optional.
Symptoms of Proteus Syndrome
Each person with Proteus is affected differently. Some people may have overgrown limbs while others experience skull overgrowth. While this condition can affect any part of the body, the most common are bones, fat, and connective tissue. Blood vessels and internal organs may also be affected.The symptoms and features of Proteus syndrome are absent at birth. As the child begins to grow, the condition becomes apparent - usually between 6 and 18 months of age. The condition becomes more severe as the child continues to grow.
Although the specifics of the condition vary, some features are commonly seen in all patients diagnosed with Proteus syndrome.
Common Symptoms of Proteus Syndrome
Three characteristics common to people with Proteus syndrome include:- Some parts of the body, such as the limbs or the head, grow rapidly and are disproportionately large compared to other parts of the body. The growth pattern usually occurs in an asymmetric and "spotted" (mosaic) formation. Which parts of the body are affected will vary from person to person.
- Over time, overgrowth becomes more severe and can change a person's appearance. Over time, a person may experience excessive growth in new areas.
- No one in the person's family has the condition or any symptoms that indicate it.
- Noncancerous (benign) tumors
- Abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- Fatty growths (lipomas) or areas of tissue loss (atrophy)
- Deformed blood vessels, which increase the risk of blood clots and pulmonary embolism (the most common cause of death in people with Proteus syndrome)
- Thick, rough, raised striations in the skin, especially in the lower legs (a condition called connective tissue neurosis, which occurs almost exclusively in people with Proteus syndrome)
People with Proteus syndrome may also have certain facial features, such as a long face with wide nostrils, crossed eyes (strabismus), and drooping eyelids (ptosis). Some studies show that people with characteristic features individuals associated with Proteus syndrome are more likely to have neurological problems associated with the disease. Although the connection between these two aspects has been noted, it is not yet fully understood.
Causes of Proteus Syndrome
It is believed that Proteus syndrome is not a hereditary disease. Of the several hundred cases in the medical literature, not a single person known to have had Proteus syndrome had a child with the condition.Proteus syndrome, however, is caused by a genetic mutation. In 2011, researchers identified the gene responsible for proteus syndrome: AKT1. The gene is involved in how cells grow and divide (proliferation) and can also prevent cells from dying when they should (apoptosis). Because it affects these cellular mechanisms, the gene is also involved in some forms of cancer.
Even though Proteus syndrome is linked to a gene, this does not mean that the parent "gives" the condition to the child. Mutations occur spontaneously (sporadically) and early stages fetal development.
A mutation in the AKT1 gene affects how cells grow, but not all cells will be affected by the mutation (called mosaicism). This causes some tissues to grow normally, while others develop the growth characteristic of Proteus syndrome.
The specific symptoms a person has and their severity is usually proportional to the ratio of normal to mutated cells they have.
How they mutate and cause disorders
Diagnosis of Proteus Syndrome
Proteus syndrome is very rare, with only a few hundred cases diagnosed worldwide, and many researchers believe the condition may be overdiagnosed. Other conditions that can cause asymmetric or abnormal growth patterns may be misdiagnosed as Proteus syndrome, meaning the true frequency of the disorder may be even rarer.Doctors use a very specific set of guidelines to make a diagnosis of Proteus syndrome. Understanding the role that gene mutations play in the development of the condition has helped make the diagnostic process more accurate.
Together with diagnostic criteria that include the presence of physical characteristics, signs and symptoms, the diagnosis of Proteus syndrome usually requires extensive processing, including tissue biopsy, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and genetic testing.
Proteus syndrome was not described in the medical literature until 1979. Because the disease is so rare, many doctors have never seen it. Even with strict diagnostic criteria, it can be difficult to properly diagnose the condition. Proteus syndrome appears to affect men more often than women and is seen in people of all racial and ethnic groups.
One of the most notable cases of Proteus Syndrome is that of Joseph Merrick, better known as "The Elephant Man". Throughout his life in the early 19th century, Merrick was thought to have neurofibromatosis. Decades later, researchers now believe he did indeed have Proteus syndrome.
Why The Elephant Man Medical Mystery Baffles Doctors For 100 Years
Treatment of Proteus Syndrome
Does not exist from Proteus syndrome. Each person who has the condition will have different symptoms and these symptoms will vary in severity. All patients with Proteus Syndrome will need to work with a team of healthcare professionals to manage their medical care.Health needs
Some common medical needs for people with Proteus syndrome include:- Surgery to remove growths or excess skin
- Dental problems, including malocclusion
- Poor vision, strabismus (strabismus), or vision loss due to neurological disorders
- Cosmetic procedures for the correction of areas of the body deformed from excessive growth
- Monitoring of affected organ systems (, kidneys, brain, spine, etc.)
- Mental health, social and educational support
- Referral to specialists who deal with body systems that are more severely affected or that are at high risk of complications (for example: a vascular doctor who can monitor a person for blood clots, or an orthopedist who can help with bone overgrowth problems)
However, surgery comes with its own risks, especially for patients at risk of developing blood clots, like most with Proteus syndrome. Because of this risk, deciding when, if at all, to act can be a difficult decision for the physician.
Other potential problems, although they may not shorten life expectancy, can certainly affect a person's quality of life. Overgrowth or overgrowth caused by Proteus syndrome can seriously alter a person's appearance. When one or more limbs are affected, it can greatly affect a person's mobility. This, combined with neurological effects, may limit a person's ability to live independently. Social stigma associated with the "other" appearance, can cause emotional, anxiety and depression.
While people with Proteus syndrome usually need a team of specialists to manage their care, since most physicians (such as general practitioners or general practitioners) are unlikely to have encountered such cases earlier in their careers, the management of a person's care is usually supervised. a specialist such as a geneticist.
Need in regular care, follow-up, and close follow-up with specialists will depend on which areas of the body are affected, as well as the severity of the person's symptoms and the progression of the condition.
Word from Health-Ambulance
Because Proteus syndrome is so uncommon, it can be difficult to make a proper diagnosis. Once a person has been diagnosed, mainly focuses on managing symptoms (which can range in severity from mild to debilitating and can be physical, medical, and cosmetic) and preventing potentially life-threatening complications (such as pulmonary embolism or blood clots). ).Managing Proteus syndrome can be difficult, but is most successful when a person with the condition has the support of a team of healthcare professionals, including specialists, genetic counselors, and mental health professionals, who can manage all aspects of a person's life that have been affected by the condition.
