BUILDING BY DESIGN ENGINEERING THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA BY CHRISTINE ZUCHORA-WALSKE CONTENT CONSULTANT Michel Barsoum Distinguished Professor Materials Science and Engineering Drexel University Cover image Giza’s pyramids are among the world’s oldest largest and most impressive landmarks Core Library An Imprint of Abdo Publishing abdopublishing com
CHAPTER ONE 4
THE PYRAMIDS IN THEIR PRIME It It is early morning in the workers city at Giza in ancient Egypt It is the 2500s BCE The sun rises over the Nile River east of town It lights up the eastern face of King Khufu’s huge pyramid to the north At the pyramid’s peak a shiny capstone reflects the sun Khufu has died The pyramid is his tomb But it’s more than just a tomb It is a symbol of the Egyptians religious beliefs It is also a marvel of ancient engineering An artist’s rendering shows how Khufu’s pyramid may have looked in ancient times 5
