When one thinks of pyramids, the dramatic stone structures standing regally over the desert sands of Giza, Egypt come to mind. The proud tributes to past pharaohs have captivated explorers for centuries and continue to attract tourists today. They are not, however, the only pyramids that have caught the attention of the public; in Central America lay the Mayan pyramids, step-pyramids built by a Mesoamerican civilization formed around 1500 BC. While both the pyramids of Egypt and the Mayan pyramids are similar in general structure, they are vastly different buildings with blatant cultural differences that are particularly evident in the physical appearance, purpose, construction, and the methods of construction used to build them.
Most people always wonder how the world was like in the past. Today, ancient structures and temples tell archeologists some information about past civilizations. A prime example of this are the Mayan pyramids and Egyptian pyramids; these structures both have their differences and similarities.
The Mayan pyramids are located in Central America. They have stairs, with 365 steps, on each side of the pyramid that lead up to the “entrance to [the] inner temple chamber” at the top (Source 4: Infographic). The sides of it are like giant steps, and some of them were painted after being covered with plaster. “Compared to the Egyptian pyramids at Giza, Mayan pyramids are mostly smaller, but steeper and more ornate” (Source 3: Travel Guide). They were used as tombs for kings and queens, religious
The Pyramid of Giza was built in 2560 bce. It probably took along time to build it.The Pyramid was built by the fourth dynasty pharaoh Khufu and Hemiunu.In Moden Cairo,Egypt.It is 755.75 feet (230 meters) tall. The original height was 481.4 feet (147 meters).
Two historical monuments with extraordinary architectural stories are rare to find still standing to this day. The Parthenon and the Great Pyramids of Giza are perhaps two of the most magnificent pieces of architecture the world has ever seen. In order to creates a better understanding of the importance of the two ancient structures the differences and similarities of the Parthenon and the pyramids constructions, functions along with relevance both then and now must be explored.
Two very important historic buildings from the Greek and Roman civilizations, namely the Parthenon and the Pantheon respectively, are worthy of academic exploration. An analysis of their function and style will help to put their design and features into perspective, and create a better appreciation for their emulation in Western civilization. These buildings possess very unique individual characteristic designs, which bears testimony to the societies from which they originate. However, they are also a resourceful database of knowledge in terms of their symbolism, rich heritage of their era and application to the present civilization. Their permanent contribution to historical reference and modern society, are a token of their expression
The Two Buildings; Parthenon in Athens and Pantheon in Rome are both classical heritage of the former world powers. Both buildings were temple built and dedicated to the gods of Athens and Romans. The excellent strength and the durability of these temples are unimaginable. Going by the length of time that these buildings have been in existence, one cannot but admires the brilliance of the ancient Greek and Roman architects for such excellent edifices that have outlived many generations, and yet remain a symbol of ancient Greek and Roman history. In this piece of work, it is essential to compare the two buildings while systematically considering their similarities and differences that have memorialized their existence until now.
The slaves were not a critical part in building the pyramids since workers who died building them had the honor of being buried near their pharaoh with bread and beer for their afterlives, nobody know how many slaves were helpers in the construction, and the working gangs that had been created had names like, “the Friends of Khufu.” Slaves are people who are forced to work against their will.
The Great city of Teotihuacan is a metropolis in the Valley of Mexico. Once a city of prestige and influence, it housed a powerful and urban population in a broad, flat valley. The name, ‘Teotihuacan,’ means ‘the place of those who have the road to the gods’. It was amid the dry, volcanic mountains of central Mexico. Teotihuacan dominated throughout Mesopotamia through trade, politics, and war. Living in a warrior society, where they emphasized violence and the valley of death. The city is a precise rectilinear grid with an architectural form resembling mountains. The axis looked at stars and mountains and mapped out the environment. The architecture is of both mass and space- mass in the temples, and the interior space within the compounds.
The Taj Mahal was a tremendous achievement by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. It was made in the heart and capital of the Mughal empire, Agra. Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor. He formed this tomb as a burial place and as a monument of remembrance for his lost love, his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Known as the “Jewel of India”, it acts as a symbol of his love for his wife. On the other hand, the Pyramids of Giza were constructed by multiple pharaohs, in Giza and are seen as a family complex today for the burial of the pharaohs for Egypt to guide them in their afterlives. The construction of the Pyramids of Giza was more about national prestige and leaving behind a
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan is known for its various art exhibits. There are numerous exhibits that hold art of religious significance. This includes the Temple of Dendur. This temple is located in Gallery 131, the Sackler wing of the museum.
“The temples in Mesoamerica and in particular with the Aztecs were seen as a way to get closer to the gods. The Aztec people built temples and pyramids in numbers, from the largest temple, the Templo Mayor to the Sun and Moon Pyramids which still stand proud today.” This quote proves my thesis statement because in their religion they are focused on pleasing the gods in everything they do and they built multiple temples to create a stronger relationships with the gods. At the top of most Aztec temples would be a statue representing the god that the temple was built for. This is why there are so many Aztec temples, because each temple represented one god and it is said that the Aztecs believed in multiple
The style of the building and the purpose it is built give a brief and thoughtful storybook about the culture of the architect as art, generally, and architecture, particularly, is a language itself. Thus, buildings narrate the stories of the people among the history and tell their traditions and habits to the next generation through its design, inscriptions, and details. In this essay, I will discuss how both the style and function of the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon served as typical examples of their cultures in Athens and ancient Rome. In addition to the similarities and differences between these two cultures through the two buildings.
Borobodur and dome of the rock have many things in common, including the factor of being both centrally planned. Although the reasons are distinctively different they are both for religious purposes. Borobodur being an important Buddhist temple, was constructed with the same idea as the conic shape of a stupa. The shape reminds us of a mandala, also important to Buddhists : The eternal cycle of life. On another side, the dome of the rock has a great significance to Muslims and Jews, for its rock. The dome and the building are centrally planned around the mystical rock, where according to Muslims the Islamic prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven, with Gabriel the angel. and according to jews the rock is the sacred place where Abraham prepared
The ziggurat of Ur was built by the Sumerians.They built it with solid mud brick and bitumen. A ziggurat has four sides that are oriented to the cardinal points of the compass. The temple was built on a platform that lifts the building up to the ground; this platform is the ziggurat. Ziggurat symbolizes elevation or a link between men and the heavens. Furthermore, the ziggurat also emphasized and maintained the Priest-king`s status, his isolation from the rest depicts that he is important and more closer to god than anyone else. Similar to the ancient Egypt, the pyramids of Giza have four sided base and these structures are also oriented to the cardinal points of the compass. Moreover, the pyramid is also a stairway to connect themselves to their gods. Likewise, Egyptian civilization is hierarchical, the pyramids of Giza are a way to emphasize that they are elite and in the top of the hierarchy.