The History of Egypt

05: One Who Makes Beautiful Things

Jan 28, 2013
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Sneferu’s Reign Sparked A Building Boom

  • Sneferu rose to power around 2620–2580 BCE and ruled about 45 years during a boom in Egyptian state wealth and stability.
  • His reign enabled ambitious building projects and the start of a new age of pyramid construction.
ANECDOTE

From Quarry Grid To Nile Barges

  • Quarry teams used inked strings and wooden poles to mark grids and chisel massive limestone blocks.
  • Workers lashed ropes and dragged multi-ton blocks to the Nile, loaded them onto barges, and transported them to the pyramid site.
INSIGHT

Construction Records Reveal Timelines

  • Workers marked blocks with ink notes recording arrival dates and teams, giving archaeologists construction timelines.
  • A block noting "year the 13th occasion" ties Meidum's progress to roughly 26 years into Sneferu's reign.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app