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Terms apply. Welcome to Gatsleep. When we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas, and I'm your host. Thank you so much for joining me this evening. Tonight we're beginning a multi-part series exploring the seven wonders of the ancient world. We'll start by visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and most famous of these historic monuments. Out of all seven wonders, this ancient tomb is the only one to remain mostly intact.
It continues to astound the likes of archaeologists and engineers, as well as millions of tourists who visit each year. A big thank you to Joe Steer for writing this one, which I have the pleasure of reading. and there will be six more to enjoy over the coming months. So let's take a moment to get comfy and settled, as we always do here, before our story begins. Ensure you're lying in a position that feels supportive and comfortable. and enjoy a few Deep slow breaths.
allowing your body and mind to relax more and more with each passing moment. If you're feeling at all anxious about your sleep, perhaps if you've been struggling a bit with it lately, just understand that you're not alone. There are many thousands of people listening to this show. and millions of others around the world trying to improve their own sleep. Having struggled with sleep my entire life, I've always tried to approach these anxieties with softness and reassurance.
I understand that being bombarded with reminders of how important sleep is or how you should be getting a certain amount is quite unhelpful most of the time. If you're like me, those things only tend to increase the sense of unease and worry around our relationship with sleep. So see if you can just lean into acceptance instead. Accept that you are where you are with it. And that might well be a great place. But even if it's not, That's okay.
The less pressure you put on yourself to achieve the absolute optimum night's sleep, the easier it will probably come. Of course you can do things to ensure nothing is holding you back. like improving the sleep hygiene of your bedroom, avoiding social media or other stimulating activities close to bedtime, and various other tweaks you might want to make. But now you're here, listening to my voice. There's nothing else you need to do.
Just enjoy the comfort of your bed, the familiarity of my voice. The opportunity to rest your eyes. and the wonderful story I'm about to tell. Allow any thoughts or concerns as we travel to Northeast Africa. Imagine yourself standing on golden sandy ground. beneath a cloudless sky of azure blue. This is where our story begins. It's early morning and already quite warm. But there is a nice breeze and you're thankful for that. You can feel the cool air rolling over you in waves.
It's as refreshing as water washing over your skin. You close your eyes and listen for a moment, absorbed by the sound of rustling trees. The air moves through the canopies of the palms above the constant flow of running water. Opening your eyes you see the source of the noise. It's the famous River Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt. You can smell the freshness of the water and the scent of the flowers growing on the river bank.
The main river is some distance ahead, but it appears that channels have been dug out at its sides. Three canals flew towards and behind you. Strips of blue-green that look striking against the sand. You've come to Giza on the west bank of the Nile. You are just across the river from the capital of Cairo and 20 miles north of the city of Memphis. Memphis was the capital during the reign of Pharaoh Narma. the first king to rule a unified Egypt.
But you have travelled to the 25th century BCE, when Egypt was ruled by its fourth dynasty of pharaohs. Historians have labelled this the Old Kingdom era because the enduring civilisation was still in its infancy. The fourth dynasty is considered by many to be a golden age of early Egypt. There was peace and prosperity throughout the kingdom, and the nation was at the peak of its pyramid-building era. The Great Pyramid of Giza was commissioned by Khufu. second pharaoh of the fourth dynasty.
It was the grandest tomb to house him in the afterlife, a magnificent resting place befitting a king. You'll learn all about the Great Pyramid of Giza as you tore the grounds. here in the 25th century BCE. It's just a short while after the complex was completed. Your attention returns to the Nile, where you stand on its banks admiring the blue-green water. sunlight flickers across the river's surface in shades of white, gold and luminous silver.
You feel that you could stay here for the longest time, watching the colours and patterns on the water. The river has a perfume that's both woody and floral. It's a heady elixir blended with the breeze. Your breath deepens naturally as you take in the scent and note a hint of distant spices like cinnamon and cardamom. You recognize the earthy aroma of myrrh, rich, sweet, and concentrated like a resin. There's another scent too. Maybe lilies or roses.
It seems to emanate from a woman stood nearby. She's dressed in the fashions of the time. a loose-fitting tunic made of thin white cotton. Her feet look well cushioned in papyrus sandals, and her footsteps are hushed on a carpet of sand. Her dark, glossy hair is veiled with sunlight, and her eyes are outlined by thick coal-maker. She catches your eye and smiles warmly. before returning her gaze to where she is walking.
Her perfume washes over you in the sweetest of waves as she passes by, heading in the opposite direction. There's something intriguing about the woman's demeanor. Her movements are so gentle. So measured and graceful. A sense of peace seems to follow her. But in her eyes, you detect excitement and wonder. You close your eyes for just a moment and drink in the perfumed air. Then you turn around away from the Nile and cast your gaze across the city of Giza.
For the first time you see the reason for the woman's excitement. The Pyramids of Egypt, part of a complex of numerous structures and buildings. thousands of years in the future The pyramids will have an exterior of brown sandstone. But here and now, in their original state, the sandstone is hidden beneath a case of white limestone. You've never seen stone so polished or dazzling. When the sunlight glints off the surface of the Great Pyramid, It glows a brilliant white like a beacon.
It's surreal, otherworldly and uniquely beautiful. These sleek white structures are capped with electrum, a metallic compound made of silver and gold. Their exteriors have etchings. Though you can't make them out. You suspect their hieroglyphics. When you picture the main pyramids as they can be seen in the 21st century, you envision them nestled amongst only a few other buildings. You picture some smaller step pyramids and what remains of the Sphinx. But aside from that, it's relatively open.
In this time period however, the complex looks very different. It's a town-sized necropolis of ancient architecture. The pyramids tower above countless other structures. All are intact, as if they were built only yesterday. The ground around the pyramids is peppered with mastabas. They are rectangular houses made of sand-coloured limestone. These ancient mausoleums are maybe ten metres tall, though from here they look a whole lot smaller. Elsewhere, there are doorways cut into hillsides.
and beautiful temples between stone laid causeways. What you're looking at, essentially, is a large-scale memorial. a desert sanctuary where the ancients were laid to rest. It doesn't feel sad or desolate though. It's far too magnificent for that. Instead, it's a tribute to those who reside here and a grand celebration of what the living can achieve. More than anything, it's a place of peace and beauty. You can feel the serenity with every inhalation.
You can still smell a trace of sweet perfume from where the woman walked ahead towards the complex. You set off following the path of her footprints in the sand. Only now do you notice that you are dressed like her. in a lightweight tunic with sandals on your feet. You enjoy the warmth of the sunshine on your skin as you make your way towards the grandest of the buildings. The pyramids grow taller with each step forwards, as do the buildings on the ground below them.
You feel almost as if you're breathing in knowledge, as if the secrets of the pyramid are held in the breeze. You begin to wonder if you're awake or dreaming. The three main pyramids ascend in height from left to right. The Pyramid of Menchori is on the left, and beside it, in the middle, is the Pyramid of Khafre. The Great Pyramid of Giza is furthest right. It's the largest and most impressive of the three main structures.
In the 21st century, it is hailed as one of the seven ancient wonders and one of the most recognizable monuments in the entire world. It's also known as the Pyramid of Khufu after the pharaoh who commissioned its construction. the second ruler of the fourth dynasty. His work stood out amongst a family of pyramid builders. You think about the pharaohs and the Egyptian people as you stroll onwards towards the Great Pyramid.
You ponder the beliefs about religion and the afterlife that were built into the foundations of this sacred place. Life and death were thought to happen in cycles, like much of the nature that the people here saw around them. The branches of the fig tree might be bare in winter. But by late springtime, they'll be dripping with fresh fruit. A person's death was far from an ending. Rather, it was the beginning of a different cycle.
The sun god Ra was thought to die with the sunset, only to be reborn each day at sunrise. A great deal of thought was put into the afterlife and how to prepare for one's rebirth. bodies were preserved through the ritual of embalming. so that parts of the soul could reunite after passing. It was thought that pharaohs became gods after death, eventually finding their way to the field of reeds. This was a paradise of immense natural wonder, a place of lush green farmland and stunning waterfalls.
The afterlife was located in the circumpolar stars, which rotate continuously around the polar or north star. these were known as the indestructibles or immortals because they never fully sat being above the horizon It's incredible to think that these stars are visible from the central king's chamber inside the Great Pyramid. Two narrow air vents point up like telescopes towards Orion's belt on one side and the North Star on the other.
It is argued by some that the purpose of these channels was to direct the pharaoh's soul to his place in the afterlife. It was the king's pathway to the celestial realm, where he could take his place amongst the gods of Egypt. The position of the stars was also considered when mapping out the placement of the main pyramids. Each has an exact astronomical orientation, with sides perfectly aligned with the points of a compass. You look up now to the sky above the pyramids.
and cast your gaze over a vast blue expanse. It's clear, cloudless, and glittering with sunshine. an azure frame around these gleaming white structures. The circumpolar stars aren't visible right now. They're hidden beneath a blanket of bright, sunny daylight. You'll be able to see them in the darkness of evening, when the pyramids glow silver beneath the stars and moonlight. Returning your gaze directly ahead, you see that you've reached the beginning of the complex.
You take a central pathway that veers right across the sand on your way towards Khufu's Great Pyramid. On your left you note a channel of water. It stretches back behind you to where it meets the Nile. It's wide enough that boats can travel across it. but so still and calm that you cannot hear it lapping. The canal feeds into a large pool of water. Its blue-green surface shining with sunlight. An open air temple stands tall behind it, bordered at each side by massive golden columns.
Each of the main pyramids have similar temples positioned at a distance from one another at their entrance. These are the valley temples, which connect the pyramids with the sacred Nile. Much of the stone that was used to build these pyramids came from the plateau on which they were established. But other necessities, like granite from southern Egypt, were brought in ships along these channels.
The bodies of the pharaohs were embalmed in these temples before being moved along the stone-laid causeway. Pharaohs might be carried in a ship or sarcophagus in a grand procession towards the pyramid. The causeway of each pyramid is around a kilometre long, ending at the so-called funerary temple. This was where crowds might leave gifts and tributes. or burn incense in honour of the Pharaoh.
The valley temple to your left is the pyramid of Khafre, son of Khufu, who built the great pyramid next door. You recognize his name in the symbols of hieroglyphics, the ancient alphabet carved into the columns. Just as you'd been surprised by the colour of the pyramids, you're equally taken by the beauty of these symbols. In their original state they've been meticulously hand-painted in vivid shades that stand out against the stone. Even more impressive is what's behind the temple.
The Great Sphinx of Giza. freshly built and painted. This mythical creature has the body of a lion, roughly the length of a jumbo jet aeroplane. Its massive head resembles the pharaoh Khafre, brought to life as you've never seen it. His eyes are thickly outlined, like those of the woman you noticed earlier. A pointed beard stretches down below his chin in the same shade of lapis blue. His face is framed by a royal headdress, striped blue and gold. with a cobra at its top.
Certainly, the Great Sphinx is a formidable creature, one tasked with guarding the complex. Though he is twenty meters tall, He makes the pyramids look even taller. The white stone looks brighter still against the colours of his face. To your right, you look out on rock-cut tombs where rectangular doorframes have been carved into the hillside. The exterior of the walls have been smoothed and sculpted. and expertly decorated in painted hieroglyphics.
In front of the hillside, the land flattens out and headstones rise up like gold bars. Hieroglyphics on top. Honor those placed inside. Most likely members of the Egyptian nobility. It was a tremendous honour for any Egyptian to be laid to rest so close to the pharaoh. It would go a long way to ensuring good treatment once they passed on into the afterlife. Pride of place was given to the pharaoh's wives, mother and sisters who were placed inside the so-called Queen's Pyramids.
You can see these now on the eastern front. Three white pyramids around 50 meters tall. Only here, within this magical complex, could the Queen's Pyramids be referred to as small. But that's how they appear against the pyramid behind them, which dwarfs everything around it at 140 meters tall. At this point in history, it is the tallest human-made structure across the globe, and will remain as such for nearly 4,000 years. Were it built in the 21st century, it would still be a huge achievement.
So it's almost unbelievable to see it standing here in this age. It's for this reason that there's still much to debate as to how the pyramid was actually built. It seems that the Egyptians intentionally left few records. perhaps hoping to maintain the mystery of its construction. What we know is that Khufu employed the architect Hemi-Unu and that he managed a workforce of around 25,000.
contrary to popular belief, these workers weren't enslaved people, but citizens who came from across the country. Egyptian people were required by law to perform labour for the government each year. Workers were housed in nearby dwellings and often fed better than the average Egyptian. Tasks ranged from administerial paperwork to making tools or clothes for those in construction. though the bulk of the work was manual labour, quarrying, sculpting and transporting the stone.
This was made easier by the architect's decision to build the Great Pyramid on the West Bank Plateau. The area is rich in sand-coloured limestone, which meant that stone could be cut from nearby ground. However, even more had to be sourced from a distant quarry and fixed with ropes to large cedar sleds. Ramps and pulleys were most likely used to pull blocks up the pyramid and set them in place. Hemiunu had planned to complete the project over a span of twenty years.
Practically speaking, this meant that every three seconds a block of quarried limestone would need to be set in place. Bear in mind that a single block can weigh from around two tons to upwards of fifty. Also, that limestone, once exposed to oxygen, requires careful chiselling to form into place. Of the two million stone blocks that form Khufu's pyramid, every single one had to be perfect.
The smallest imperfection in a stone at the bottom could weaken the integrity of the 60 million ton structure. It was thousands of years before the birth of geometry, and the only measuring tools at hand were wooden set squares and plum weights. Yet the pyramid is more precise than many modern skyscrapers. Angles are accurate to a single degree. No matter what we learn about Khufu's great pyramid, it never seems to lose its air of mystery.
Arguments about the methods and the manpower used to build it only seem to add to its magic and wonder. Of all the beauty that you've seen in the world, nothing has provoked such answer for all. You feel wonderfully small and insignificant. like a drop of water in a great ocean. The east side of the pyramid isn't in the shade. But the air around it makes it feel as if it is. It's as if there's a coolness radiating from the limestone. lowering the temperature around its base.
Its white polished surface is luminous in the sunlight and so glossy that you can see your reflection. Looking to the ground, you can make out footprints, perhaps those of the woman that you followed earlier. They lead out in the direction of the funerary temple, towards the aroma of incense and the sound of sweet music. The breeze flutters gently through the back of your tunic. pushing you along as if you're floating on a stream.
You pause for a moment before the great temple, its sides surrounded by pillars and statues. Somehow you're sure that a ship is beneath you, buried in the sand at the side of the temple. You can picture its base, curved upwards like a smile. and the box-like area where a passenger might sit. oars at each side have paddles shaped like leaves made of lebanese cedar like the rest of the vessel This is what's known as a solar barque or barge and a replica of the ship believed to be used by rock.
It's what the sun god uses to traverse the skies, sailing through the underworld in the dark of night time. The boat was buried beside the pyramid for the pharaoh to use once it had been reborn. On this, he can navigate through the afterlife, finding his way to the field of reeds. However, in some ancient scrolls, it is said that the pharaoh becomes a falcon, flying all the way up to those circumpolar stars. This could be the reason for those star shafts inside the pyramid.
They are just large enough for a bird to fly through. It's just as you're thinking about this possibility that your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a bird. You raise a hand to your forehead and shield your eyes from the sun. soon spotting a bird sailing gracefully through the air. Instantly, you recognize its outstretched wings, a mottled patchwork of cream and brown feathers. By some coincidence, it's a peregrine falcon, thought king of the birds by these ancient Egyptians.
The falcon is thought to be an earthly representation of both the sun god Ra and the sky god Horus. this sacred bird is the protector of the pharaohs and it's a sign of great fortune to spot one flying You stand for some time and watch the Falcon. It twists and turns, forming patterns in the sky. and eventually it disappears behind the wall of the pyramid and you return your gaze to the temple ahead.
It's then that you see a familiar face through the gaps between the columns that surround the temple. The perfumed woman is seated on a stool and playing sweet music on an ancient reed flute. It's not like any flute you've had before. There's a breathiness to the notes that seems to cause the sounds to linger. The tune is hypnotic, yet warm and comforting, like birds sung. You follow the music up the steps of the temple into the room where the woman is seated.
She doesn't stop playing, but she nods her head slightly as if to welcome you inside. Not far from the woman is a huge stone statue, most likely an image of Khufu himself. A thin cloud of smoke drifts upwards beside it from a gold-plated stand where incense burns. For the second time today, you note the fragrance of myrrh. It's rich, resinous and beautifully warming. The smokiness of the resin makes the room appear dreamlike. especially as it's combined with the reed flute's song.
You pause here for a moment and close your eyes. You listen to the notes floating in the air. The melody twists and turns like a long, snaking river. flowing organically from one to another. Your natural breath has slowed down in the temple as you savour the aroma of rich earthy myrrh. There's a spiciness to the scent that you previously hadn't noticed, and a balsamic quality that on the breath feels healing. You also note hints of the woman's perfume. It's floral, musky and as sweet as honey.
It blends with the resin to create a soothing atmosphere, as lush and natural as a desert oasis. When you open your eyes, You see things that you hadn't noticed hidden on the floor beneath a layer of haze. Candles flicker around the base of the statue. They cast a soft yellow hue across myriad offerings. Candlelight bounces over gold and silver jewelry. Bracelets and necklaces encrusted with gemstones. It highlights the details of gorgeous wooden boxes, etched, sculpted, and inlaid with ivory.
You see clothing, cosmetics, perfumes and ointments. and copious amounts of food and drink. Fresh and dried fruits, nuts and cheeses have been placed in pottery. decorate it in ancient symbols. Your mind begins to take you on a journey inside the pyramid. to the sealed off rooms filled with similar goods. The bottom most of these is the underground chamber. whilst the Queen's Chamber is almost directly above.
A network of passageways have been cut from the stone, providing access to three different rooms. Included amongst these is the Grand Gallery It rises to a height of over 20 meters tall. It was built with an offset, so the walls are closer towards the top. A technique that dates back to Bronze Age construction. Perfectly smooth walls frame an ascending stone staircase. One that leads up to the central king's chamber. This is where the sarcophagus is housed.
It's the most sacred room in the whole pyramid. slabs were engineered to close off the tomb, though no one is entirely sure how. The walls, floor and ceiling are lined with granite, cut to precision in matching blocks. It's also being used to reinforce the ceiling as a precautionary measure in case of collapse. Granite is heavy and also very durable. It can withstand more erosion than most other stones. That's why it was used to line the king's chamber.
It was another measure to protect the Pharaoh. Not only the Pharaoh, but the items stored with him. Each chamber, after all, was a veritable treasure trove. In many ways, the pyramid was like a giant suitcase, packed with everything the Pharaoh might need on his travels. to these ancient objections. The pharaoh's afterlife might not be so different from his life on earth. Thus, the king's chamber might not look all that different from something like a bedroom within a grand royal palace.
You can picture it now as if you are inside a room. You see all kinds of furniture, carved and sculpted. The feet of a table have paws like a lion. An ancient bed frame is inlaid with gold. There are a plethora of outfits that the pharaoh might wear. Clothes, sandals, kelts and robes. There's jewellery, cosmetics, oils and perfumes. and enough food and drink to long sustain him. There are handcrafted weapons in case of battle. and games he might play on calmer days.
It's a pleasant thought to think of the pharaoh in paradise playing board games with a table of gods. A scroll within the chamber depicts the field of reeds. It's been hand painted on papyrus. With its sun-soaked meadows, rivers and waterfalls, It's instantly recognizable as the Egyptian paradise. You can see the painting as if you're inside the pyramid, examining the papyrus in the glow of candlelight.
You can envision the view through the rectangular air vent and feel the breeze flowing out between the granite. The North Star shines bright like a beacon, visible in a sky now blanketed in darkness. The circumpolar stars sparkle around it, smaller and more subtle, but no less magical. You turn the image over in your mind as you now take a seat in a chair you hadn't noticed before. You sink into the cushions of lapis-blue velvet as you imagine an oasis located in the stars.
slipping out of your sandals, you raise your legs and prop up your feet on the cushioned footstool. From here you can rest and absorb the aromas. You can take in the music from the woman on her flute. The air is far cooler beneath the roof of the temple, and the daylight is dimmed by thick stone columns. Behind the haze of incense, it could easily be evening. though instead of the stars, You have the flames of candles. Your muscles relax.
and your body grows heavy as you sink deeper into the cushions. The velvet moulds around the frame of your body. It's soft and luxurious against your skin. You breathe cool air. In and out. Becoming more relaxed with each passing second. It's easy to imagine yourself in a natural oasis. as you take in the scents of myrrh and perfume Your mind clears of tangible thoughts. and your feelings flow like the current of a river.
All that you are left with is a feeling of awe at the wonderful things you've seen here today. though eventually even this begins to fade. behind an overwhelming sense of comfort in your body. You close your eyes. and sink back into the cushion. surrendering to rest and relaxation. Here, at the Great Pyramid.