Misplaced Pages

#951048

100-559: It is one of the five remaining pyramids of the original eleven pyramids at Dahshur in Egypt . Originally named Amenemhet is Mighty , the pyramid earned the name Black Pyramid for its dark, decaying appearance as a rubble mound. The Black Pyramid was the first to house both the deceased pharaoh and his queens. Jacques de Morgan , on a French mission, began the excavation on the pyramids at Dahshur in 1892. The German Archaeological Institute of Cairo completed excavation in 1983. The pyramid

200-625: A bottle. On 12 August, the same blogger posted two videos of alleged police torture of a man in a Port Said police station by the head of investigations, Mohammed Abu Ghazala. There was no indication that the government investigated either case." The deployment of Baltageya ( Arabic : بلطجية )—plainclothes police—by the NDP was a hallmark of the Mubarak government. The Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights documented 567 cases of torture, including 167 deaths, by police from 1993 to 2007. Excessive force

300-751: A central role in the mound-building peoples' religious life. Documented uses include semi-public chief 's house platforms, public temple platforms, mortuary platforms, charnel house platforms, earth lodge /town house platforms, residence platforms, square ground and rotunda platforms, and dance platforms. Cultures that built substructure mounds include the Troyville culture , Coles Creek culture , Plaquemine culture and Mississippian cultures . Many square flat-topped mound tombs in China . The first emperor Qin Shi Huang ( c.  221 BC , who unified

400-716: A circular plan survives at the site of Cuicuilco , now inside Mexico City and mostly covered with lava from an eruption of the Xitle Volcano in the 1st century BC. Several circular stepped pyramids called Guachimontones survive in Teuchitlán, Jalisco . Pyramids in Mexico were often used for human sacrifice . Harner stated that for the dedication of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, "one source states 20,000, another 72,344, and several give 80,400" as

500-582: A gesture to a new beginning, protesters cleaned up and renovated Tahrir Square (the epicenter of the demonstrations); however, many pledged to continue protesting until all demands had been met. 17 February : The army said that it would not field a candidate in the upcoming presidential elections. Four important figures in the former regime were arrested that day: former interior minister Habib el-Adly , former minister of housing Ahmed Maghrabi , former tourism minister H.E. Zuheir Garana and steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz . 2 March : The constitutional referendum

600-482: A large open area. There were houses on the northern side of the causeway that have been identified as priest's houses. By the 13th Dynasty , a lack of security led to local inhabitants using the Valley Temple as a granary and the pyramid being looted for the first time. There is evidence of restoration work perhaps 100 years later, when King Auibre Hor and his princess Nubhetepti-khered were buried in two of

700-550: A legendary struggle for the throne of Argos and another that he was told was the tomb of Argives killed in a battle around 669/8 BC. Neither survives and no evidence indicates that they resembled Egyptian pyramids. At least two surviving pyramid-like structures are available to study, one at Hellenikon and the other at Ligourio/Ligurio, a village near the ancient theatre Epidaurus . These buildings have inwardly sloping walls, but bear no other resemblance to Egyptian pyramids. They had large central rooms (unlike Egyptian pyramids) and

800-471: A pyramid tomb for himself in a famed New Orleans graveyard. 2011 Egyptian revolution [REDACTED] Pro-government: [REDACTED] Opposition groups: [REDACTED] Hosni Mubarak ( President of Egypt ) The 2011 Egyptian revolution , also known as the 25 January Revolution ( Arabic : ثورة ٢٥ يناير , romanized :  Thawrat khamsa wa-ʿišrūn yanāyir ;), began on 25 January 2011 and spread across Egypt . The date

900-583: A score of 3.1 based on perceptions by business people and analysts of the degree of corruption (with 10 being clean, and 0 totally corrupt). To prepare for the possible overthrow of Mubarak, opposition groups studied Gene Sharp 's work on nonviolent action and worked with leaders of Otpor , the student-led Serbian organisation . Copies of Sharp's list of 198 non-violent "weapons", translated into Arabic and not always attributed to him, were circulated in Tahrir Square during its occupation. Following

1000-502: A series of popular elections, with Egyptians electing Islamist Mohamed Morsi to the presidency in June 2012, after winning the election over Ahmed Shafik. However, the Morsi government encountered fierce opposition after his attempt to pass an Islamic-leaning constitution. Morsi also issued a temporary presidential decree that raised his decisions over judicial review to enable the passing of

1100-457: A type of burial structure formed from graves built into natural rock. The pyramid was built with an east–west orientation and has two entrances located on the south-eastern and south-western corners. The core of the superstructure was of mud brick with no internal walls; possibly a weight saving measure considering how close the pyramid was to the Nile. The pyramid was, however, built on clay that

SECTION 10

#1732765489952

1200-458: Is assumed that they had shrines at the top, but no archaeological evidence supports this and the only textual evidence is from Herodotus . Access to the shrine would have been by a series of ramps on one side of the ziggurat or by a spiral ramp from base to summit. The most famous African pyramids are in Egypt — huge structures built of bricks or stones, primarily limestone, some of which are among

1300-491: Is dangerous and untenable." Others believed that Egypt was not ready for revolution, citing little aspiration by the Egyptian people, low educational levels and a strong government with military support. The BBC said, "The simple fact is that most Egyptians do not see any way that they can change their country or their lives through political action, be it voting, activism, or going out on the streets to demonstrate." After

1400-492: Is found. In late 2010, about 40 per cent of Egypt's population lived on the equivalent of roughly US$ 2 per day, with a large portion relying on subsidised goods. According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics and other proponents of demographic structural approach ( cliodynamics ), a basic problem in Egypt is unemployment driven by a demographic youth bulge ; with the number of new people entering

1500-650: Is that these pyramids were inspired by the Borobudur monument through Sumatran and Javanese monks. A similar Buddhist monument survives in Vrang , Tajikistan . At least nine Buddhist step pyramids survive, 4 from former Gyeongsang Province of Korea, 3 from Japan, 1 from Indonesia (Borobudur) and 1 from Tajikistan . Several pyramids were erected throughout the Pacific islands, such as Puʻukoholā Heiau in Hawaii ,

1600-970: Is the Mesoamerican Great Pyramid of Cholula , in the Mexican state of Puebla . For millennia, the largest structures on Earth were pyramids—first the Red Pyramid in the Dashur Necropolis and then the Great Pyramid of Khufu , both in Egypt —the latter is the only extant example of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . The Mesopotamians built the earliest pyramidal structures, called ziggurats . In ancient times, these were brightly painted in gold / bronze . They were constructed of sun-dried mud-brick, and little remains of them. Ziggurats were built by

1700-1176: The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram . However, the largest temple (area) is the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu . The Thanjavur temple was built by Raja Raja Chola in the 11th century. The Brihadisvara Temple was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987; the Temple of Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram were added in 2004. Austronesian megalithic culture in Indonesia featured earth and stone step pyramid structures called punden berundak. These were discovered in Pangguyangan near Cisolok and in Cipari near Kuningan. The stone pyramids were based on beliefs that mountains and high places were

1800-631: The Arab Socialist Union operated as the sole political party in Egypt. Under Sadat, the multi-party system during the monarchy was reintroduced but the National Democratic Party (which evolved from Nasser’s Arab Socialist Union ) remained dominant in Egypt’s politics and there were restrictions on opposition parties. Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) maintained one-party rule. His government received support from

1900-788: The Ministry of Interior . Protesters also demanded the resignation of the Minister of Interior, an end to State corruption, the end of emergency law and presidential term limits for the president. Many political movements, opposition parties and public figures supported the day of revolt, including Youth for Justice and Freedom, the Coalition of the Youth of the Revolution , the Popular Democratic Movement for Change,

2000-932: The Pulemelei Mound in Samoa , and Nan Madol in Pohnpei . With the Egyptian Revival movement in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, pyramids became more common in funerary architecture. The tomb of Quintino Sella , outside the monumental cemetery of Oropa , is pyramid-shaped. This style was popular with tycoons in the US. The Schoenhofen Pyramid Mausoleum (1889) in Chicago and Hunt's Tomb (1930) in Phoenix, Arizona are notable examples. Some people build pyramid tombs for themselves. Nicolas Cage bought

2100-894: The Revolutionary Socialists and the National Association for Change . The April 6 Youth Movement was a major supporter of the protest, distributing 20,000 leaflets saying "I will protest on 25 January for my rights". The Ghad El-Thawra Party , Karama , Wafd and Democratic Front supported the protests. The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, confirmed on 23 January that it would participate. Public figures, including novelist Alaa Al Aswany , writer Belal Fadl and actors Amr Waked and Khaled Aboul Naga , announced that they would participate. The leftist National Progressive Unionist Party (the Tagammu ) said that it would not participate, and

SECTION 20

#1732765489952

2200-611: The Sumerians , Babylonians , Elamites , Akkadians , and Assyrians . Each ziggurat was part of a temple complex that included other buildings. The ziggurat's precursors were raised platforms that date from the Ubaid period of the fourth millennium BC. The earliest ziggurats began near the end of the Early Dynastic Period . The original pyramidal structure, the anu ziggurat, dates to around 4000 BC. The White Temple

2300-486: The assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981. He inherited an authoritarian system from Sadat which was imposed in 1952 following the coup against King Farouk . The coup in 1952 led to the abolishment of the monarchy and Egypt became a one party and military dominated state. Nasser who was a member of the Free Officers became the second President of Egypt following the resignation of Muhammad Naguib and under his rule,

2400-480: The feudal era, e.g. as the tower of Oviedo 's Gothic Cathedral of San Salvador . Andean cultures used pyramids in various architectural structures such as the ones in Caral , Túcume and Chavín de Huantar , constructed around the same time as early Egyptian pyramids. Several Mesoamerican cultures built pyramid-shaped structures. Mesoamerican pyramids were usually stepped, with temples on top, more similar to

2500-463: The self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia on 17 December, a man set himself afire on 18 January in front of the Egyptian parliament and five more attempts followed. On 17 January, Abdou Abdel Monaam, a baker, also set himself on fire to protest a law that prevented restaurant owners from buying subsidised bread, leading him to buy bread at the regular price – which is five times higher than

2600-411: The "Queen's section" under the south-western quadrant of the pyramid was for Queen Aat and the second chamber was for an unnamed queen. Although both chambers had been entered and looted in antiquity, archaeologists found many items overlooked by the looters, including one of Queen Aat's canopic jars. Queen Aat's chamber contained a sarcophagus similar to the king's. The causeway was unusually wide with

2700-458: The 2005 elections. According to a 2007 UN survey, voter turnout was extremely low (about 25 per cent) because of a lack of trust in the political system. The population of Egypt grew from 30,083,419 in 1966 to roughly 79,000,000 by 2008. The vast majority of Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile , in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi) where the only arable land

2800-473: The 5th and 4th centuries. Normally this technique is used for dating pottery , but researchers used it to try to date stone flakes from the structure walls. This launched debate about whether or not these structures are actually older than Egypt , part of the Black Athena controversy. Lefkowitz criticised this research, suggesting that some of the research was done not to determine the reliability of

2900-516: The Ahmed Nazif government. Ahmed Ezz monopolised the steel industry, with more than 60 per cent of market share. Aladdin Elaasar, an Egyptian biographer and American professor, estimated that the Mubarak family was worth from $ 50 to $ 70 billion. The wealth of former NDP secretary Ezz was estimated at E£ 18 billion ; the wealth of former housing minister Ahmed al-Maghraby

3000-574: The Coptic Church urged Christians not to participate in the protests. Twenty-six-year-old Asmaa Mahfouz was instrumental in sparking the protests. In a video blog posted a week before National Police Day, she urged the Egyptian people to join her on 25 January in Tahrir Square to bring down the Mubarak regime. Mahfouz's use of video blogging and social media went viral and urged people not to be afraid. The Facebook group for

3100-522: The Egyptian media, since there were apparently no other heirs to the presidency. Bashar al-Assad 's rise to power in Syria in June 2000, after the death of his father Hafez , sparked debate in the Egyptian press about the prospects for a similar scenario in Cairo. During the years after Mubarak's 2005 re-election , several left- and right-wing (primarily unofficial) political groups expressed opposition to

Pyramid of Amenemhat III (Dahshur) - Misplaced Pages Continue

3200-575: The Egyptian ones. Pyramids were built in Sudan as late as 200 AD. The Tomb of Askia, in Gao , Mali , is believed to be the burial place of Askia Mohammad I , one of the Songhai Empire 's most prolific emperors . It was built at the end of the fifteenth century and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . UNESCO describes the tomb as an example of the monumental mud-building traditions of

3300-547: The Hellenikon structure is rectangular rather than square, 12.5 by 14 metres (41 by 46 ft) which means that the sides could not have met at a point. The stone used to build these structures was limestone quarried locally and was cut to fit, not into freestanding blocks like the Great Pyramid of Giza. These structures were dated from pot shards excavated from the floor and grounds. The latest estimates are around

3400-527: The Human Rights Watch the following day, since 25 January. Wael Ghonim, Google executive and creator of the page We are all Khaled Said , was reported missing and the company asked the public to help find him. 6 February 2011 : An interfaith service was held with Egyptian Christians and Muslims in Tahrir Square. Negotiations by Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman and opposition representatives began during continuing protests throughout

3500-637: The Mesopotamian ziggurat than the Egyptian pyramid. The largest by volume is the Great Pyramid of Cholula , in the Mexican state of Puebla . Constructed from the 3rd century BC to the 9th century AD, this pyramid is the world's largest monument, and is still not fully excavated. The third largest pyramid in the world, the Pyramid of the Sun , at Teotihuacan , is also located in Mexico . An unusual pyramid with

3600-574: The Mubarak government pursued economic reform to attract foreign investment and increase GDP, later postponing further reforms because of the Great Recession . The international economic downturn slowed Egypt's GDP growth to 4.5 per cent in 2009. In 2010, analysts said that the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif would need to resume economic reform to attract foreign investment, increase growth and improve economic conditions. Despite recent high national economic growth, living conditions for

3700-459: The Nigerian town of Nsude, northern Igboland . Ten pyramidal structures were built of clay/mud. The first base section was 60 ft (18 m) in circumference and 3 ft (0.9 m) in height. The next stack was 45 ft (14 m) in circumference. Circular stacks continued to the top. The structures were temples for the god Ala , who was believed to reside there. A stick was placed at

3800-529: The Supreme Council of Egyptian Armed Forces with the leadership of the country. 13 February 2011 : The Supreme Council dissolved Egypt's parliament and suspended the constitution in response to demands by demonstrators. The council declared that it would wield power for six months, or until elections could be held. Calls were made for the council to provide details and more-specific timetables and deadlines. Major protests subsided, but did not end. In

3900-640: The West African Sahel . The complex includes the pyramidal tomb, two mosques , a cemetery and an assembly ground. At 17 metres (56 ft) in height it is the largest pre- colonial architectural monument in Gao. It is a notable example of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style that later spread throughout the region. One of the unique structures of Igbo culture was the Nsude pyramids, in

4000-571: The West and aid from the United States by its suppression of Islamic militants and maintaining the peace treaty with Israel . Mubarak was often compared to an Egyptian pharaoh by the media and some critics, due to his authoritarian rule. He was in the 30th year of his reign when the 2011 uprising began. Most causes of the revolution against Mubarak—inherited power, corruption, under-development, unemployment, unfair distribution of wealth and

4100-705: The abode for the spirit of the ancestors . The step pyramid is the basic design of the 8th century Borobudur Buddhist monument in Central Java . However later Java temples were influenced by Indian Hindu architecture , as exemplified by the spires of Prambanan temple. In the 15th century, during late Majapahit period, Java saw the revival of indigenous Austronesian elements as displayed by Sukuh temple that somewhat resemble Mesoamerican pyramids, and also stepped pyramids of Mount Penanggungan. In east Asia, Buddhist stupas were usually represented as tall pagodas . However, some pyramidal stupas survive. One theory

Pyramid of Amenemhat III (Dahshur) - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-508: The assassination of Sadat in 1981, pursuant to Law No. 162 of 1958 . A previous state of emergency was enacted in the 1967 Six-Day War before being lifted in 1980. Police powers were extended, constitutional rights and habeas corpus were effectively suspended and censorship was legalised as a result. The emergency law limited non-governmental political activity, including demonstrations , unapproved political organizations and unregistered financial donations. The Mubarak government cited

4300-481: The average Egyptian remained relatively poor (albeit better than other African nations with no significant social upheavals). Political corruption in the Mubarak administration's Interior Ministry rose dramatically, due to increased control of the system necessary to sustain his presidency. The rise to power of powerful businessmen in the NDP, the government and the House of Representatives led to public anger during

4400-580: The buildings to secure documents they believed prove crimes by the SSI against the people of Egypt during Mubarak's rule. 6 March : From the Nasr City headquarters, protesters acquired evidence of mass surveillance and vote-rigging, noting rooms full of videotapes, piles of shredded and burned documents and cells in which activists recounted their experiences of detention and torture. 19 March : The constitutional referendum passed with 77.27 per cent of

4500-634: The chaos, there was looting by rioters which was instigated (according to opposition sources) by plainclothes police officers. In response, watch groups were organised by civilian vigilantes to protect their neighborhoods. On 11 February 2011, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak resigned as president, turning power over to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). The military junta, headed by effective head of state Muhammad Tantawi , announced on 13 February that

4600-501: The constitution is suspended, both houses of parliament dissolved and the military would govern for six months (until elections could be held). The previous cabinet, including Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik , would serve as a caretaker government until a new one was formed. After the revolution against Mubarak and a period of rule by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces , the Muslim Brotherhood took power in Egypt through

4700-482: The constitution. It sparked general outrage from secularists and members of the military, and a revolution broke out against his rule on 28 June 2013. On 3 July 2013, Morsi was deposed following the army's intervention on the side of the revolution. The move was led by the minister of defense, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi , as millions of Egyptians took to the streets in support of early elections. Sisi went on to become Egypt's president after an election in 2014 which

4800-579: The country. Police arrested many activists. 27 January 2011 : The government shuts down four major ISPs at approximately 5:20 p.m. EST. disrupting Internet traffic and telephone services 28 January 2011 : The "Friday of Anger" protests began, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating in Cairo and other Egyptian cities after Friday prayers. Opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei arrived in Cairo amid reports of looting. Prisons were opened and burned down, allegedly on orders from Interior Minister Habib El Adly. Prison inmates escaped en masse , in what

4900-406: The country. The Egyptian army assumed greater security responsibilities, maintaining order and guarding The Egyptian Museum of Antiquity . Suleiman offered reforms, while others in Mubarak's regime accused foreign nations (including the U.S.) of interfering in Egypt's affairs. 10 February 2011 : Mubarak addressed the Egyptian people amid speculation of a military coup. Instead of resigning (which

5000-419: The dating method, as was suggested, but to back up a claim and to make points about pyramids and Greek civilization. She claimed that not only were the results imprecise, but that other structures mentioned in the research are not in fact pyramids, e.g. a tomb alleged to be the tomb of Amphion and Zethus near Thebes , a structure at Stylidha ( Thessaly ) which is a long wall, etc. She pushed the possibility that

5100-499: The district of Chacona, part of the town of Güímar on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands . The structures were dated to the 19th century and their function explained as a byproduct of contemporary agricultural techniques. Autochthonous Guanche traditions as well as surviving images indicate that similar structures (also known as, "Morras", "Majanos", "Molleros", or "Paredones") were built in many locations on

SECTION 50

#1732765489952

5200-605: The elections planned for September, but would remain in office to oversee a peaceful transition. Small-but-violent clashes began that night between pro- and anti-Mubarak groups. 2 February 2011 (Camel Incident) : Violence escalated as waves of Mubarak supporters met anti-government protesters; some Mubarak supporters rode camels and horses into Tahrir Square, reportedly wielding sticks. The attack resulted in 3 deaths and 600 injuries. Mubarak repeated his refusal to resign in interviews with several news agencies. Violence toward journalists and reporters escalated, amid speculation that it

5300-503: The end of the Mubarak regime. Strikes by labour unions added to the pressure on government officials. During the uprising, the capital, Cairo , was described as "a war zone" and the port city of Suez saw frequent violent clashes. Protesters defied a government-imposed curfew , which the police and military could not enforce in any case. Egypt's Central Security Forces , loyal to Mubarak, were gradually replaced by military troops. In

5400-450: The event attracted 80,000 people. 25 January 2011 ("Day of Revolt") : Protests erupted throughout Egypt, with tens of thousands gathering in Cairo and thousands more in other Egyptian cities. The protests targeted the Mubarak government; while mostly non-violent, there were some reports of civilian and police casualties. 26 January 2011 : Civil unrest in Suez and other areas throughout

5500-713: The five years before the revolution, the Mubarak regime denied the existence of torture or abuse by police. However, claims by domestic and international groups provided cellphone videos or first-hand accounts of hundreds of cases of police brutality. According to the 2009 Human Rights Report from the U.S. State Department, "Domestic and international human rights groups reported that the Ministry of Interior (MOI) State Security Investigative Service (SSIS), police, and other government entities continued to employ torture to extract information or force confessions. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights documented 30 cases of torture during

5600-684: The hills, such as those in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor's West Bank. In Medinat Habu and Deir el-Medina , smaller pyramids were built by individuals. Smaller pyramids with steeper sides were built by the Nubians who ruled Egypt in the Late Period. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. At 146.6 metres (481 ft) it was the tallest structure in

5700-407: The inheritance of power, demanded reforms and asked for a multi-candidate election. In 2006, with opposition increasing, Daily News Egypt reported an online campaign initiative (the National Initiative against Power Inheritance) demanding that Gamal reduce his power. The campaign said, "President Mubarak and his son constantly denied even the possibility of [succession]. However, in reality they did

5800-457: The internet, cell phones and satellite TV channels augmented mosques and Friday prayers, traditional means of mass communications. The mosques brought the Muslim Brotherhood to power, and the Brotherhood pressured all governments from 1928 through 2011 (as it had also done in neighboring countries). Mubarak's younger son, Gamal Mubarak , was rumoured in 2000 to succeed his father as the next president of Egypt. Gamal began receiving attention from

5900-472: The island. However, over time they were dismantled and used as building material. Güímar hostred nine pyramids, only six of which survive. The 27-metre-high Pyramid of Cestius was built by the end of the 1st century BC and survives close to the Porta San Paolo . Another, named Meta Romuli , stood in the Ager Vaticanus (today's Borgo ), but was destroyed at the end of the 15th century. Pyramids were occasionally used in Christian architecture during

6000-409: The majority of its mass closer to the ground with less mass towards the pyramidion at the apex . This is due to the gradual decrease in the cross-sectional area along the vertical axis with increasing elevation. This offers a weight distribution that allowed early civilizations to create monumental structures. Civilizations in many parts of the world have built pyramids. The largest pyramid by volume

6100-431: The morgue showed signs of torture. A Facebook page, "We are all Khaled Said", helped attract nationwide attention to the case. Mohamed ElBaradei , former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency , led a 2010 rally in Alexandria against police abuse, and visited Saeed's family to offer condolences. During the January–February 2011 protests, police brutality was common. Jack Shenker, a reporter for The Guardian ,

SECTION 60

#1732765489952

6200-461: The nation's wealth were businessmen with ties to the National Democratic Party: "Wealth fuels political power and political power buys wealth." During the 2010 elections , opposition groups complained about government harassment and fraud. Opposition and citizen activists called for changes to a number of legal and constitutional provisions affecting elections . In 2010, Transparency International 's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) gave Egypt

6300-464: The number of humans sacrificed. Many pre-Columbian Native American societies of ancient North America built large pyramidal earth structures known as platform mounds . Among the largest and best-known of these structures is Monks Mound at the site of Cahokia in what became Illinois , completed around 1100 AD. It has a base larger than that of the Great Pyramid. Many mounds underwent repeated episodes of expansion. They are believed to have played

6400-455: The opposite, including amending the constitution to make sure that Gamal will be the only unchallenged candidate." During the decade, public perception grew that Gamal would succeed his father. He wielded increasing power as NDP deputy secretary general and chair of the party's policy committee. Analysts described Mubarak's last decade in power as "the age of Gamal Mubarak". With his father's health declining and no appointed vice-president, Gamal

6500-463: The ousting of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali after mass protests, many analysts (including former European Commission President Romano Prodi ) saw Egypt as the next country where such a revolution might occur. According to The Washington Post , "The Jasmine Revolution [...] should serve as a stark warning to Arab leaders – beginning with Egypt's 83-year-old Hosni Mubarak – that their refusal to allow more economic and political opportunity

6600-561: The overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak . Violent clashes between security forces and protesters resulted in at least 846 people killed and over 6,000 injured. Protesters retaliated by burning over 90 police stations across the country. The Egyptian protesters' grievances focused on legal and political issues, including police brutality , state-of-emergency laws, lack of political freedom , civil liberty, freedom of speech , corruption, high unemployment, food-price inflation and low wages. The protesters' primary demands were

6700-443: The presence of Israel—also existed in 1952 , when the Free Officers ousted King Farouk . A new cause of the 2011 revolution was the increase in population, which aggravated unemployment. During his presidency, Anwar Sadat neglected the modernisation of Egypt in contrast to his predecessor, Gamal Abdel Nasser , and his cronyism cost the country infrastructure industries which could generate new jobs. Communications media such as

6800-458: The pyramid above these areas to support the resulting loads. Mud brick was used beneath the surface blocks instead of traditional stone and removal of the limestone casing has allowed the brick to weather and crumble. The poorly supported underground chambers, unsuitable building materials and low site elevation have all led to the sinking and subsequent collapse of the pyramid. Since the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 , looting has been taking place at

6900-464: The seven pre-imperial kingdoms) was buried under a large mound outside modern-day Xi'an . In the following centuries about a dozen more Han dynasty royal persons were also buried under flat-topped pyramidal earthworks. Numerous giant, granite , temple pyramids were built in South India during the Chola Empire , many of which remain in use. Examples include Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur , Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram , and

7000-416: The sinking, but this final effort was unsuccessful and the pyramid was ultimately abandoned. The "King's section" contained a burial chamber containing a large sarcophagus that was carved to imitate the outer wall of Djoser's Pyramid complex at Saqqara, possibly another attempt to reinforce the legitimacy of his rule. Burial chambers for two of his queens were created beneath the pyramid; the first chamber of

7100-448: The site. Pyramid A pyramid (from Ancient Greek πυραμίς ( puramís )  'pyramid') is a structure whose visible surfaces are triangular in broad outline and converge toward the top, making the appearance roughly a pyramid in the geometric sense . The base of a pyramid can be of any polygon shape, such as triangular or quadrilateral , and its lines either filled or stepped. A pyramid has

7200-418: The stones that were dated might have been recycled from earlier constructions. She claimed that earlier research from the 1930s, confirmed in the 1980s by Fracchia, was ignored. Liritzis responded that Lefkowitz failed to understand and misinterpreted the methodology. The Pyramids of Güímar refer to six rectangular pyramid-shaped, terraced structures, built from lava without mortar . They are located in

7300-410: The subsidised. Mohammed Farouq Mohammed, who is a lawyer, also set himself afire in front of the parliament to protest his ex-wife, who did not allow him to see his daughters. In Alexandria, an unemployed man by the name of Ahmed Hashem Sayed also set himself on fire. Opposition groups planned a day of revolt for 25 January, coinciding with National Police Day , to protest police brutality in front of

7400-584: The sun in its eternal round. As of 2008, some 135 pyramids had been discovered in Egypt, most located near Cairo. While African pyramids are commonly associated with Egypt, Sudan has 220 extant pyramids, the most in the world. Nubian pyramids were constructed (roughly 240 of them) at three sites in Sudan to serve as tombs for the kings and queens of Napata and Meroë . The pyramids of Kush, also known as Nubian Pyramids , have different characteristics than those of Egypt. The Nubian pyramids had steeper sides than

7500-401: The ten shaft tombs on the northern side of the outer enclosure. The Black Pyramid was constructed with multiple structural deficiencies. The pyramid was built in one of the lowest regions of Egypt, only 10 metres above sea level, which allowed groundwater from the Nile to seep into the structure. There are countless passageways and chambers underground, but not enough stress relievers built into

7600-509: The threat of terrorism in extending the state of emergency, claiming that opposition groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood could gain power in Egypt if the government did not forge parliamentary elections and suppress the group through emergency law. This led to the imprisonment of activists without trial, illegal, undocumented and hidden detention facilities and the rejection of university, mosque and newspaper staff based on their political affiliation. A December 2010 parliamentary election

7700-479: The top to represent the god's residence. The structures were laid in groups of five parallel to each other. Because it was built of clay/mud like the Deffufa of Nubia, over time periodic reconstruction has been required. Pausanias (2nd century AD) mentions two buildings resembling pyramids, one, 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of a still standing structure at Hellenikon, a common tomb for soldiers who died in

7800-422: The workforce at about four per cent a year, unemployment in Egypt is almost 10 times as high for college graduates as for those who finished elementary school (particularly educated urban youth—the people who were in the streets during the revolution). Egypt's economy was highly centralised during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser , becoming more market-driven under Anwar Sadat and Mubarak. From 2004 to 2008

7900-487: The world until the Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311 AD. Its base covers an area of around 53,000 square metres (570,000 sq ft). The Great Pyramid is the only extant one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . Ancient Egyptian pyramids were, in most cases, placed west of the river Nile because the divine pharaoh's soul was meant to join with the sun during its descent before continuing with

8000-462: The world's largest constructions. They are shaped in reference to the sun's rays. Most had a smoothed white limestone surface. Many of the facing stones have fallen or were removed and used for construction in Cairo . The capstone was usually made of limestone, granite or basalt and some were plated with electrum . Ancient Egyptians built pyramids from 2700 BC until around 1700 BC. The first pyramid

8100-435: The year 2009. In numerous trials defendants alleged that police tortured them during questioning. During the year activists and observers circulated some amateur cellphone videos documenting the alleged abuse of citizens by security officials. For example, on 8 February, a blogger posted a video of two police officers, identified by their first names and last initials, sodomizing a bound naked man named Ahmed Abdel Fattah Ali with

8200-449: Was arrested during the Cairo protests on 26 January. He witnessed fellow Egyptian protesters being tortured, assaulted, and taken to undisclosed locations by police officers. Shenker and other detainees were released after covert intervention by Ayman Nour , the father of a fellow detainee. Corruption, coercion not to vote and manipulation of election results occurred during many elections over Mubarak's 30-year rule. Until 2005, Mubarak

8300-645: Was believed to be an attempt to terrorise protesters. Police were withdrawn from the streets, and the military was deployed. International fears of violence grew, but no major casualties were reported. Mubarak made his first address to the nation, pledging to form a new government. Later that night clashes broke out in Tahrir Square between revolutionaries and pro-Mubarak demonstrators, leading to casualties. No fatalities have been reported in Cairo, however, 11 people were killed in Suez and another 170 were injured.1,030 people were reported injured nationwide. 29 January 2011 : The military presence in Cairo increased. A curfew

8400-673: Was boycotted by opposition parties. In Egypt and other parts of the Arab world, the protests and governmental changes are also known as the 25 January Revolution ( ثورة 25 يناير Thawrat 25 Yanāyir ), Revolution of Freedom ( ثورة حرية Thawrat Horeya ) or Revolution of Rage ( ثورة الغضب Thawrat al-Ġaḍab ), and, less frequently, the Youth Revolution ( ثورة الشباب Thawrat al-Shabāb ), Lotus Revolution ( ثورة اللوتس ) or White Revolution ( الثورة البيضاء al-Thawrah al-bayḍāʾ ). Hosni Mubarak became President of Egypt after

8500-458: Was built on top of it circa 3500 BC. Built in receding tiers upon a rectangular, oval, or square platform, the ziggurat was a pyramidal structure with a flat top. Sun-baked bricks made up the core of the ziggurat with facings of fired bricks on the outside. The facings were often glazed in different colors and may have had astrological significance. Kings sometimes had their names engraved on them. The number of tiers ranged from two to seven. It

8600-404: Was considered Egypt's de facto president by some. Although Gamal and his father denied an inheritance of power, he was speculated as likely to be chosen as the NDP candidate in the presidential election scheduled for 2011, when Hosni Mubarak's presidential term was set to expire. However, Gamal ultimately declined to run following the 2011 protests. Egypt was under a state of emergency since

8700-399: Was covered with inscriptions and religious symbols. Some of these were later scratched off, leading researchers to conclude that the pyramidion was either never used or was defaced during Akhenaten 's rule. Below ground level in the subterranean structure lay a network of complicated passages. The "King's section" remains mostly intact with a sarcophagus and canopic jar ; however, the king

8800-427: Was encouraged by Mubarak to bring the protests to an end. The camel and horse riders later claimed that they were "good men", and they opposed the protests because they wanted tourists to come back to keep their jobs and feed their animals. The horse and camel riders deny that they were paid by anyone, though they said that they were told about the protests from a ruling party MP. Three hundred people were reported dead by

8900-631: Was erected during the Third Dynasty by the Pharaoh Djoser and his architect Imhotep . This step pyramid consisted of six stacked mastabas . Early kings such as Snefru built pyramids, with subsequent kings adding to the number until the end of the Middle Kingdom . The age of the pyramids reached its zenith at Giza in 2575–2150 BC. The last king to build royal pyramids was Ahmose , with later kings hiding their tombs in

9000-399: Was estimated at more than E£11 billion ; that of former tourism minister Zuhair Garrana is estimated at E£13 billion ; former minister of trade and industry Rashid Mohamed Rashid is estimated to be worth E£12 billion , and former interior minister Habib al-Adly was estimated to be worth E£8 billion . The perception among Egyptians was that the only people benefiting from

9100-621: Was imposed, which was widely ignored as the flow of protesters into Tahrir Square continued through the night. The military reportedly refused to follow orders to fire live ammunition, exercising overall restraint; there were no reports of major casualties. On 31 January, Israeli media reported that the 9th, 2nd, and 7th Divisions of the Egyptian Army had been ordered into Cairo to help restore order. 1 February 2011 : Mubarak made another televised address, offering several concessions. He pledged political reforms and said he would not run in

9200-486: Was incapable of supporting its weight and it began to sink, just as the Bent Pyramid of Sneferu at Dashur had done centuries before. The two pyramids are approximately 1.5 km apart. The outer cladding of limestone "veneer" was held together with dovetail pegs, following the style of his father's tomb. The finished dimensions were approximately 200 cubits per side and 150 cubits high. The pyramidion (capstone)

9300-423: Was not buried there. The "Queen's section" was broken into by robbers and looted. There are four other burial chambers in the subterranean structure; to whom they belong, however, is unknown. Two are thought to belong to King Amenemhet IV and queen Sobekneferu . As the pyramid sank, it began to crush the chambers located beneath it. The builders tried hastily installing supporting beams and mud brick walls to stop

9400-592: Was often used by law enforcement agencies against popular uprisings. On 6 June 2010, a twenty-eight-year-old Egyptian, Khaled Mohamed Saeed, died under disputed circumstances in the Sidi Gaber area of Alexandria , with witnesses testifying that he was beaten to death by police – an event which galvanised Egyptians around the issue of police brutality. Authorities stated that Khaled died choking on hashish while being chased by police officers. However, pictures which were released of Khaled's disfigured corpse from

9500-496: Was originally about 75 metres tall with a base 105 metres long and an incline of 57°. Typical for pyramids of the Middle Kingdom , the Black Pyramid, although encased in limestone, is made of mud brick and clay instead of stone. The ground-level structures consist of the entrance opening into the courtyard and mortuary temple, surrounded by walls. There are two sets of walls; between them, there are ten shaft tombs, which are

9600-416: Was preceded by a media crackdown, arrests, candidate bans (particularly Muslim Brotherhood candidates) and allegations of fraud due to the near-unanimous victory by the NDP in parliament. Human rights organizations estimated that in 2010, between 5,000 and 10,000 people were in long-term detention without charge or trial. According to a U.S. Embassy report, police brutality had been widespread in Egypt. In

9700-428: Was set by various youth groups to coincide with the annual Egyptian "Police holiday" as a statement against increasing police brutality during the last few years of Hosni Mubarak 's presidency. It consisted of demonstrations, marches, occupations of plazas, non-violent civil resistance , acts of civil disobedience and strikes . Millions of protesters from a range of socio-economic and religious backgrounds demanded

9800-582: Was tentatively scheduled for 19 March 2011. 3 March : A day before large protests against him were planned, Ahmed Shafik stepped down as prime minister and was replaced by Essam Sharaf . 5 March : Several State Security Intelligence (SSI) buildings across Egypt were raided by protesters, including the headquarters for the Alexandria Governorate and the national headquarters in Nasr City , Cairo. Protesters said that they raided

9900-412: Was the only presidential candidate (with a yes-or-no vote). Mubarak won five consecutive presidential elections with a sweeping majority. Although opposition groups and international election-monitoring agencies charged that the elections were rigged, those agencies were not allowed to monitor elections. The only opposition presidential candidate in recent Egyptian history, Ayman Nour, was imprisoned before

10000-506: Was widely expected), he said he would delegate some powers to Vice President Suleiman while remaining Egypt's head of state. Mubarak's statement was met with anger, frustration and disappointment, and in a number of cities there was an escalation in the number and intensity of demonstrations. 11 February 2011 ("Friday of Departure") : Large protests continued in many cities, as Egyptians refused to accept Mubarak's concessions. At 6:00 pm Suleiman announced Mubarak's resignation, entrusting

#951048