There have been several reports over the years of people attempting to steal the pyramids, but none have been successful. In 1954, a German tourist named Karl Hermann Johannes Krefting was arrested in the Cairo Museum of Antiquities when he was accused of attempting to steal the Great Pyramid of Giza.
He was found to have a pocketful of stones and chips cut from the walls of the pyramid’s chambers. In 2011, a German man named Mario Habbeg was arrested in Cairo for attempting to smuggle a stone slab bearing the hieroglyphic message: “Great life is the possession of the king,” taken from inside the Great Pyramid.
In 2012, a British man was arrested in Luxor after he attempted to smuggle a stone from the ancient temple of Ramses II which some people claimed contained a map to the burial chamber of King Tutankhamen.
Despite these attempted thefts, the pyramids remain securely in place.
Who looted the Egyptian pyramids?
No one knows with certainty who looted the Egyptian pyramids, as records of the time period are incomplete and because of the passage of time. It is believed, however, that the pyramids were mainly looted before modern times, beginning during the dynasties of the Middle and New Kingdoms over two thousand years ago.
In ancient times, grave robbers searched tombs and other burial sites for gold, jewels, and other valuables, and it is likely that the pyramids were also targeted.
The most famous looter of the pyramids is a man known as Caliph Al-Ma’mun, who is said to have led an expedition to the Great Pyramid of Giza in the 9th century. Al-Ma’mun and his team forced their way in, though their attempts to breach the secret chambers inside were unsuccessful.
Other suspected looters include Roman soldiers and Egyptians, who were likely looking for treasure within the pyramids.
Over the ages, the Egyptian government has continued to work to protect the pyramids and the ancient monuments, and their efforts have mostly been successful. Today, the Egyptian pyramids are safe and largely intact, and visitors can still take in the awe and wonder of them as they stand today.
Have the pyramids been looted?
Yes, the Great Pyramids of Giza have been looted. Historians believe that pillaging occurred as early as the time of their construction, by forcing slaves to strip off the fine white limestone casing to be used in other building projects.
In subsequent centuries, grave robbers, explorers and colonial rulers explored the pyramids and took away whatever artifacts they could find.
One of the most significant lootings of the pyramids occurred during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion of Egypt in 1798 and 1799. His soldiers looted the pyramids of a great portion of their treasures, including furniture and golden statuettes.
The money Napoleon and other European powers amassed from their looting of Egypt’s artifacts and antiquities has been estimated at up to 200 million francs.
More recently, in 2016, it was reported that an ancient cemetery located adjacent to the pyramids had also been looted for antiquities and artifacts. This is believed to be the work of organized criminal gangs, which removed a large portion of the tombs and graves.
Overall, despite their heavy security, Egypt’s pyramids have been the target of extensive looting over the centuries. These acts of pillaging have significantly depleted the historic sites of many of their ancient treasures and artifacts.
Were the Great Pyramids robbed?
Yes, the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt were robbed. Archaeologists have found evidence of at least two major pillaging episodes, one likely occurring during the 18th Dynasty in the 1300s BCE and the other occurring during the Third Intermediate Period in 1100 BCE.
The first instance of looting seems to have been done in secrecy, possibly to keep the then-current pharaoh’s lack of attention to the monuments from reaching the public. The looters were most likely rogue priests or members of the military.
The evidence for this includes the lack of hieroglyphs on the walls, as well as the presence of few small statues and jewelry found in random areas.
In the Second Intermediate Period, looters were much bolder, as evidenced by an abandoned camp site filled with their tools and ramshackle huts. It appears they may have made several excursions into the pyramid to try and rip out the riches contained within, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
The lack of records and the time gap between the two pillaging episodes make it difficult to know what treasures, if any, were taken from the pyramids in either instance. However, it is clear both episodes of looting had a significant impact on the preservation of the great monuments.
How did the pyramids get robbed?
The ancient Egyptians did their best to protect the tombs and treasures found in their pyramids, but over time, and due to natural erosion, they became vulnerable to tomb robbers. There are two theories as to how tombs were robbed.
The first claims that robbers were able to tunnel in through an existing shaft or a hidden entrance in the side of the pyramid and gain access to the pharaoh’s burial chamber and treasures inside. The second theory suggests that visitors and inhabitants at the nearby ancient city of Giza may have had knowledge of the location of hidden entrances and used it for their own gain.
Regardless of how the tomb was looted, the process likely involved a great deal of effort. The robbers likely filled the chamber with debris, which helped prop up supports used to lower themselves into the chamber and back up once they retrieved the loot.
They then collected what they could and filled back in the chamber before covering up the entrance shaft or hidden entrance. Despite their best efforts to conceal the robbery, evidence was frequently left in the tombs, as robberies were often conducted very quickly in order to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Was King Tut’s tomb looted?
Yes, King Tut’s tomb was looted. His tomb was robbed twice in ancient times, once soon after his death and again approximately 1000 years later. The first robbery happened shortly after his burial, sometime between 1323 and 1325 BC.
It is thought that either tomb robbers or the ancient priests involved in the burial looted the tomb of many of its treasures. The second looting occurred in the late Seventeenth Dynasty in the early Eighteenth Dynasty.
In this instance, it is believed that the looters were tomb robbers who were seeking out objects of value. They made off with jewelry and other items from King Tut’s tomb, though much of the actual burial chamber remained untouched due to the robbers being frightened off or stopped.
King Tut’s tomb was not professionally excavated until 1922 when archaeologist Howard Carter discovered it. Ancient Egypt specialists believe that much of what was taken from the tomb during the two robberies have since gone missing, and that many of these artifacts may have been destroyed or are still unaccounted for in museums around the world.
Was the pyramids made by slaves?
No, the pyramids were not made by slaves. It is a popular misconception that the ancient Egyptian pyramids were built by slaves, when in fact they were mainly constructed by paid workers. Laborers were skilled craftsmen who were provided with generous wages and food rations.
Some of the laborers who worked to build the pyramids were skilled craftspeople such as stone masons, surveyors, architects, craftsmen, engineers, and administrators. Others were lower skilled workers such as soldiers, farmers and other workers who acted as laborers in building the pyramid.
While some of the laborers were undoubtedly of low status, there is no evidence to suggest that slaves were used to build the pyramids. Records from ancient times suggest that the pyramid-building project was a huge undertaking that attracted laborers from across Egypt and beyond.
Furthermore, a large workforce was required to build such a large and complex structure, and slavery simply could not have accounted for such a massive mobilization of labor.
What was stolen from the Great Pyramid?
Nothing appears to have been stolen from the Great Pyramid, located in Giza, Egypt, more than 4,500 years after it was built by the Pharaoh Khufu; however, there is evidence that many of the items located within the pyramid had been stolen or moved.
Records from the Middle Kingdom (around 2040–1640 BC) mention a functionary of Amenemhat III and of Sesostris I inspecting the pyramid and finding what they described as it being “robbed;” fragments of tools, such as stone chisels, were apparently found there during archaeological excavations of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Ancient written sources from the Greco-Roman period claimed that two golden statues were missing from the pyramid and that thieves had taken the Pharaoh’s “tub with false features and false feet”. However, none of these items have ever been discovered.
The famous Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamen, was also said to have stolen objects from the Great Pyramid including the famous golden sarcophagus and the treasures from his tomb. However, the relationship between Tutankhamen and the Great Pyramid has never been verifiably established.
In 2014, looters reportedly destroyed some of the Great Pyramid’s stonework, making a tunnel that may have contained an archaeological chamber. Some items had been removed, however it was not clear what these items were or if they had been looted.
The thefts and damage that have occurred to the Great Pyramid over the centuries is a testament to the vast wealth and historic significance of the site, and its capacity to attract looters and vandals in search of material gain and glory.
How did Egyptians protect pyramids from robbers?
The Ancient Egyptians took a number of steps to protect their pyramids from robbers. These included physical barriers such as huge stone blocks, walls, and guarded entrances, as well as conceptual barriers such as curses and divine protection.
The most fascinating measure to protect the pyramids from robbers was the hieroglyphic curses placed inside of the pyramids which were meant to punish those who would desecrate the tombs. There have been stories of people who have died inside or shortly after entering a pyramid because they unknowingly removed the hieroglyphic curses.
The entrance to the pyramids was also highly guarded by a whole army of sentries and guards. This was supported by the creation of complex mazes and false passages that would lead invaders away from the actual burial site.
These mazes were meant to confuse robbers, making it almost impossible to find the right way to go.
The most obvious measure taken to prevent looters was the pyramid’s enormous size and the use of massive stone blocks to make it unbreachable. It was believed that the gods would protect the pyramid from invaders, suggesting that the burial site was a sacred place.
In addition to physical defenses, the Ancient Egyptians also used spiritual deterrents to protect the pyramids from robbers. This included invoking very powerful gods to protect the pyramids from robbers.
Ancient Egyptians also believed that the pyramid itself had mystical powers that could help protect it from invaders.
Did the British try and take the pyramids?
No, the British never attempted to take the pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Giza and the other pyramids of Egypt were built thousands of years ago, and the British didn’t exist as a power until after the Middle Ages.
Though explorers and travelers to Egypt noted the incredible architecture of the pyramids, there was never any attempt by the British to take them or gain control of them. In fact, during its occupation of Egypt, the British actually took steps to preserve the ancient monuments, including issuing an edict in 1883 to protect them from unchecked excavation.
In the modern era, the country of Egypt has always had full responsibility for the pyramids, and the British have never attempted to take them.
When did the British take over Egypt?
The British took over Egypt in 1882, when Muhammed Ali, ruler of Ottoman Turkey, delegated the control of Egypt to the British in exchange for military protection. This event marked the start of British colonization of Egypt, and British forces arrived in the country in July 1882 and declared it a British protectorate.
Although nominally, the Ottoman Khedive, Tawfiq Pasha, remained ruler of the country, he was in effect a vassal of the British and was removed from power in 1914. Britain held hegemony over Egypt until the country was granted independence in 1947.
Was Egypt under British control?
No, Egypt was not under British control. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century, the British were initially in regional control of areas in what is now modern day Egypt. However, in 1882, a nationalist revolt against the British and Ottoman rulers led to the establishment of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, an Egyptian royal dynasty, thus ending the British period of regional control and beginning a period of complete Egyptian independence.
The British maintained close alliances with Egypt throughout the 20th century but did not have any direct political control over the country. Following the overthrow of King Farouk in 1952, Egypt became a republic and removed all foreign imperial control.
Since then, Egypt has remained an independent country, though there have been periods of strong political and economic influence from outside countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.
Why did they take the noses off the pyramids?
The noses that were taken off the pyramids were done so by the invading Muslim armies in the 14th century. The conquering armies were seeking to erase all evidence of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs and their culture, and the nose symbolized the pharaohs’ power and influence.
Specifically, the nose represented the breath of life and strength of the Egyptian gods. The invaders thus understood that by mutilating the pyramids and destroying the noses, it would be easier to assert control and diminish reverence for the pharaohs and their gods.
In some cases, the noses on the pyramids were broken off as a result of erosion or natural disasters, but it is widely accepted that the majority of the noses were chiseled off by invaders.
Why did Al Aziz try to demolish the pyramids?
Al Aziz attempted to demolish the pyramids in order to build defences around the city of Cairo in 969 AD. His strategy was to use the stones from the pyramids to construct a fortified wall that would protect the city and its people against any future enemies.
He also wanted to remove the traditionally sacred monuments of the old kingdom and free up the area for more people and agriculture. His destruction of the pyramids was seen by some as an attempt to erase the past and any trace of the pharaohs.
Although some portions of the pyramids were destroyed, much of it still stands today as a magnificent reminder of this ancient civilization.
Was it the slaves who built the pyramids?
No, it was not the slaves who built the pyramids. Although some modern depictions of ancient Egypt have portrayed slaves as the primary labor force behind the Great Pyramids of Giza, it is now widely accepted among archaeologists that the pyramids were constructed by paid laborers.
It is likely that the laborers may have been made up of skilled workers from all across the Egyptian kingdom and foreign lands. Ancient texts refer to these workers as the sons of deceased kings, high priests, and other nobles or dignitaries from across the kingdom.
It is also believed that many of these workers were enabled to make a living from building pyramids, since it was considered an honorable job in the eyes of the gods. So while there may have been some slaves involved in building the pyramids, they were far from being the primary labor force.