Depends on the size of the pyramid. The Great Pyramid at Giza probably employed about 10,000 to 30,000 slaves in its construction.
Chat with our AI personalities
It is estimated that around 20,000 to 30,000 workers, not slaves, were employed to build the pyramid of Giza. These workers were likely skilled laborers, farmers, and craftsmen who were paid for their work. The common misconception of slaves being used to build the pyramids is largely inaccurate.
It is thought that the block was placed on a sledge hauled by slaves tugging on ropes made from either palm fronds or papyrus. The size of the block determined the number of slaves required for the task. A 2.5 ton block for example, the size used to build the great pyramid at Giza, would have taken 20 slaves to move.
Slaves were likely not used to build the pyramids in ancient Egypt. Most evidence suggests that the pyramids were constructed by skilled Egyptian laborers, not slaves. These laborers were well-fed, had housing, and were respected members of the community, working in rotating shifts on a seasonal basis.
The three theories on the type of ramp used to build Snefru's Red Pyramid are: the straight ramp theory, the circular ramp theory, and the switchback ramp theory. Each theory proposes a different method for how the massive blocks were transported and placed during the construction of the pyramid.
No, the Aztec pyramids were primarily built by skilled laborers and builders who were not enslaved. Slavery did exist in Aztec society, but slaves were typically used for agricultural work, household chores, or as sacrifices in religious ceremonies.
The Aztecs used a technique called "talud-tablero," where they built up the pyramid's core with stacked stones or mud bricks before facing it with slabs of stone. This created the stepped-pyramid shape that we associate with Aztec architecture. The pyramid's exterior was often adorned with carvings and sculptures to honor gods or commemorate important events.