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[Josh7289]

Did you know the pyramids were originally white? They had an extra layer of material on top of what we see today, and it was apparently polished very smoothly and brilliantly reflected sunlight and moonlight to an almost blinding degree.

 

[Jasup]

I'd say the city of St Petersburg and the Trans-Siberian railway are up there as examples of pure human megalomania.

 

[BPoole]

Americans did it better

 

[Loofy]

DAMN I looked this up and it didn't come across in this picture that this is an island!

I like how the bridge is a parking lot.

 

[krameriffic]

Not so impressive once you open your eyes and realize it was aliens.

No, it was En Sabah Nur.

 

[Coreda]

If you take away the accomplishment of building such gigantic structures using ancient methods it could seem less impressive I suppose. However removing the context of many historical feats lessens the impact, yet it's often what enhances appreciation.

On a purely aesthetic level there are more interesting structures, but it's still impressive.

 

[Concept17]

Did you know the pyramids were originally white? They had an extra layer of material on top of what we see today, and it was apparently polished very smoothly and brilliantly reflected sunlight and moonlight to an almost blinding degree.

Someone needs to recreate a pyramid exactly like they were just so we know. Would have been incredible.

Also, why have I never heard of Mont St. Michel ?

 

[MattKeil]

I mean, between the title and the OP, it's basically equating "stood for a long time" = 100% of the definition of "more impressive than any other structure on earth."

Which I would think is a rather odd definition of "impressive," given all of the things that one could be impressed by.

If you don't think the pyramids are the most impressive man-made structures on the planet, you don't know enough about the pyramids, and you've certainly never seen them in person.

And yes, even just by the definition of "stood for a long time," they qualify. They are utterly ancient by human standards. There is less time separating Cleopatra from 2015 than there is separating her from the construction of the pyramids. To her, the pyramids were as old as Ancient Greece is to us. And yet they point to the ancient Egyptians even at that time possessing tremendous knowledge of engineering, planning, stonecutting, group labor management, volunteer work, and materials transport that is beyond what you'd expect from structures that ancient.

The are a big pile of rocks built by slaves. I mean they are cool & all . . . but not really that impressive.

First off, as others have said, not built by slaves. Further, in their day, they were certainly not a "big pile of rocks." The Great Pyramid and its companions were covered entirely in white limestone and capped with gold tops. During the day they gleamed with reflected sunlight that could be seen miles away, and made them hard to look at directly if you were nearby and at the right angle. Over the centuries, all that stuff was chipped away and recycled/stolen, but the point is, they used to be even more impressive than they are now.

And, of course, should humanity vanish from the face of the Earth, the pyramids will remain standing longer than anything else we've built. After 100,000 years of human extinction, visitors to Earth would be hard pressed to find any evidence of our civilization without archeological excavations...except the pyramids, which will still be there. And, of course, millions of tons of plastic, which is probably a more representative memorial to homo sapiens than anything from Ancient Egypt, but that's another story.

 

[terrisus]

Can the Burj Khalifa survive 3000 years with no maintenance like the pyramids did? Can it survive sandstorms, the intense sun, rain, wind, etc.?

That's why I think the Pyramids are so fucking mindblowing. Not to mention that putting a structure like that together in ancient times is nothing short of astounding.

Again, "Being able to survive for a long period of time" is a very narrow, and I would say unusual, definition of "most impressive structure in the world."

And yes, even just by the definition of "stood for a long time," they qualify.

I never said they haven't "stood for a long time."
Obviously they have.

I said that's an odd and arbitrary criteria to what is "most impressive."

And, of course, millions of tons of plastic, which is probably a more representative memorial to homo sapiens than anything from Ancient Egypt, but that's another story.

So then, by that criteria, shouldn't plastic be more impressive than the pyramids?

 

[freethought]

It's hard to be impressed when you realise this ancient culture devoted such time and energy to something that was just so utterly pointless.

edit: Hey MattKeil, there will so be architectural evidence of our civilisation in a thousand years. What about all those weird nuclear waste depositories they built to look ominous so our feral descendants don't stray too close?

 

[elrechazado]

It's hard to be impressed when you realise these ancient cultures devoted such time and energy to something that was just so utterly pointless.

What is a worthy endeavor of which you might approve? This is such a non point.

 

[teruterubozu]

It's hard to be impressed when you realise these ancient cultures devoted such time and energy to something that was just so utterly pointless.

My GAF posts will wow civilizations to come.

 

[Kinyou]

The are a big pile of rocks built by slaves. I mean they are cool & all . . . but not really that impressive.

Isn't the inside like a maze? That doesn't qualify as pile of rocks to me.

 

[Mr.Mike]

It's hard to be impressed when you realise these ancient cultures devoted such time and energy to something that was just so utterly pointless.

I sorta feel this way too. What came to my mind first was dams like the Hoover Dam or the Three Gorges.

 

[Speevy]

It's hard to be impressed when you realise these ancient cultures devoted such time and energy to something that was just so utterly pointless.

Pointless?

I disagree.

The realization that man is capable of building such things inspired people for thousands of years.

Even today, these structures make us think that if ancient people could build something so immense and beautiful, we should strive to build great things.

 

[Pooya]

Look at this huge fucking thing

It's not as impressive in person, it's kinda... ugly, unlike most of other structures posted in this thread. size isn't everything, it's just another tall building, tallest? whatever... there are far more prettier buildings out there but not as tall.

 

[NYR]

Can the Burj Khalifa survive 3000 years with no maintenance like the pyramids did? Can it survive sandstorms, the intense sun, rain, wind, etc.?

That's why I think the Pyramids are so fucking mindblowing. Not to mention that putting a structure like that together in ancient times is nothing short of astounding.

Yeaaaah, the pyramids have been fucked up because of sandstorms, the intense sun, rain, wind, etc. They used to be covered smooth limestone, the pyramids were slopped like a triangle, not like a set of stairs.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/04/the-pyramids-of-giza-were-originally-white/

 

[freethought]

What is a worthy endeavor of which you might approve? This is such a non point.

Pointless?

I disagree.

The realization that man is capable of building such things inspired people for thousands of years.

Even today, these structures make us think that if ancient people could build something so immense and beautiful, we should strive to build great things.

It was just a joke about how they're tombs.

 

[Perspicacity]

It's not as impressive in person, it's kinda... ugly, unlike most of other structures posted in this thread. size isn't everything, it's just another tall building, tallest? whatever... there are far more prettier buildings out there but not as tall.

Maybe, but if some aliens were to show up and ask to see our most impressive structure we're going with the biggest dick we've got, not the oldest or the prettiest

 

[Sh0k]

Being from Peru, I find the city of Machu Picchu fascinating.

 

[Oppo]

Wrong.
What an odd thread title.

buckle up, terrisus.

The pyramid is estimated to have around 2,300,000 stone blocks that weigh from 2 to 30 tons each and there are even some blocks that weigh over 50 tons.

The Pyramid of Menkaure, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Pyramid of Khufu are precisely aligned with the Constellation of Orion.

The base of the pyramid covers 55,000 m2 (592,000 ft 2) with each side greater than 20,000 m2 (218,000 ft2) in area.

The interior temperature is constant and equals the average temperature of the earth, 20 Degrees Celsius (68 Degrees Fahrenheit).

The outer mantle was composed of 144,000 casing stones, all of them highly polished and flat to an accuracy of 1/100th of an inch, about 100 inches thick and weighing approx. 15 tons each.

The cornerstone foundations of the pyramid have ball and socket construction capable of dealing with heat expansion and earthquakes.

The mortar used is of an unknown origin (Yes, no explanation given). It has been analyzed and its chemical composition is known but it can’t be reproduced. It is stronger than the stone and still holding up today.

It was originally covered with casing stones (made of highly polished limestone). These casing stones reflected the sun’s light and made the pyramid shine like a jewel. They are no longer present being used by Arabs to build mosques after an earthquake in the 14th century loosened many of them. It has been calculated that the original pyramid with its casing stones would act like gigantic mirrors and reflect light so powerful that it would be visible from the moon as a shining star on earth. Appropriately, the ancient Egyptians called the Great Pyramid “Ikhet”, meaning the “Glorious Light”. How these blocks were transported and assembled into the pyramid is still a mystery. – http://www.gizapyramid.com/general.htm

Aligned True North: The Great Pyramid is the most accurately aligned structure in existence and faces true north with only 3/60th of a degree of error. The position of the North Pole moves over time and the pyramid was exactly aligned at one time.

Center of Land Mass: The Great Pyramid is located at the center of the land mass of the earth. The east/west parallel that crosses the most land and the north/south meridian that crosses the most land intersect in two places on the earth, one in the ocean and the other at the Great Pyramid.

The four faces of the pyramid are slightly concave, the only pyramid to have been built this way.

The centers of the four sides are indented with an extraordinary degree of precision forming the only 8 sided pyramid, this effect is not visible from the ground or from a distance but only from the air, and then only under the proper lighti[/B] g conditions. This phenomenon is only detectable from the air at dawn and sunset on the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the sun casts shadows on the pyramid.

The granite coffer in the “King’s Chamber” is too big to fit through the passages and so it must have been put in place during construction.

The coffer was made out of a block of solid granite. This would have required bronze saws 8-9 ft. long set with teeth of sapphires. Hollowing out of the interior would require tubular drills of the same material applied with a tremendous vertical force.

Microscopic analysis of the coffer reveals that it was made with a fixed point drill that used hard jewel bits and a drilling force of 2 tons.

The Great Pyramid had a swivel door entrance at one time. Swivel doors were found in only two other pyramids: Khufu’s father and grandfather, Sneferu and Huni, respectively.
It is reported that when the pyramid was first broken into that the swivel door, weighing some 20 tons, was so well balanced that it could be opened by pushing out from the inside with only minimal force, but when closed, was so perfect a fit that it could scarcely be detected and there was not enough crack or crevice around the edges to gain a grasp from the outside.

With the mantle in place, the Great Pyramid could be seen from the mountains in Israel and probably the moon as well.

The weight of the pyramid is estimated at 5,955,000 tons. Multiplied by 10^8 gives a reasonable estimate of the earth’s mass.

The Descending Passage pointed to the pole star Alpha Draconis, circa 2170-2144 BCE. This was the North Star at that point in time. No other star has aligned with the passage since then.

The southern shaft in the King’s Chamber pointed to the star Al Nitak (Zeta Orionis) in the constellation Orion, circa 2450 BCE The Orion constellation was associated with the Egyptian god Osiris. No other star aligned with this shaft during that time in history.

Sun’s Radius: Twice the perimeter of the bottom of the granite coffer times 10^8 is the sun’s mean radius. [270.45378502 Pyramid Inches* 10^8 = 427,316 miles]

The curvature designed into the faces of the pyramid exactly matches the radius of the earth.

Khufu’s pyramid, known as the great pyramid of Giza, is the oldest and largest, rising at 481 feet (146 meters). Archaeologists say it was the tallest structure in the world for about 3, 800 years.

The relationship between Pi (p) and Phi (F) is expressed in the fundamental proportions of the Great Pyramid.

I'm going to go with: "actually, yes."

 

[teruterubozu]

Maybe, but if some aliens were to show up and ask to see our most impressive structure we're going with the biggest dick we've got, not the oldest or the prettiest

They'll look at our space station and laugh.

 

[akira28]

History of this is more impressive than anything. Absolutely incredible.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Taj_Mahal_2012.jpg

if you think that's amazing. Someone made that out of chocolate around the same time. I mean, fucking crazy.

 

[Prinz Eugn]

Again, "Being able to survive for a long period of time" is a very narrow, and I would say unusual, definition of "most impressive structure in the world."

I think you are setting up a straw man. I don't think longevity was literally the only criteria OP had in mind ("So much mystery and beauty these giant man-made structures have."). They just happened to add focus to it my asking a question in their post.

Aligned True North: The Great Pyramid is the most accurately aligned structure in existence and faces true north with only 3/60th of a degree of error. The position of the North Pole moves over time and the pyramid was exactly aligned at one time.

Umm... what?

 

[Elchele]

Africa Renaissance Statue

That's fucking awesome

 

[Delta Assault]

Also imagine if the great pyramids still had their polished white veneer. Would be so amazing to see those in their original state.

Hold on, let me just grab my krazy glue and fix it up for ya real quick...

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

I feel like the best way to appreciate the sheer, ridiculous scale of the things (other than by actually going there and having them tower over you) is photos that include the nearby city, like thus:

I've found this picture, not sure if it's real or not, but it's damn impressive!

 

[terrisus]

buckle up, terrisus.

I mean, I did a report on them in my freshman World History class back in like 1997 as well, I know the bullet points.
I just think there are far more impressive things out there - including many of the things in this thread.

 

[The One Who Knocks]

While the pyramids are extremely impressive, I certainly wouldn't accept the premise of the thread (that they are the most impressive, nor does size and longevity make one thing inherently more impressive than another, even if they can be factors).

While I'm not sure if it's the most impressive structure, La Sagrada Familia, at least to me, is far more impressive, even in its unfinished state, due to the sheer complexity of its masterful design and the many unique, extremely challenging to construct features that it possesses for no other reason than aesthetic pleasure and because it can be done. It's not really possible to adequately do it justice in pictures but never the less, here are some for those who are unfamiliar with it:

Others I find highly impressive include the Burj Khalifa, St Peter's Bascilica the Lotus Temple, the Guggenhein Museum, and the Taj Mahal, but there are many more.

 

[terrisus]

I think you are setting up a straw man. I don't think longevity was literally the only criteria OP had in mind ("So much mystery and beauty these giant man-made structures have."). They just happened to add focus to it my asking a question in their post.

Well, it's the one point that seems to be getting harped on in this thread over and over.

What else makes it so much more impressive than "any other structure on Earth?"

 

[Epsilon-delta]

I have seen the Great Pyramids, Roman Colosseum, Petra, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, and Mont Saint-Michel in person.

The Great Pyramids impressed me the most. Stonehenge gave me the creeps for some reason.

 

[Majestad]

Being from Peru, I find the city of Machu Picchu fascinating.

I'm gonna go there, hopefully by next year.

 

[Vampirolol]

It's a shame that when you go to see them, you aren't really able to appreciate their beauty to the fullest thanks to peddlers pestering the life out of you.

So much this. But nothig is worse than expecting to see them inside the good old desert... lol.

 

[terrisus]

I feel like the best way to appreciate the sheer, ridiculous scale of the things (other than by actually going there and having them tower over you) is photos that include the nearby city, like thus:

 

[Coreda]

They used to be covered smooth limestone, the pyramids were slopped like a triangle, not like a set of stairs. Link.

How accurate was the building of the Pyramids? As an example, the stones of the Great Pyramid were cut so precisely that no one side differs in length from another side by more than 58 millimeters (around 2 inches).

Further, the four corners align within four minutes of the actual cardinal compass points, with north pointing to true north, not magnetic north. In addition to that, the swivel door to the Great Pyramid weighed around 20 tons, yet was so well balanced that it could be opened from inside by one person with minimal force applied. From the outside, the door was nearly undetectable due to the cut being so precise as to have nearly no crack between itself and the surrounding pyramid. The crack was also sufficiently thin to make it impossible to be used for prying the door open from the outside.

Wish I could have seen them in this state. Must have looked beautiful.

While I'm not sure if it's the most impressive structure, La Sagrada Familia, at least to me, is far more impressive, even in its unfinished state.

Love Gaudi's work, his vision of the church has such an organic beauty to it.

 

[Oppo]

I mean, I did a report on them in my freshman World History class back in like 1997 as well, I know the bullet points.
I just think there are far more impressive things out there - including many of the things in this thread.

If you want to say aesthetically, sure it's debatable.

Mathematically, engineering-wise...they are still bafflingly accurate constructions. It's a descriptor for the whole planet. There is nothing built today that is as accurate, save maybe the LHC.

 

[Hex]

Americans did it better

Not even close.
Gaudy garbage.

 

[rrvv]

While the pyramids are extremely impressive, I certainly wouldn't accept the premise of the thread (that they are the most impressive, nor does size and longevity make one thing inherently more impressive than another, even if they can be factors).

While I'm not sure if it's the most impressive structure, La Sagrada Familia, at least to me, is far more impressive, even in its unfinished state, due to the sheer complexity of its masterful design and the many unique, extremely challenging to construct features that it possesses for no other reason than aesthetic pleasure and because it can be done. It's not really possible to adequately do it justice in pictures but never the less, here are some for those who are unfamiliar with it:



Others I find highly impressive include the Burj Khalifa, St Peter's Bascilica the Lotus Temple, the Guggenhein Museum, and the Taj Mahal, but there are many more.

it's look like alien fortress

 

[terrisus]

If you want to say aesthetically, sure it's debatable.

Mathematically, engineering-wise...they are still bafflingly accurate constructions. It's a descriptor for the whole planet. There is nothing built today that is as accurate, save maybe the LHC.

How about usefulness?

In that case, the Library at Alexandria, among others.

 

[Stet]

I mean, I did a report on them in my freshman World History class back in like 1997 as well, I know the bullet points.
I just think there are far more impressive things out there - including many of the things in this thread.

And yet still no suggestions.

In that case, the Library at Alexandria, among others.

Usefulness ended by fire.

 

[terrisus]

And yet still no suggestions.



Usefulness ended by fire.

So again, apparently "More impressive than anything on earth" is being defined by "lasting a long time."

Very myopic.

 

[Sh0k]

I'm gonna go there, hopefully by next year.

The train ride from the city of Cuzco to were Machu Picchu is located is amazing and then taking the bus to climb the mountain and walking into the city is breathtaking. Amazing experience!

 

[krameriffic]

There is nothing built today that is as accurate, save maybe the LHC.

wat.

They didn't have a concept of the mathematics to define the level of precision with which a great many things are mass produced today. Much less things that take many years to design and build.

Can the Burj Khalifa survive 3000 years with no maintenance like the pyramids did? Can it survive sandstorms, the intense sun, rain, wind, etc.?

That's why I think the Pyramids are so fucking mindblowing. Not to mention that putting a structure like that together in ancient times is nothing short of astounding.

As long as we're asking stupid questions, could the ancient Egyptians have built a building as complex as the Burj Khalifa?

 

[Oppo]

wat.

They didn't have a concept of the mathematics to define the level of precision with which a great many things are mass produced today. Much less things that take many years to design and build.

And yet they did. It's not controversial. Those buildings are hyper accurate. And contain a number of important mathematical relationships within the shape of the building itself.

 

[killer rin]

?

Shit is just mind-blowing. Are there any modern day structures that could even stand for thousands of years like the mythical Egyptian pyramids?

So much mystery and beauty these giant man-made structures have.

I find one the best things about the pyramids is what pictures of the Pyramids dont show you

But even on their own, they are pretty badass

 

[Stet]

So again, apparently "More impressive than anything on earth" is being defined by "lasting a long time."

Very myopic.

Let's play your pedantic game, Terrisus. The thread title is "There's no other structure on Earth more impressive..." and you've suggested a structure that no longer exists on Earth. Had he said "There's no other structure ever to exist on Earth more impressive..." or "There has been no other structure on Earth more impressive..." then maybe you'd be correct. But you're not.

 

[freethought]

How about usefulness?

In that case, the Library at Alexandria, among others.

Does the information contained in scrolls that are housed in the building really speak to the impressiveness of the structure? If it had been completely fireproof, you may have a case, but otherwise you just seem to really hate the pyramids.

 

[Prinz Eugn]

Well, it's the one point that seems to be getting harped on in this thread over and over.

What else makes it so much more impressive than "any other structure on Earth?"

1) Gigantic but precisely constructed, even by modern standards

2) Elegant and aesthetically pleasing, lacking adornment that packs cultural baggage

3) Created with a level of technology we would find bewildering

4) Entirely impractical, engendering a sense of wonder (a dam is self-explanatory, a pyramid is not)

I wouldn't say they are the most impressive man-made things personally, but I would have a hard time placing anything above them given the context in which they were made.

 

[Makai]

The Great Wall is less impressive when you realize that what we see of it today is Medieval.

 

[Animator]

The are a big pile of rocks built by slaves. I mean they are cool & all . . . but not really that impressive.

Holy shit has there ever been a more "this is neogaf" posts than this?