Pyramids of Latin America and Egypt

There are many similarities between the pyramids of Latin America and those of Egypt, but the pyramids of these unique civilizations exhibit basic, fundamental differences as well. For example, the pyramids of Latin America have a terraced structure which features a stairway on one side and a temple on top of the pyramid. By contrast, Egyptian pyramids are characterized by straight sides with no external terraces or stairways, and the temple is located at ground level beside the pyramid.

The pyramids of Egypt and Latin America also differ in terms of the specific functions which they served for their respective societies. In both civilizations the pyramids served religious purposes, but these were unique to each. In Latin America, the pyramids were centers for religious activity. The pyramid was a place where sacred rites and ceremonies were carried out. Many of these rites featured sacrificial offerings, including human sacrifices, and were believed to be necessary in order to keep the world alive and in harmony. In Egypt, the p

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h great heights which proclaim the eternal power and divinity of the royal figures entombed within them, the temples which accompany them are located at ground level beside the pyramid. This seems to enhance the status of the godking, elevating him far above the environment of the very religious institution which deified him. The temples of the Latin American pyramids evolved from a simple jungle hut into a sophisticated "stone edifice" atop the impressive pyramid structure (Ivanoff, 71). As noted earlier, the Aztec pyramids typically featured double temples. These temples were used on an ongoing basis for religious ceremonies. By contrast, the temples of Egyptian pyramids were specifically devoted to the funerary rites of the Pharaoh whose remains they housed. The temples of Latin American also were constructed with a distinctive architectural feature which has no counterpart in the Egyptian pyramid. This feature was a decorative crest crowning the temple that stood atop the pyramid, and was characterized as "a very ornate openwork wall whose height often exceeded that of the edifice itself" (Ibid.). In both Egypt and Latin America, the interiors of pyramids featured small, dark corridors leading to the various interi
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Approximate Word count = 3807
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page)

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