BUILDING A PYRAMID STEP-BY-STEP
Houdin’s theory posits that the pyramid was built with two ramps
1 The pyramid base
According to Houdin, the pyramid’s base was built using an external ramp until the base reached a height of about 60 metres. Workers then slowly broke down the external ramp and used its blocks to build the rest of the pyramid.
2 Starting the internal ramp
As workers continued building the rest of the pyramid, they also built and used an internal ramp to haul the heavy blocks. This allowed them to build the pyramid from the inside out.
3 Completing the pyramid
After the core of the pyramid was completed, workers filled in the corners that had previously held cranes. Egyptologist Bob Brier found one area on the pyramid’s exterior that may be evidence of one of these corners.
4 A smooth surface
Originally the exterior of the pyramid was also covered with casing stones, which gave it a smooth appearance. Today only the core inner structure is visible.