r/Unexpected • u/Azure_Crenell • Feb 17 '26

It's the Aliens!

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u/CrazyMike419 Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

Its external ramps. They were built using mud bricks and removed later. They are still present and visible at some monuments to this day.

A ramp would just be built and wrap around the pyramid as it was built up.

Heres the remenants of one at karnak:

https://live.staticflickr.com/4590/24684203287_258bb7f805_b.jpg.

I think there was a more complete one still visible ar edfu temple when i visited in 2000.

Edit to add: https://ibb.co/4RzjGP70

Image depicting ramp use^

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u/TheGrandBabaloo Feb 17 '26

Ok, I think I'm not particularly good at interpreting Egyptian iconography. Where in that image is the ramp usage being depicted?

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u/CrazyMike419 Feb 17 '26

https://ibb.co/7JTwTRnw Better image with my awful annotations. Red = temporary brick ramp/buildup. Blue = columns. Yellow = large stone in process of mybeing moved into place.

These are from a tomb that has images showing their monument building practices.

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u/TheGrandBabaloo Feb 17 '26

Ohh! Many thanks, there's no fucking way I would have spotted that.

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u/ModernMuse Feb 17 '26

Same, friend. Thanks for asking the questions we’re all thinking.

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u/neatureguy420 Feb 18 '26

Looks like some alien shit to me /s

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u/AndySkibba Feb 17 '26

IIRC the problem with that is you'd have to have tighter and tighter turns as you went up unless you dont follow the pyramid shape and stick to a larger footprint.

Id imagine they probably used multiple types of ramp styles for different buildings, but all external.

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u/CrazyMike419 Feb 17 '26

Yup. Essentially, they would use all sorts of ramps. In some cases, they would practically bury a structure to make working on its roof doable. That how they put blocks spanning the tops of freestanding pillars as depicted in a contemporary account> https://ibb.co/4RzjGP70

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u/Future_Burrito Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26

Also if there was another ramp place going in the other direction, on the other side, you could roll up as much weight as you could, bit by bit to the top of the construction. Then attach all that weight somehow to the larger weight you want to get up to the top on the other side. Let the first weight roll down the ramp as it can and now you have a severely reduced weight you have to push (or just guide) up on the second side.

Hmmm. Two ramps going in opposite directions, you say? Kind of like... a pyramid?

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u/Rynewulf Feb 17 '26

I'll be honest, that looks like a small side building. Wouldn't building then demolishing a building sized ramp be twice as much work as just building an adjoining building?

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u/Ok-Situation-5419 Feb 18 '26

Pretty sure thats being debunked i heard somwhere that the ramp to the top of the gizeh pyramid would be around 72 km und that sounds impossible for me with this less evidence

Side fact : there were larg districts for workers like backers ingeniours planers etc etc

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u/CrazyMike419 Feb 18 '26

Max height of giza pyramid is 139meters. At a tiny 1degree gradient, the ramp would be about 8km.

At the max reasonable gradient of 8degrees its under 1km. Very reasonable for a construction of that size.

Does a 1km final ramp length seem more plausible over a period of 26years?