Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Great Pyramid of Giza (Seven Wonders #1)

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Starting point is 00:02:19 My name's Thomas, and I'm your host. Thank you so much for joining me this evening. Tonight we're beginning a multi-part series exploring the seven wonders of the ancient world. We'll start by visiting the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and most famous of these historic monuments. Out of all seven wonders, this ancient tomb is the only one to remain mostly intact. It continues to astound the likes of archaeologists and engineers, as well as millions of tourists who visit each year. A big thank you to Joe Steer for writing this one, which I have the pleasure of reading. And there will be six more to enjoy over the coming months. So let's take a moment to get comfy and settled as we always do here before our story begins.

Starting point is 00:03:32 Ensure you're lying in a position that feels supportive and comfortable. And enjoy a few deep, slow breaths, allowing your body and mind to relax more and more with each passing moment. If you're feeling at all anxious about your sleep, perhaps if you've been struggling a bit with it lately, just understand that you're not alone. There are many thousands of people listening to this show, and millions of others around the world trying to improve their own sleep. around the world trying to improve their own sleep. Having struggled with sleep my entire life I've always tried to approach these anxieties with softness and reassurance. I understand that being bombarded with reminders of how important sleep is, or how you should be getting a certain amount, is quite unhelpful most of the time.

Starting point is 00:04:57 If you're like me, those things only tend to increase the sense of unease and worry around our relationship with sleep. So see if you can just lean into acceptance instead. Accept that you are where you are with it, and that might well be a great place, but even if it's not, that's okay. The less pressure you put on yourself to achieve the absolute optimum night's sleep, the easier it will probably come. Of course, you can do things to ensure nothing is holding you back, like improving the sleep hygiene of your bedroom, avoiding social media or other stimulating activities close to bedtime, and various other tweaks you might want to make. time and various other tweaks you might want to make. But now you're here, listening to my voice, there's nothing else you need to do.

Starting point is 00:06:18 Just enjoy the comfort of your bed, the familiarity of my voice, the opportunity to rest your eyes, and the wonderful story I'm about to tell. concerns to fade into the background as we travel to northeast Africa. Imagine yourself standing on golden sandy ground beneath a cloudless sky of azure blue. This is where our story begins. It's early morning and already quite warm, but there is a nice breeze and you're thankful for that. You can feel the cool air rolling over you in waves. It's as refreshing as water washing over your skin. You close your eyes and listen for a moment, absorbed by the sound of rustling trees. The air moves through the canopies of the palms above the constant flow of running water. Opening your eyes you see the source of the noise. It's the famous river Nile, the lifeblood of Egypt.

Starting point is 00:08:39 You can smell the freshness of the water and the scent of the flowers growing on the riverbank. The main river is some distance ahead, but it appears that channels have been dug out Three canals flow towards and behind you, strips of blue-green that look striking against the sand. You've come to Giza on the west bank of the Nile. You are just across the river from the capital of Cairo and 20 miles north of the city of Memphis. Memphis was the capital during the reign of Pharaoh Naama, the first king to rule a unified Egypt. But you have travelled to the 25th century BCE, when Egypt was ruled by its fourth dynasty of pharaohs. Historians have labeled this the Old Kingdom era

Starting point is 00:10:10 because the enduring civilization was still in its infancy. The fourth dynasty is considered by many to be a golden age of early Egypt. There was peace and prosperity throughout the kingdom, and the nation was at the peak of its pyramid building era. The Great Pyramid of Giza was commissioned by Khufu, the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. It was the grandest tomb to house him in the afterlife, a magnificent resting place befitting a king. You'll learn all about the Great Pyramid of Giza as you tour the grounds. Here in the 25th century BCE, it's just a short while after the complex was completed. Your attention returns to the Nile, where you stand on its banks admiring the blue-green water. Sunlight flickers across the river's surface

Starting point is 00:11:49 in shades of white, gold, and luminous silver. You feel that you could stay here for the time, watching the colours and patterns on the water. The river has a perfume that's both woody and floral. It's a heady elixir blended with the breeze. Your breath deepens naturally as you take in the scent and note a hint of distant spices like cinnamon and cardamom. earthy aroma of myrrh, rich, sweet and concentrated like a resin. There's another scent too, maybe lilies or roses. It seems to emanate from a woman stood nearby. She's dressed in the fashions of the time, a loose-fitting tunic made of thin white cotton. Her feet look well cushioned in papyrus sandals and her footsteps are hushed on a carpet of sand.

Starting point is 00:13:32 Her dark glossy hair is veiled with sunlight and her eyes are outlined by thick, cold makeup. She catches your eye and smiles warmly before returning her gaze to where she's walking. Her perfume washes over you in the sweetest of waves as she passes by, heading in the opposite direction. There's something intriguing about the woman's demeanor. her movements are so gentle, so measured and graceful, a sense of peace seems to follow her, but in her eyes you detect excitement and wonder. You close your eyes for just a moment and drink in the perfumed away from the Nile and cast your gaze across the city of Giza. For the first time you see the reason for the woman's excitement, the pyramids of Egypt, part of a complex of numerous structures and buildings. Thousands of years in the future, the pyramids will have original state, the sandstone is hidden beneath a case of white limestone.

Starting point is 00:15:55 You've never seen stone so polished or dazzling. When the sunlight glints off the surface of the Great Pyramid, it glows a brilliant white like a beacon. It's surreal, otherworldly, and uniquely beautiful. These sleek white structures are capped with electrum, a metallic compound made of silver and gold. Their exteriors have etchings. Though you can't make them out, you suspect they're hieroglyphics. When you picture the main pyramids as they can be seen in the 21st century, you envision them nestled amongst only a few other buildings. You picture some smaller step pyramids and what remains of the Sphinx, but aside from that it's relatively open. In this time period, however, the complex looks very different.

Starting point is 00:17:31 It's a town-sized necropolis of ancient architecture. The pyramids tower above countless other structures. All are intact as if they were built only yesterday. The ground around the pyramids is peppered with mastabas. They are rectangular houses made of sand-colored limestone. These ancient mausoleums are maybe 10 meters tall, though from here they look a whole lot smaller. Elsewhere, there are doorways cut into hillsides, and beautiful temples between stone-laid causeways. What you're looking at, essentially, is a large-scale memorial, a desert sanctuary where the ancients were laid to rest. It doesn't feel sad or desolate though, it's far too magnificent for that. Instead it's a tribute to those who reside here and a grand celebration of what the living can achieve. More than anything it's a place of peace and beauty.

Starting point is 00:19:25 You can feel the serenity with every inhalation. You can still smell a trace of sweet perfume from where the woman walked ahead towards the complex. You set off following the path of her footprints in the sand. Only now do you notice that you are dressed like her in a lightweight tunic with sandals on your feet. You enjoy the warmth of the sunshine on your skin as you make your way towards the grandest of the buildings. The pyramids grow taller with each step forwards as do the buildings on the ground below them. You feel almost as if you're breathing in knowledge, as if the secrets of the pyramid are held in the breeze.

Starting point is 00:20:48 You begin to wonder if you're awake or dreaming. The three main pyramids ascend in height from left to right. from left to right. The pyramid of Menkori is on the left and beside it in the middle is the pyramid of Kafri. The Great Pyramid of Giza is furthest right. It's the largest and most impressive of the three main structures. In the 21st century, it is hailed as one of the seven ancient monuments in the entire world. It's also known as the Pyramid of Khufu after the pharaoh who commissioned its construction. The second ruler of the fourth dynasty, his work stood out amongst a family of pyramid builders. You think about the pharaohs and the Egyptian people as you stroll onwards towards the great pyramid. the Great Pyramid. You ponder the beliefs about religion and the afterlife that were

Starting point is 00:22:29 built into the foundations of this sacred place. Life and death were thought to happen in cycles like much of the nature that the people here saw around them. The branches of the fig tree might be bare in winter, but by late springtime they'll be dripping with fresh fruit. A person's death was far from an ending. Rather, it was the beginning of a different cycle. The sun god Ra was thought to die with the sunset, only to be reborn each day at sunrise. A great deal of thought was put into the afterlife and how to prepare for one's rebirth.

Starting point is 00:23:50 to prepare for one's rebirth. Bodies were preserved through the ritual of embalming so that parts of the soul could reunite after passing. It was thought that pharaohs became gods after death, eventually finding their way to the field of reeds. This was a paradise of immense natural wonder, a place of lush green farmland and stunning waterfalls. The afterlife was located in the circumpolar stars which rotate continuously around the polar or North Star. These were known as the indestructibles or immortals because they never fully set being above the horizon. It's incredible to think that these stars are visible from the central King's chamber inside the Great Pyramid. Two narrow air vents point up like telescopes towards Orion's Belt on one side and the North

Starting point is 00:25:18 Star on the other. It is argued by some that the purpose of these channels was to direct the Pharaoh's soul to his place in the afterlife. It was the King's pathway to the celestial realm where he could take his place amongst the gods of Egypt. The position of the stars was also considered when mapping out the placement of the main pyramids. Each has an exact astronomical orientation with sides perfectly aligned with the points of a compass. You look up now to the sky above the pyramids, and cast your gaze over a vast blue expanse. It's clear, cloudless and glittering with sunshine,

Starting point is 00:26:31 and is your frame around these gleaming white structures. The circumpolar stars aren't visible right now. They're hidden beneath a blanket of bright, sunny daylight. You'll be able to see them in the darkness of evening, when the pyramids glow silver beneath the stars and moonlight. Returning your gaze directly ahead, you see that you've reached the beginning of the You take a central pathway that veers right across the sand on your way towards Khufu's Great Pyramid. On your left, you note a channel of water. It stretches back behind you to where it meets the Nile. It's wide enough that boats can travel across it, but so still and calm that you cannot hear it lapping. The canal feeds into a large pool of water,

Starting point is 00:28:11 its blue-green surface shining with sunlight. An open-air temple stands tall behind it, bordered at each side by massive golden columns. Each of the main pyramids have similar temples positioned at a distance from one another at their entrance. These are the valley temples which connect the pyramids with the sacred Nile. Much of the stone that was used to build these pyramids came from the plateau on which they were established, but other necessities like granite from southern Egypt were brought in ships along these channels. The bodies of the pharaohs were embalmed in these temples before being moved along the stone-laid causeway. Pharaohs might be carried in a ship or sarc ending at the so-called Funerary Temple. This was where crowds might leave gifts and tributes, or burn incense in honor of the

Starting point is 00:30:04 Pharaoh. The valley temple to your left is the pyramid of Khafre, son of Khufics, the ancient alphabet carved into the columns. Just as you'd been surprised by the color of the pyramids, you're equally taken by the beauty of these symbols. In their original state, they've been meticulously hand-painted in vivid shades that stand out against the stone. Even more impressive is what's behind the temple, the great Sphinx of Giza, freshly built and painted. This mythical creature has the body of a lion, roughly the length of a jumbo jet aeroplane. Its massive head resembles the Pharaoh Khafre, brought to life as you've never seen it. His eyes are thickly outlined, like those of the woman you noticed earlier.

Starting point is 00:31:49 A pointed beard stretches down below his chin in the same shade of lapis blue. His face is framed by a royal headdress, striped blue and gold, with a cobra at its top. Certainly the Great Sphinx is a formidable creature, one tasked with guarding the complex. Though he's 20 meters tall, he makes the pyramids look even taller. The white stone looks brighter still against the colors of his face. To your right, you look out on rock-cut tombs where rectangular door frames have been carved into the hillside. The exterior of the walls have been smoothed and sculpted and expertly decorated in painted hieroglyphics. In front of the hillside the land flattens and headstones rise up like gold bars. Hieroglyphics on top honor those placed inside, most likely members of the Egyptian nobility. It was a tremendous honor for any Egyptian to be laid to rest so close to the Pharaoh.

Starting point is 00:33:53 It would go a long way to ensuring good treatment once they passed on into the afterlife. Pride of place was given to the Pharaoh's wives, mother and sisters who were placed inside the so-called Queen's Pyramids. You can see these now on the eastern front, three white pyramids around 50 meters tall. Only here within this magical complex could the Queen's pyramids be referred to as small. referred to as small, but that's how they appear against the pyramid behind them, which dwarfs everything around it at 140 meters tall. At this point in history, it is the tallest human-made structure across the globe, and will remain as such for nearly 4,000 years. Were it built in the 21st century, it would still be a huge achievement. huge achievement, so it's almost unbelievable to see it standing here in this age. It's for this reason that there's still much to debate as to how the pyramid was actually

Starting point is 00:35:41 built. It seems that the Egyptians intentionally left few records, perhaps hoping to maintain the mystery of its construction. What we know is that Khufu employed the architect Hemiounu and that he managed a workforce of around 25,000. Contrary to popular belief, these workers weren't enslaved people, but citizens who came from across the country. Egyptian people were required by law to perform labor for the government each year. Workers were housed in nearby dwellings and often fed better than the average Egyptian.

Starting point is 00:36:50 Tasks ranged from administerial paperwork to making tools or clothes for those in construction. Though the bulk of the work was manual labor, quarrying, sculpting, and transporting the stone. This was made easier by the architect's decision to build the Great Pyramid on the West Bank Plateau. The area is rich in sand-colored limestone, which meant that stone could be cut from nearby ground. However, even more had to be sourced from a distant quarry and fixed with ropes to large cedar sleds. Ramps and pulleys were most likely used to pull blocks up the pyramid and set them in place. Hemiunu had planned to complete the project over a span of 20 years.

Starting point is 00:38:12 Practically speaking, this meant that every three seconds a block of quarried limestone would need to be set in place. Bear in mind that a single block can weigh from around 2 tons to upwards of 50. Also that limestone once exposed to oxygen, requires careful chiseling to form into place. Of the two million stone blocks that form Khufu's pyramid, every single one had to be perfect. had to be perfect. The smallest imperfection in a stone at the bottom could weaken the integrity of the 60 million ton structure. It was thousands of years before the birth of geometry, and the only measuring tools at hand were wooden set squares and plum weights. Yet the pyramid is more precise than many modern skyscrapers. Angles are accurate to a single degree. No matter what we learn about Khufu's Great Pyramid, it never seems to lose its air of

Starting point is 00:39:57 mystery. Arguments about the methods and the manpower used to build it only seem to add to its magic and wonder. Of all the beauty that you've seen in the world, nothing has provoked such a sense of awe. you feel wonderfully small and insignificant, like a drop of water in a great ocean. The east side of the pyramid isn't in the shade, but the air around it makes it feel as if it is. It's as if there's a coolness radiating from the limestone, lowering the temperature around its base. Its white polished surface is luminous in the sunlight and so glossy that you can see

Starting point is 00:41:11 your reflection. Looking to the ground you can make out footprints, perhaps those of the woman that you followed earlier. They lead out in the direction of the funerary temple, towards the aroma of incense and the sound of your tunic, pushing you along as if you're floating on a stream. You pause for a moment before the great temple, its sides surrounded by pillars and statues. Somehow you're sure that a ship is beneath you, buried in the sand at the side of the

Starting point is 00:42:17 temple. You can picture its base, curved upwards like a smile, and the box-like area where a passenger might sit. Oars at each side have paddles shaped like leaves made of Lebanese cedar like the rest of the vessel. cedar like the rest of the vessel. This is what's known as a solar bark or barge and a replica of the ship believed to be used by Ra. It's what the sun God uses to traverse the skies, sailing through the underworld in the dark of night time. The boat was buried beside the pyramid for the Pharaoh to use once he'd been reborn. On this, he can navigate through the afterlife, finding his way to the Field of Reeds. However, in some ancient scrolls, it is said that the pharaoh becomes a falcon, flying all the way up to those circumpolar

Starting point is 00:43:49 stars. This could be the reason for those starshafts inside the pyramid. They are just large enough for a bird to fly through. It's just as you're thinking about this possibility that your thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a bird. You raise a hand to your forehead and shield your eyes from the sun, soon spotting a bird sailing gracefully through the air. Instantly you recognize its outstretched wings, a mottled patchwork of cream and brown feathers. By some coincidence, it's a peregrine falcon thought king of the birds by these ancient

Starting point is 00:44:59 Egyptians. The Falcon is thought to be an earthly representation of both the sun god Ra and the sky god Horus. This sacred bird is the protector of the pharaohs and it's a sign of great fortune to spot one flying. You stand for some time and watch the falcon. It twists and turns forming patterns in the sky, and eventually it disappears behind the wall of the pyramid and you return your gaze to the temple ahead. It's then that you see a familiar face through the gaps between the columns that surround the temple. The perfumed woman is seated on a stool and playing sweet music on an ancient reed flute. It's not like any flute you've heard before. There's a breathiness to the notes that seems to cause the sounds to linger. The tune is hypnotic, yet warm and comforting,

Starting point is 00:46:53 hypnotic yet warm and comforting like birdsong. You follow the music up the steps of the temple into the room where the woman is seated. She doesn't stop playing, but she nods her head slightly as if to welcome you inside. Not far from the woman is a huge stone statue, most likely an image of Khufu himself. A thin cloud of smoke drifts upwards beside it from a gold-plated stand where incense burns. For the second time today, you note the fragrance of meh. It's rich, resinous and beautifully warming. The smokiness of the resin makes the room appear dreamlike, especially as it's combined with the reed flute song. You pause here for a moment and close your eyes. You listen to the notes floating in the air. The melody twists and turns like a long, snaking river, flowing organically from one to another. Your natural breath has slowed down in the temple as you savor the aroma of rich earthy maw. There's a spiciness to the scent that you previously hadn't noticed and a balsamic quality that on the breath feels healing. You also note hints of the woman's perfume, its floral,

Starting point is 00:49:13 musky and as sweet as honey. It blends with the resin to create a soothing atmosphere as a lush and natural as a desert oasis. When you open your eyes you see things that you hadn't noticed hidden on the floor beneath a layer of haze. Candles flicker around the base of the statue. They cast a soft yellow hue across myriad offerings. Candlelight bounces over gold and silver jewelry, bracelets and necklaces encrusted with gemstones. It highlights the details of gorgeous wooden boxes, etched, sculpted and inlaid with ivory. You see clothing, cosmetics, perfumes and ointments, and copious amounts of food and drink. Fresh and dried fruits, nuts and cheeses have been placed in pottery, decorated in ancient symbols. Your mind begins to take you on a journey inside the pyramid to the sealed off rooms filled with similar goods. The bottom most of these is the underground

Starting point is 00:51:16 chamber, whilst the Queen's chamber is almost directly above. A network of passageways have been cut from the stone, providing access to three different rooms. Included amongst these is the Grand Gallery. It rises to a height of over 20 meters tall. It was built with an offset so the walls are closer towards the top, a technique that dates back to Bronze Age construction. Perfectly smooth walls frame an ascending stone staircase,

Starting point is 00:52:18 one that leads up to the central king's chamber. This is where the sarcophagus is housed. It's the most sacred room in the whole pyramid. Granite slabs were engineered to close off the tomb, though no one is entirely sure how. The walls, floor and ceiling are lined with granite, cut to precision in matching blocks. It's also being used to reinforce the ceiling as a precautionary measure in case of collapse. Granite is heavy and also very durable. It can withstand more erosion than most other stones. than most other stones. That's why it was used to line the king's chamber. It was another measure to protect the Pharaoh. Not only the Pharaoh, but the items stored with him. Each chamber, after all, was a veritable treasure trove. In many ways, the pyramid was like a giant suitcase, packed with everything the Pharaoh might need on his travels. To these ancient Egyptians, the Pharaoh's afterlife might not be so different from his life on earth. Thus, the King's chamber might not look all that different from something like a bedroom within a grand royal palace.

Starting point is 00:54:31 You can picture it now as if you are inside the room. You see all kinds of furniture carved and sculpted. The feet of a table have paws like a lion. An ancient bed frame is inlaid with gold. There are a plethora of outfits that the Pharaoh might wear. Clothes, sandals, kilts and robes. There's jewelry, cosmetics, oils and perfumes. And enough food and drink to long sustain him. There are handcrafted weapons in case of battle and games he might play on calmer days.

Starting point is 00:55:47 It's a pleasant thought to think of the Pharaoh in paradise, playing board games with a table of gods. A scroll within the chamber depicts the field of reeds. It's been hand painted on papyrus, with its sun soaked meadows, rivers and waterfalls, it's instantly recognisable as the Egyptian paradise. You can see the painting as if you're inside the pyramid, examining the papyrus in the glow of candlelight. You can envision the view through the rectangular air vent and feel the breeze flowing out between the granite. The North Star shines bright like a beacon, visible in a sky now blanketed in darkness. The circumpolar stars sparkle around it, smaller and more subtle, but no less magical. You turn the image over in your mind as you now take a seat in a chair you hadn't noticed before. You sink into the cushions of

Starting point is 00:57:29 lapis blue velvet as you imagine an oasis located in the stars. Slipping out of your sandals, you raise your legs and prop up your feet on the cushioned footstool. From here, you can rest and absorb the aromas. You can take in the music from the woman on her flute. The air is far cooler beneath the roof of the temple, and the daylight is dimmed by thick stone columns. Behind the haze of incense it could easily be evening, though instead of the stars you have the flames of candles. Your muscles relax and your body grows heavy as you sink deeper into the cushions. The velvet moulds around the frame of your body. It's soft and luxurious against your skin.

Starting point is 00:59:09 You breathe cool air in and out, becoming more relaxed with each passing second. It's easy to imagine yourself in a natural oasis as you take in the scents of myrrh and perfume. Your mind clears of tangible thoughts and your feelings flow like the current of a river. All that you are left with is a feeling of awe at the wonderful things you've seen here today. Though eventually even this begins to fade behind an overwhelming sense of comfort in your body. You close your eyes and sink back into the cushions surrendering to rest and relaxation here at the Great Pyramid of Giza. The I'm going to go to the bathroom. and and and The I'm going to be a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a

Starting point is 01:03:10 little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a. The... You

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Great Pyramid of Giza (Seven Wonders #1)

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