When we hear the word pyramids, our minds immediately go to Egypt; however, there are pyramids scattered all over the world: America, Europe, Asia and India. What many don’t realize is that the ancient Greeks were building pyramids at the same time, or even before, the Egyptians.
Known as the Argolis Pyramids, the ancient constructions are found on the Argolis plains of Greece and date back 5,000 years. The most famous of the pyramids is known as the Pyramid of Hellinikon.
Hellikon’s pyramid
Hellinikon’s pyramid was referenced by the ancient Greek traveler and geographer. Pausaniasin his Description of Greece. He mentions two buildings resembling pyramidsone is a tomb for soldiers who died in a battle for the throne of Argos, and another which he was told was the tomb of Argives killed in battle around 669 BC. He wrote:
On the way from Argos to Epidauria, there is on the right a building which very much resembles a pyramid, on which shields worked in the shape of Argive are represented in relief. Here took place a struggle for the throne between Proetus and Acrisius; the fight, they say, ended in a draw, and a reconciliation then took place, as neither could achieve a decisive victory. The story is that they and their hosts were armed with shields, which were first used in this battle. For those who fell on both sides, a common tomb was built here, because they were fellow citizens and relatives. Pausanias: 2.25
Manuscript of Pausanias’ “Description of Greece” at the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana. (Public domain)
In 1938, an American archaeological expedition established the construction of the pyramid around 300-400 BC; However, in 1991 a scientific team led by Professor Lyritzis used a new method to calculate the age of the pyramid and placed it around 3000 BC. Later research carried out by the Academy of Athens and the University of Edinburgh changed the date to 2720 BC.
If these numbers are correct, then this pyramid is older than the Zoser pyramid (Djoser) in Egypt, which is currently considered the oldest Egyptian pyramid – although the age of the Egyptian pyramids is a controversial subject.
Step pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara, Egypt. (Charles J. Sharp/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Although nowhere near the scale of the Egyptian pyramids – the Hellinkon Pyramid measures 7 x 9 m (23 x 30 ft) – the structure is extremely significant to our understanding of early civilization in Egypt. Greece. However, excavations of this monument have been strangely abandoned.
In 2017, the Greek Ministry of Culture questioned whether Hellinikon’s structure was a pyramid. In an official statement addressing the controversy, they suggested that it was a fort or monument and not a prehistoric monument. Previous excavations have been neglected.
Ruins of the Hellinikon pyramid near Kefalari in the Peloponnese in Greece. (site_vidas1/Adobestock)
The Pyramid of Lygourio
Located northwest of the town of Lygourio, at the foot of Mount Arachnaion, is another important Greek pyramid. Built in 4 Th century BC on limestone blocks, it was larger than Hellinkon’s pyramid, measuring 46 x 39 feet (14 x 12 m).
The interior of the pyramid was divided into four areas separated by walls constructed from smaller irregular stones. On the outer wall, there used to be a stone bench all around it. Today, only the base of the pyramid remains.
The remains of the Lygourio pyramid, southern area of Lygourio, Argolis, Greece. (Schuppi/ CC BY-SA 4.0)
Researchers believe the pyramid, which is believed to have been used as a memorial to fallen fighters in the battle between Proitos and Akrisios, was originally built as a military fort as it was built near the ancient Argos road -Epidaurus, where many forts were built along the route.
Archaeological excavations were carried out in 1937 and revealed potsherds dating from the 5th century. th-4th century BC. An Epidaurus coin dating from 323-300 BC was also found in the ruins. A fire damaged the pyramid on 1 st century BC and its final destruction would have taken place in the 4 Th or 5 Th century AD.
An Egyptian connection?
Some historians have attempted to draw parallels with the ancient Egyptian pyramids, even suggesting that the Greek pyramids were built as guard posts for Egyptian mercenaries, or that a tradition of building pyramids for funerary purposes was imported into Greece from Egypt. However, to date there is no substantial evidence to support these theories. Other, more conservative theories suggest that the buildings simply served as places to store agricultural products or as a place of refuge for populations during times of conflict. No human remains were found in the pyramids despite Pausanius’ descriptions describing them as tombs.
Top image: Ruins of the Hellinikon pyramid in Greece. Source: kranidi/Adobe Stock
By Black Jeans
