What Did Medieval People Think Of The Pyramids?

The pyramids of Egypt have fascinated visitors for thousands of years since their creation. They dominate the landscape and are impossible to ignore. But just as long as people have looked upon them, they have also come up with all sorts of ideas as to what they were used for. Medieval Europeans were no different, and although fewer of them were familiar with Egypt's pyramids, those who did see them or heard of them were no less willing to speculate as to their origins.

Recommendations for further reading:
-Demus, Otto. The Mosaics of San Marco in Venice. II: The
Thirteenth Century (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984).
-Osborne, John L. "Peter's Grain Heap: A medieval view of the 'Meta Romuli.'" Echos du Monde Antique/Classical Views 30 (1986):111–18.
-Wilkinson, John. Jerusalem Pilgrims before the Crusades (Warminster, Eng.: Aris & Phillips, 1977).

All images used in this video are either my own, in the public domain, under fair use, or under creative commons (whence they shall be credited appropriately)

Outro music: Laid Back Guitars by Kevin MacLeod, CC BY-SA 4.0

#medievalhistory #medieval #middleages #history #educational #egypt #pyramid #cairo #moyenage #herodotus #pyramids #joseph #oldtestament #grain

[WaterShowsProd]

Very interesting. I love the idea that they even thought it would have been practical to haul the grain up to the top of the pyramids and pour it in through the top. Also: I never knew about the pyramids of Romulus and Remus before.

[Jimmylad.]

Why was the pyramid in the Vatican dismantled?

[jaanth]

Ben Carson confirmed civilization player.

[laserspear]

Great video! Loved the John Osborne insight and Al Muqaddimah shout out. Subscribed

[roundninja]

But has anyone ever checked if maybe the pyramids used to be full of grains before it all got eaten by one really hungry guy?

[kenyonmoon]

This is not a common belief in the church. For doctrinal purposes the story of Israel in Egypt is assumed to be literal, or at least an amalgamation of experiences, but the graineries are not thought to be identified on our end of the timeline - either we simply haven't recognized them or they've been lost to time.

Carson's position on the matter is not unheard of, but it is not one you should expect to encounter regularly within the denomination.

[fas]

Governor, the city granary is now empty...

[florinivan]

The assumption of granaries has some logic to it. In an era when famine was always a possibility that's the immediate thing you would think. 'Why would they build something that big taking up so many resources?Food of course.'

[vickibamman]

Babylon was the name the ancient Romans had for Old Cairo? First time I heard that — what is your source?

[hypokratesthehypocrite]

Do you ever plan on doing a video about the Moors?

[TriBgarage]

Very interesting, really the scary thing is, how many people blindly assept false truths, just because who said them. You can say actual facts no longer matter in public opinion in some groups. And how each group say it's the other one that is lying, it can't be their side. I like how you say both opinions, and how they come to them, rather then just say your opinion, and that the other guy is wacky.

[crisps]

You ask some wonderful questions in your titles

[jammysmears]

I reckon the pyramids simply reminded people of piles of grain and the various legends grew up separately from similar ideas.

[ethanator]

The peasants trying not to die from plagues, wars and poor harvests: I beg your pardon, What on gods green middle-earth is a pyramid?

[nevetstrevel]

Duh they got the idea from civilizations 2

[Toksyuryel]

Would that much grain even remain edible for seven years if stored like that? There are so many holes in this story XD

[SaltyChickenDip]

Ben Carson is interesting dude was a genius in neurosurgery. But it seem like he did whst a lot of smsrt hyper specialized people do and assume thier intelligence means they know a lot about everything else.

[Siegbert]

So... what you're saying is... Aliens?

[jasemamen]

Roman name for old Cairo ⁉️⁉️⁉️
.
Cairo wasn’t existed at that time time ⁉️

[veronicatash]

A bit of a correction needs to be made. A claim that the pyramids were granaries is a claim made at least as late as 2015, when Ben Carson claimed such and stood by his claim.