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Reasons Why the Great Pyramids of Giza Remain the Only Surviving Wonder of the Ancient World: Drawing Ideas from the Structure of the Giza Pyramids to Nuclear Power Plants



Author(s)

Samia Wafik Morsy and Mohamed A. Halim

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2015.10.007

Siting and Environment Department, Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, Cairo 11762, Egypt

Selecting a site for a nuclear power plant requires extensive studies to ensure its safety and stability during its operation until its decommissioning. The 4,500-year old Egyptian pyramids at Giza are buildings to learn from. This paper tries to pin down the reasons for the survival of the Giza pyramids in order to reach a criterion for choosing sites for important buildings. It argues that the site selection and the geological properties of the area, being away from seismic effects, , floods and groundwater levels, the stability of the geometric form of the pyramid, the solidity of the structural engineering and precision of execution arguably are the reasons why the Great Pyramids of Giza are the only survivors of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Site selection, nuclear power plants, pyramids, stability of form, solidity of form, precision of execution.