Explore a Pharaoh's Boat

  • By Peter Tyson
  • Posted 12.01.09
  • NOVA

In 1954, an Egyptian archeologist discovered an immense, beautifully crafted ship buried in pieces right beside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Now fully reassembled, this extraordinary royal craft, one of the oldest planked vessels in the world, has revolutionized our understanding of ancient Egyptian shipbuilding and continues to astonish visitors to the Giza Plateau. In this slide show, take a close look at this 4,600-year-old ship of state.

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Examine a masterpiece of ancient shipbuilding found a half century ago buried beside the Great Pyramid.

Credits

Images

(museum, ship, wood, deckhouse, paneling, oars, deck)
Peter Tyson/© WGBH Educational Foundation
(style)
Annie Valva/© WGBH Educational Foundation
(discovery)
© Bettmann/Corbis
(planking)
© David Kerkhoff/iStockphoto
(fastenings)
© Vanni Archive/Corbis
(purpose)
© The Art Archive/Corbis

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