World's tallest pyramids

[the spliff fairy]

Originally Posted by Skybean

A couple of pyramids in China are both wider an at least as tall as those in Egypt:


In 1912 of the two travel agents Fred Meyer Schroder and Oscar Maman reported of a tremendous building that they had seen in China."It was more eerie than if we had found them in the wilderness. Here they had been under the nose of the world, but unknown to the western countries... The big pyramid is about 1,000 feet high (other descriptions estimate 1,000 to 1,200 feet high) and roughly 1,500 feet at the base, which makes it twice as large as any pyramid in Egypt. The four faces of the structure are oriented with the compass points," the two travellers reported.

During the second world war, the pilot of the American Air Force, James Gaussman, with his co-pilot, flow - through a technical defect at his machine -, for several times over a specific territory in China. What he later reported sounds completely unbelievable: "I banked to avoid a mountain and we came out over a level valley. Directly below was a gigantic white pyramid. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. It was encased in shimmering white. This could have been metal, or some sort of stone. It was pure white on all sides. The remarkable thing was the capstone, a huge piece of jewel-like material that could have been crystal. There was no way we could have landed, although we wanted to. We were struck by the immensity of the thing", the pilots reported.











source: http://web.utanet.at/mahain/Pyramids_in_China.htm


There are literally hundreds of pyramids in China. All of them mausoleums for royalty or noblemen. Many hills and mountains are actually man-made burial mounds.

Another decent source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pyramids

These structures are top secret, and have been for literally millennia, aka the 'Chinese Roswell'. Successive dynasties have safeguarded the secret from the outside world, the Communists included with the sites being in Forbidden zones - that is until recently when too many toursists coming from the Terracotta Army kept 'discovering' them.

They have been planted with trees to disguise them as hills from the air. The authorities finally admitted to the 'existence of pyramidal structures' in the 1980s, nowadays some of them even have visitor centres attached.
:







Qin Shi Huangdi's tomb, although smaller than the others is said to be lavish beyond compare, and heavily booby trapped, taking 700,000 men 38 years to build. Inside is said to a mercury lake with a map of the Chinese world in it. Long believed to be hyperbole, archaeologists have recently uncovered huge amounts of mercury in the soil. It is believed it will never be excavated in our lifetimes (the Terracotta Army alone will take another 80 years, only 1% of the site and one of 700 tombs) :



Also noticed are large rings, about 110m in diameter pocking the sites akin to crop circles. They are now acknowledged as yet more historical sites:



The fabled White pyramid has never been re-'discovered' despite covert missions by Western archaeologists and tourists, and according to the Chinese authorities does not exist.

[rover3]

Originally Posted by Paper Ninja

Not certain but I think that's where the elevator shafts are.

Correct. As floor space gets smaller as your rise, the 'added' space for the shafts in those upper floors lessened the square footage that the shafts would otherwise eat up.

It is a pyramidally shaped structure; and it would be stupid not to include it as the world's tallest 'pyramid' unless one is only counting non-functioning pyramids.

[urbanjim]

I've been reading up on the Chinese pyramids previously mentioned and pictured in this thread. The largest of these is said to be the "Great White Pyramid" of Xian, Tibet.
First, its actual height seems to be in question; some references say 300m (984') and some say 3000' (914m). Second, some say this supposed pyramid is actually just a small mountain; photographed at different angles, it doesn't even appear to be pyramidal. And third, some web sites claim that the "photos" of these pyramids were fabricated.
Until there is solid scientific documentation verifying the actual existence of these pyramids, as well as their precise heights, I'm leaving them off my list.

However, I am now in agreement with those who've posted about the San Francisco's pyramid-shaped skyscraper, and I am placing it at the top of my list. So here is the updated version:

1. Transamerican Pyramid, San Franscisco, CA, USA, 853'/260m
2. Khufu (Cheops), the "Great Pyramid" at Giza, Egypt, 449'/136.8m
3. Chefren's Pyramid (for Khafra), the second pyramid at Giza, Egypt, 447'/136.2m
4. Teotihuaccan, Mexico, 357'/108.8m
5. Luxor Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 347'/105.7m
6. Red Pyramid (aka North Pyramid) at Dahshur, Egypt, 344'/104.8m
7. Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur, Egypt, 343'/104.5m
8. Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN, USA, 321'/97.8m
9. Snefru's Pyramid at Meidum, Egypt, 302'/92.0m
10. Tikal, Peten Peninsula, Guatemala, 230'/70.1m

[rover3]

There is also the Walter Pyramid (stadium) on the Calif State Univ. at Long Beach campus. It's 18 stories high -- so about 185-190 ft. high.

http://216.110.172.226/local/facilities/pyramid.html

[the spliff fairy]

Originally Posted by urbanjim

I've been reading up on the Chinese pyramids previously mentioned and pictured in this thread. The largest of these is said to be the "Great White Pyramid" of Xian, Tibet.
First, its actual height seems to be in question; some references say 300m (984') and some say 3000' (914m). Second, some say this supposed pyramid is actually just a small mountain; photographed at different angles, it doesn't even appear to be pyramidal. And third, some web sites claim that the "photos" of these pyramids were fabricated.

Dont confuse the fabled 1000ft Great White pyramid of Xianyang, China with this 3000ft hill in Tibet ( I think you have):

.

^This, although controversial, is probably a natural hill, and only pyramidal from this angle (there is a similar claim for a hill being manmade in Bosnia).

The White Pyramid of Xianyang on the other hand, although it may not even exist, as has been claimed by successive Chinese govts, is unmistakeable from a natural feature.

This is the story:

Until recently, Chinese officials have rebuffed all questions about these pyramids and all requests to view them. And yet, over this century, a certain mythology has grown up around them. An American trader, stumbling upon these amazing structures in 1912, asked his Buddhist monk-guide about them. He was told that 5,000-year-old monastic documents not only contained informa-tion about these pyramids, but said the pyramids were extremely old when these records were made.

The trader, Fred Meyer Schroder, observed several smaller pyra-mids in the distance. He wrote in his travel diary that his first sight of the giant pyramid, along with its smaller cousins, ren-dered him almost speechless. "It was even more uncanny than if we had found it in the wilderness," he wrote. "But those [ pyra-mids) were to some extent exposed to the eyes of the world—but still totally unknown in the western world."

In the Far East in the spring of 1945, though Japanese troops were still fighting in China, the U.S. Army and its allies were well on their way to pushing the Japanese off the mainland. One day, U.S. Air Force Pilot James Gaussman was returning to Assam, in India, after having flown the ‘Burma Hump’-ferried supplies to Chungking, China, from India-when engine trouble forced him to descend temporarily to a low altitude over China. As he later wrote:

"I flew around a mountain and then we came to a valley. Di-rectly below us was a gigantic white pyramid. It looked as if it were from a fairy tale. The pyramid was draped in shimmering white. It could have been metal, or some other form of stone. It was white on all sides. VUhat was most curious about it was its capstone: a large piece of precious gem-like material. I was deeply moved by the colossal size of the thing."

When Gaussman arrived back in Assam, combat duties pushed the sighting from his mind. Photographs he had taken of the giant pyramid would not be published for another 45 years. Till then, even his report would be buried in the Secret Service files of the U.S. military

Two years later, in 1947, another U.S. aviator, Maurice Sheahan—this time flying over Shaanxi Province, not far from Xian-- caught sight of a giant pyramid in the misty landscape below and rapidly snapped pictures. This time, several U.S. newspapers, in-cluding the New York Times for March 28, 1947, published ac-counts of the airman’s sighting. But Chinese archaeologists con-tinued to deny the existence of such a structure, even though Sheahan’s photographs suggested it was higher than any pyramid in Egypt.

Captain Bruce Cathie, of Auckland, New Zealand, is an air- line pilot turned explorer and UFO investigator. In 1962, reading Schroder’s diaries, he decided to get to the truth about these pyramids in China. Cathie contacted the Chinese embassy in Wellington. To his surprise, he was told there were no such things as pyramids in China. Later, the authorities acknowledged the existence of such structures, but would not characterize them as pyramids. Rather, they told Cathie, these were trapezoidal burial tombs dating from the Han Dynasty.

This is believed to be (though not certain) Gaussman's top secret photo hidden for 45 years that reappeared a few years ago. However many people believe it isn't, considering the structure does not look metallic as Gaussman described and is striated like an earthen mound. Neither is a capstone imbedded with gems visible. The satellite pic is of a definite manmade structure with possible corroboration to that thing, whatever it is:



In short leave it off the list as by all accounts it can stay firmly in the mythical category until we get irrefutable proof, but don't confuse the pyramids in question, mythical or not.

[Astralis]

What about Bosnian pyramids? Allegedly they are the tallest ...

[Alphaville]

Originally Posted by Astralis

What about Bosnian pyramids? Allegedly they are the tallest ...

^
Visočica hill in Visoko, BiH. 213 meters. Debatable. Could be?

[urbanjim]

^ As stated before, the Bosnian pyramids still haven't been offically scientifically validated or officially measured. But the very idea is highly intriguing. Enormous, ancient pyramids in Europe....all I can say is "wow"!

[the spliff fairy]

Its been scientifically unvalidated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_pyramids

check it out on wikipedia, which shows both sides of the argument. Im afraid its a fake, with the only coincidence being ruins found at the base of the hill, and scientific instruments (from abroad) showing nothing else hidden inside it The Bosnian govt was criticised for supporting the claim in order to bring in tourist money.

The one in Tibet looks likely to be an accident of nature too

[Astralis]

Not sure... this guy Osmanagić seems to be pretty convinced that they are in fact real pyramids. I've seen a few interviews with him and after hearing his opinions and arguments, I think there might be sth more than just a natural structure. BTW science is often like that, it won't recognize sth immediately. Usually it takes time for recognition. We'll see what future brings ...

[TalB]

Now that I am rethinking when I placed 120 Wall St, the intention of building it wasn't really to be after Aztec pyramids, they were to be like a wedding cake hence the name of the style.

[ArchiTennis]

Originally Posted by urbanjim

I've been reading up on the Chinese pyramids previously mentioned and pictured in this thread. The largest of these is said to be the "Great White Pyramid" of Xian, Tibet.
First, its actual height seems to be in question; some references say 300m (984') and some say 3000' (914m). Second, some say this supposed pyramid is actually just a small mountain; photographed at different angles, it doesn't even appear to be pyramidal. And third, some web sites claim that the "photos" of these pyramids were fabricated.
Until there is solid scientific documentation verifying the actual existence of these pyramids, as well as their precise heights, I'm leaving them off my list.

However, I am now in agreement with those who've posted about the San Francisco's pyramid-shaped skyscraper, and I am placing it at the top of my list. So here is the updated version:

1. Transamerican Pyramid, San Franscisco, CA, USA, 853'/260m
2. Khufu (Cheops), the "Great Pyramid" at Giza, Egypt, 449'/136.8m
3. Chefren's Pyramid (for Khafra), the second pyramid at Giza, Egypt, 447'/136.2m
4. Teotihuaccan, Mexico, 357'/108.8m
5. Luxor Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 347'/105.7m
6. Red Pyramid (aka North Pyramid) at Dahshur, Egypt, 344'/104.8m
7. Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur, Egypt, 343'/104.5m
8. Pyramid Arena, Memphis, TN, USA, 321'/97.8m
9. Snefru's Pyramid at Meidum, Egypt, 302'/92.0m
10. Tikal, Peten Peninsula, Guatemala, 230'/70.1m

I think you're contradicting yourself. Transamerica is NOT a true pyramid. Sure, it's a "pyramid shaped skyscraper", but not a pyramid.

I actually found it extremely annoying reading through this thread, with people throwing out comments like "what about this building..what about that building?"

[el_sobrante]

Hi folks,

Thought id add one more to the pile we got goin' on here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ziggurat

[urbanjim]

Originally Posted by ArchiTennis

I think you're contradicting yourself. Transamerica is NOT a true pyramid. Sure, it's a "pyramid shaped skyscraper", but not a pyramid.

I actually found it extremely annoying reading through this thread, with people throwing out comments like "what about this building..what about that building?"

Why ISN'T the Transamerica Pyramid a true pyramid? It's basic structure meets the definition: It's a solid with a polygonal base, and triangular sides that meet in a point. The "wings" do not negate that the form is pyramidal.

If you are not enthused with the content of this thread, why did you read through it? Leave it to those of us who find it interesting.

[Pavlov's Dog]

Several of the Chinese "Pyramids" are clearly visible on Google Earth.

The coordinates for a major grouping are 34.20.20 N/108.45 E. Within a radius on only 3 km from that point are four big "pyramids" and a few tiny ones.

Judge for yourselves but my opinion is that while one such structure may exist on an otherwise flat plain as a natural anamoly the chances of numerous sites with perfectely square formations occuring naturally is so miniscule as to be absurd.

See for yourselves.

[urbanjim]

Originally Posted by el_sobrante

Hi folks,

Thought id add one more to the pile we got goin' on here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ziggurat

A modern step pyramid....nice! Quite a departure from your standard office building. I like the fact that it was designed to be earthquake resistant.

[lena5538]

the one in mexico where is called as "yucetan" looks awsome.

[svs]

You have left out the largest though not the tallest of the Pre-Columbian pyramids. The great pyramid of Cholula, near Puebla Mexico. It has a base 450x450 meters (1476 x 1476 ft) and is 66 m high (217 ft). It is only partially excavated becasue the Spanish built a church on its top so it looks like a small hill with a church on top.




Located on the central plateau of Mexico, hidden to the naked eye, sits the world's largest ancient pyramid. The town where this wonder is located is Cholula, a small village just outside Puebla. Upon first glance, one sees only the charming colonial church of La Iglesia de los Remedios, built in the 16th century. Amazingly, however, this church sits atop the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa, oftentimes referred to as the Cholula Pyramid. Hidden by vegetation, the hill upon which the church was built, actually houses the great pyramid.

The history of the pyramid, coupled with the momentous events which followed, is full of drama and mystery. Approximately one hundred years before Christ, the pyramid's construction begun. Cholula, by this time, was already one of Mexico's largest cities, having been settled circa 1700 B.C. The pyramid's construction along with affiliated temples, was carried out by various groups over hundreds of years. Its early period coincided with the great city of Teotihuacan's development and power.


Inside Cholula Pyramid
An important ceremonial and political center of the pre-Columbian world, Cholula mirrored Teotihuacan's glory days of power. As well, its first subsequent demise coincided with that of Teotihuacan. But unlike the great city to the northwest, whose people mysteriously disappeared, some residual peoples remained in Cholula, not abandoning the city entirely. Expansion of the pyramid continued with the arrival of the Olmec-Xicallancas, who further added to the pyramid's scale.

The Toltec-Chichimecas occupied Cholula next, circa 1100 A.D. By that time the great pyramid was already largely submerged underneath tree and dirt. The Toltecs chose to focus their activity on building new temples which would surround the area of the great pyramid. The Toltecs also brought with them their intense devotion of Quetzalcoatl. Cholula subsequently became a mecca for pilgrims from all over Mexico, who flocked to the city to pay homage to the feathered serpent God.

Quetzalcoatl, already a long established deity of the Mesoamerican world, undoubtedly helped to inspire the pyramid's initial construction. However, with the arrival of the Toltecs, the cult of Quetzalcoatl truly flourished. Additionally, under the rule of the Toltecs, Cholula became a major center for trade and commerce. Having established strong ties with all other cities in the region, Cholula maintained its independence for a time from the ever expanding Aztec Empire.

However, the Aztecs eventually took control of Cholula. When Cortes arrived in 1519, the pyramid, stood silent, hidden under grass and stone. The city's population at this time equaled 100,000 inhabitants. Legend advises an ambush was planned by the Cholulans against the Spanish invaders under the direction of Montezuma. No longer swayed by Cortes whom he initially believed to be the reincarnation of Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec ruler made one last attempt to save his empire. Unfortunately, Cortes learned of the plan and what followed next was horrific: the slaughter of 6,000 Cholulan residents took place under the brutal command of Cortes.


Restored Stairway Cholula Pyramid
Temples were torn down and the ancient city of Cholula was destroyed. Cortes proclaimed that he would build a church in the area for each day of the year to match the number of temples destroyed. Drunk with power and with gold on his mind, Cortes failed to see the great pyramid.

Centuries elapsed before the pyramid was again discovered. In 1910, construction began on an insane asylum located at the base of the pyramid. Archaeologists once aware of the site began to survey and excavate. In the 1930's, tunnels were made in order to better study the pyramid. These tunnels, which amount to an amazing five miles worth of passageways, zigzag in subterranean fashion, creating a labyrinth, not for the timid. These tunnels afford the visitor the opportunity of observing first-hand the various levels of construction. Delineated layers of shell and stone are visible. A total of four stages of construction occurred, over hundreds of years. Although lit with lamps, the atmosphere is definitely haunting and you most assuredly want to exit before nightfall.

In addition to the tunnels, outside there are altars, stairways and platforms to explore. One can also see a portion of the pyramid which was reconstructed by archaeologists. Not only does the pyramid of Cholula represent the largest single structure in Mexico, it also bears the distinction of having the largest base of any pyramid in the world, exceeding the bases of the great pyramids in Egypt. The total acreage the pyramid occupies is 25 acres with a height reaching an impressive 181 feet. Each side of the structure's base is over 1300 feet in length.

When visiting the great pyramid of Cholula one is also afforded a magnificent view of the majestic snow-capped El Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes. The pyramid of Cholula is truly a wondrous pre-Columbian gem. The site holds the potential of even greater discoveries and with only a small portion yet excavated, who knows what marvelous secrets the great pyramid has yet to reveal.

[the spliff fairy]

the worlds largest pyramid, by volume I understand is in Mexico.

[ZZ-II]

never seen pics of "The Ziggurat" before, really cool buildings