Ancient Egyptian Pyramid in modern Germany
There seems to be a trend developing across the globe.
Recently I reported on Dubai’s plans for a Falcon City which would contain replicas of the Giza Pyramids.
Preceding that was the story of the huge Japanese Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid.
Now Germany wants a piece of the ‘modern pyramid’ action. Plans are afoot to build a giant ancient egyptian pyramid near the city of Dessau, eastern Germany. Suggestions for methods of construction of the “New Great Pyramid” are to be decided by an architectural competition which was launched last September. Architecture firms submitted their plans and there are now four finalists. It is intended for the pyramid will ‘grow’ over time.
“The new Great Pyramid would be a very efficient cemetery. It would have a huge capacity. A 150m-high pyramid could contain five million stones, it would be the size of six football fields and millions of people could be buried there.”
Mr Thiel, an economist, has teamed up with a writer, Ingo Niermann, to develop the project and they have managed to secure a government grant.
They say more than 700 people from all over the world have already reserved a stone, keen to have their ashes kept in the giant structure.
In the future, these people will be able to buy a stone, which would cost up to 700 euros (£535; $1,070) each.
“Lots of people don’t like normal cemeteries. In Britain, 50% of people want their ashes to be scattered, in the US it is about 40%,” said Mr Thiel.
“The new Great Pyramid is a global monument. It’s the first cemetery for people of all nationalities and all religious beliefs. It is a very beautiful, peaceful idea.”
Each concrete block would house an urn containing ashes, or memorabilia of the deceased.”
Read the article in full at the BBC website.
Visit the Great Pyramid website
Tags: Modern Pyramids
This is a really intriguing piece. This cemetery will actually be a monument and the idea is really cool. As a monument person, however, the fact that the stones will be made of concrete really bothers me. It kind of cheapens what is a great idea. I look forward to seeing if this project actually gets “off the ground”.