A new set of tombs have been found near the great pyramids of Egypt, belonging to the workers who built the pyramids 4,000 years ago. The discovery points away from the idea that the monuments were built by slaves. Instead, Egyptologists now believe they were paid professionals, according to Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
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"These tombs were built beside the king's pyramid, which indicates that these people were not by any means slaves," said Hawass in the statement. "If they were slaves, they would not have been able to build their tombs beside their king's."
Evidence from the site, Hawass said, indicates that the approximately 10,000 laborers working on the pyramids ate 21 cattle and 23 sheep sent to them daily from farms in northern and southern Egypt.
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A: Whips.
Unfortunately, the world will never have access to the truth about the pyramids of Giza as long as Hawas has any say in the matter.
I am an avid lover of Ancient Egypt, and have been since I was a kid. I am always pleased and tickled when old theories are rejected or supported by new evidence and research. It gives me hope, knowing that just because we have studied things for a long time, we are far from knowing or understanding the full truth.
These people accomplished amazing feats, not just for their time, but even for our own time!
Meat was only a small part of their diet which was principally grain-based (i.e. bread & beer).
That was how most levels of priesthood worked too; basically a sweet temporary government job.