W66E The Pyramid Age: How Ancient Egypt Reached for the Sky (Zoom; OLLI @ U of A)

Zoom | Registration opens 12/16/2025 10:00 AM EST

3/3/2026-3/17/2026
5:00 PM-6:30 PM EST on Tue

W66E The Pyramid Age: How Ancient Egypt Reached for the Sky (Zoom; OLLI @ U of A)

Zoom | Registration opens 12/16/2025 10:00 AM EST

Towering above the desert sands for over 4,000 years, Egypt’s pyramids remain some of the most iconic and enduring symbols of human ingenuity. In this three-session study group, we’ll explore the story behind these massive monuments - from the earliest experiments in stone architecture to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our journey begins with the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first of its kind, and continues through the reign of Snefru, the “Master Builder” pharaoh whose innovations laid the foundation for the Giza pyramids. We’ll take a close look at the engineering techniques used to build these colossal structures, the workers who labored to bring them to life, and the religious beliefs that gave them purpose. Along the way, we’ll explore enduring mysteries—including a still-unexplained void inside the Great Pyramid, uncovered by modern scanning technologies. We’ll discuss what we know, what we guess, and what still puzzles experts today. Whether you’re fascinated by ancient engineering, intrigued by pharaohs and the afterlife, or just want to better understand one of the world’s greatest architectural traditions, this study group offers a window into a civilization that quite literally moved mountains.

  • Note: Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8, 2026. After that date this class will begin at 6:00 pm EST.

     

    Nicola Richmond is the Vice Chancellor of Strategy, Analytics and Research at Pima Community College. She oversees strategic planning, institutional and operational effectiveness, federal and state reporting and ad hoc reporting at the institution. She has an extensive data analysis and research background that most recently focuses on higher education, but her experience also includes the analysis of magnetometer data for the moon and Mars, and the application of cellular automata models to coastal environments. She has a Ph.D. in Geology from University College London. Her doctoral research focused on the incorporation of aluminum and iron into deep Earth magnesium silicate minerals using numerical modeling approaches from quantum mechanics and solid state physics. Nic has a strong interest in cross-disciplinary research approaches, taking techniques from the sciences and bringing them to higher education research.

     

    *This registration item is ZOOM-only; there is not an in-person component to this course. It is offered and run by The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arizona.*