Ben Carson: Egyptian pyramids built for grain storage, not as tombs

Ben Carson has long believes that the Egyptian pyramids were built not as tombs for the pharaohs but as grain storage.

Ben Carson has long believes that the Egyptian pyramids were built not as tombs for the pharaohs but as grain storage.

The belief comes from the Biblical story of Joseph, who advised the pharaoh to store away seven years’ worth of grain against a famine that would last seven years after the same amount of time filled with plentiful harvest, reports CBS News.

“My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain,” Carson said in a 1998 commencement speech at Andrews University. “Now all the archeologists think that they were made for the pharaohs’ graves. But, you know, it would have to be something awfully big if you stop and think about it. And I don’t think it’d just disappear over the course of time to store that much grain.”

He also said during that speech, “[W]hen you look at the way that the pyramids are made, with many chambers that are hermetically sealed, they’d have to be that way for various reasons. And various of scientists have said, ‘Well, you know there were alien beings that came down and they have special knowledge and that’s how–‘ you know, it doesn’t require an alien being when God is with you.”

Carson still stands by his theory, telling CBS News, “The pyramids were made in a way that they had hermetically sealed compartments….You would need that if you were trying to preserve grain for a long period of time.”

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