The Great Pyramids of Giza have long been recognized as the tombs of pharaohs with deep religious significance. Egyptologists acknowledge that their construction also had an impact on the economic and social life of the state; however, these aspects are generally considered secondary to the primary religious purpose. Meanwhile, Polish economist and entrepreneur Jacek Krzysztoń proposes a reversal of this hierarchy. According to his theory, presented in the book Egyptian Pyramids: Big Tombs or Big Business?, it was precisely the process of building the pyramids—long-term, costly, and engaging the entire economy—that constituted the actual, fundamental goal of the undertaking. The pyramid functioned as a tool for economic development and social integration, while the tomb served as a kind of pretext, legitimizing this collective effort in the eyes of society. This symbolic function was an indispensable part of the broader strategy—without it, the pyramid projects could not have succeeded. These conclusions are also presented in the documentary film The Pyramids – Tools of Power (available on YouTube), which portrays the pyramids as state-driven megaprojects—constructed not only for eternity, but above all for the here and now. Specific Focus of Part 1: This is the primary source document establishing the core theory. It provides the fundamental logic of the Process as the Goal (PaC) model and analyzes the organization of labor, resource redistribution, and administrative management in the Old Kingdom.
Jacek Krzysztoń (Thu,) studied this question.