Egypt tombs suggest pyramids not built by slaves

[Sean Manning]

The idea that Pharoah Cheops enslaved and used 100,000 slaves ( an impossible number of slaves for all sorts of reasons) is a 'myth' which goes back to ancient times, for this is what Herodotus the Greek Historian (II.124-126) was told by his priestly Egyptian informers - to impress with the 'might and power' of ancient Egypt's rulers .......

I hate to be pedantic, but I pointed out a few days ago that Herodotus believed that the pyramids were built by corvee workers, not slaves. I think he's the source of the countless ("ten myriads") workers legend, but not the slaves.

Thanks for the summary of the historiography.

I think the workers' strike was at Deir El-Medina, the village where the builders of the Valley of the Kings lived with their families. A lot of papyri and ostraca survive from that site.