A recent social media post by Noah Smith has highlighted a striking historical perspective: the duration separating the construction of the Egyptian pyramids from the Roman era is roughly equivalent to the time elapsed between the Roman period and the present day. This observation underscores the immense stretches of time that define ancient history, often compressing distinct civilizations in popular perception.
"The amount of time between the Egyptian pyramid-builders and the Romans was about the same as the amount of time between the Romans and today," stated Noah Smith in his tweet.
Historical records indicate that the Great Pyramid of Giza, a hallmark of ancient Egyptian engineering, was constructed around 2580-2560 BCE. A commonly referenced point for the Roman era is the establishment of the Roman Empire under Augustus in 27 BCE, or the death of Cleopatra in 30 BCE, which marked the end of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and the effective end of pharaonic Egypt, deeply intertwined with Roman expansion.
Calculating these intervals reveals the profound temporal distances. From the completion of the Great Pyramid around 2560 BCE to the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BCE, approximately 2,533 years elapsed. In comparison, the period from 27 BCE to the current year, 2025 CE, spans roughly 2,051 years. While not precisely identical, these figures are remarkably close, illustrating the tweet's central point about the vastness of historical timelines.
This historical juxtaposition often surprises modern audiences, who may perceive ancient civilizations as existing in closer proximity. The longevity of Egyptian civilization, particularly the Old Kingdom responsible for the pyramids, meant that structures like the Great Pyramid were already ancient landmarks by the time Roman legions marched across the Mediterranean. The Roman Empire itself, spanning over a thousand years in its various forms, then laid the groundwork for much of Western civilization that followed.