Ben Carson, a lead GOP presidential candidate, has a somewhat bizarre explanation for the Egyptians having built the pyramids.
"My own personal theory is that Joseph built the pyramids to store grain. 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. And when 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 said in a Buzz Feed video of the 1998 commencement for Andrews University.
When questioned about his beliefs again on Oct. 4, Carson said, "It's still my belief, yes," to CBS News.
"It's a biblical view of the pyramids. It just has no basis in fact," said J.G. Manning, a professor of classics who studies Egyptian history at Yale University, describing Carson's explanations as "lunatic," to The Huffington Post.
Meanwhile, rival and business magnate Donald Trump had a field day attacking Carson for his beliefs. "I think it's a ridiculous situation. I mean he's talking about the pyramids were made for grain. And if you look at the pyramids, they're solid," Trump said about Carson's views during an interview, according to the Business Insider.
