Quote

This pyramid was made like a stairway with
> tiers, or steps. When this, its first form, was
> completed, the workmen used levers made of short
> wooden logs to raise the rest of the stones; ...
> they heaved up the blocks from the ground on to
> the first tier of steps; when the stone had been
> so raised it was set on another lever that stood
> on the first tier, and a lever again drew it up
> from this tier to the next. It may be that there
> was a new lever on each tier of the steps, or
> perhaps there was but one lever, and that easily
> lifted, which they carried up to each tier in
> turn, when they had taken out the stone; I leave
> this uncertain, both ways being told me. But this
> is certain, that the upper part of the pyramid was
> the first finished off, then the next below it,
> and last of all the base and the lowest part
> (Herodotus 2:125)
> [penelope.uchicago.edu]
>