The Egyptian Pyramids

The Great pyramid at Giza is one of the seven wonders of the world. The only one of the wonders that remains in existence today.

The Large Giza Pyramid

The pyramid at Giza is the largest pyramid out of about 100 which can be found in Egypt.

The pyramid is thought to have been built by the Pharaoh Khufu.

Khufu

There are three pyramids at Giza, the largest of these was originally 481 feet high.

It contains over 2 million blocks of limestone, each one weighing around 2 tonnes.

It was originally thought that the pyramids were built by slaves, however, evidence shows that this is not the case.

The Pharaoh ensured that the builders were well fed and dressed and all of their medical needs were attended to.

The builders worked on the pyramids in the three months of the year that the Nile river was flooded and normal farming could not be carried out.

There is still a lot of mystery surrounding how the pyramids were built.

There is evidence that the Egyptians had copper tools, including chisels, drills and saws which they used to cut each block.

It is believed that they used water from the Nile to soften the sand, to allow them to drag the limestone blocks to the pyramid site on wooden sleds.

It is thought that a mud ramp was built up the sides of the pyramid to allow them to drag the blocks up the slope and push them into position.

It was a huge task and must have required careful planning and organisation.

The pyramids were then covered with white granite, which was polished so that it gleamed in the sun. Unfortunately, none of the granite remains on the pyramids today.

It is not known exactly why the pyramids were built. Some were used as burial tombs for the rich and important Egyptians.

Egyptians believed that after they died, their spirits would rise up to heaven.

In ancient Egypt, a pyramid was referred

to as “MER” which literally means “place of ascendance”.

Their mummified bodies were placed in the pyramid to allow them to ascend to heaven and they were often buried along with their prized possessions, which they thought may be useful to them in the afterlife.

Items found in the tombs with the bodies include golden chariots, food, and jewellery.

Many of the pyramids in Egypt contain rooms – or chambers where relics have been found

Inside the main pyramid at Giza

Egypt however is not the only place in the world where ancient pyramids have been built.

Ancient Mexican Pyramid

Ancient Roman Pyramid

Modern Day Pyramid in Paris