The pyramids … the emblem of ancient Egypt

             Have you ever heard about pyramids in Egypt? Have you ever watched them on T.V. or on the internet? Have you ever been to Egypt to visit the pyramids? Maybe one day you will do. Today we will learn about the history of the pyramids; who built them, when they were built, how they were built and why. Pay attention because there will be a quiz at the end.

Who built the pyramids at Giza and when?

The age of pyramid-building in Egypt began about 2900 BC. The Great Pyramid was built by the king of the fourth Dynasty Khufu, known also as Cheops by Greek historians. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres and its sides were over 755 feet long. It originally stood over 481 feet high; today it is 450 feet high. Scientists estimate that its stone blocks average over two tons apiece, with the largest weighing as much as fifteen tons each. Two other major pyramids were built, for Khufu's son, King Khafre (Chephren), and a successor of Khafre, Menkaure (Mycerinus).

Why were the pyramids built?

The ancient Egyptians believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world.  The mummified body of the king was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife. They built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes.Pharaohs traditionally began building their pyramids as soon as they took the throne. The pharaoh would first establish a committee composed of an overseer of construction, a chief engineer and an architect. The pyramids were usually placed on the western side of the Nile because the pharaoh’s soul was meant to join with the sun disc during its descent before continuing with the sun in its eternal round. They thought that the sun ‘dies’ on the western horizon every night. However, after it became clear that the pyramids did not provide protection for the mummified bodies of the kings but were obvious targets for grave robbers; later kings were buried in hidden tombs cut into rock cliffs. Although the magnificent pyramids did not protect the bodies of the Egyptian kings who built them, the pyramids have served to keep the names and stories of those kings alive to this day.

How were the pyramids built?

The outlines of the pyramid were measured and marked in the desert sand. Then the building began. Large blocks of stone were cut from quarries nearby. They were dragged by groups of men across the desert to the site of the pyramid and set in place. Most of the workers were farmers who worked on building the pyramid during the flood season when their fields were under water. After the first level of blocks was in place, the workers built ramps of mud brick, limestone chips and clay. The workers dragged the large stones up the ramps to build the next level of the pyramid. When the pyramid was almost finished, a special block covered in shining metal (either gold or electrum) was placed on the top of the pyramid. The pyramid was originally encased in smooth, white limestone that must have gleamed in the scorching Egyptian sun.  The blocks were trimmed to make the outside of the pyramid smooth.The two deciding factors when choosing a building site were its orientation to the western horizon where the sun set and the proximity to Memphis, the central city of ancient Egypt.

Now you know that the three largest Pyramids were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom around the year 2900 BC as burial places for pharaohs. They were built by Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure respectively. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the ‘Great Pyramid’.