Egyptian Pyramids

Egyptian Pyramids

Egyptian pyramids The area around Egypt’s ancient capital, Memphis, contains dozens of pyramids built along the Nile River, just south of present-day Cairo, as burial chambers for kings during the third and fourth dynasties.

​ Egyptian Pyramids Names, Features, When and Where They were Built

The son, grandson, and great-grandson of Snefru, the founding pharaoh of Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty, would build on Snefru’s ideas and create the three famous pyramids near Giza. His son Khufu built what is known today as the Great Pyramid.

In addition to these large structures, several small pyramids belonging to the queens were arranged as satellites. A large cemetery of smaller tombs known as the Mastabas (meaning ‘bench’ in Arabic for their shape – flat roofed, rectangular, sloping-sided) fills the area east and west of the Khufu pyramid and dates back to the 4th century BC. It has a grid-like pattern for prominent members of the court. It was a great honor to be buried next to the pharaoh and was believed to help secure a valuable place in the afterlife.

When Were the Egyptian Pyramids Built? Why? Features, General Information

The Egyptian Pyramids were built almost 5,000 years ago, at the beginning of human recorded history.

The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops, is the oldest of the three main pyramids on the Giza plateau. This pyramid was built around 2570 BC and is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In fact, it is the only Ancient Miracle that remains largely intact.

The last remnant of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the great pyramids of Giza are perhaps the most famous and controversial structures in history. These colossal monuments were unprecedented for thousands of years after they were built and continue to amaze and fascinate us with their overwhelming mass and seemingly impossible perfection.

​ Egyptian Pyramids Names

• Keops Pyramid
• Khufu Pyramid
• Khafre Pyramid
• Red Pyramid
• Twisted Pyramid
• Djoser’s Step Pyramid
• Pyramid of Menkaure
• Meidum Pyramid
• Unas Pyramid
• Teti Pyramid
• Pyramid of Havara
• Userkaf’s Pyramid
• Lahun Pyramid

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​The Interior and Architectural Structure of the Pyramids

Originally 146 or 147 meters (479 or 482 feet) high, the Great Pyramid required 300,000 blocks and over two million tons of stone. When people talk of the “Pyramids of Giza” they are typically talking about the three great pyramids found in the Giza complex. These three pyramids include the Great Pyramid and its two neighbors, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The pyramids were built as the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. The inside of the pyramid is the “King’s Chamber” where the sarcophagus is located. The Giza Pyramids are located on the Giza Plateau, also called the Giza Necropolis or the Giza pyramid complex. This plateau contains nine pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and a collection of smaller tombs.

The shape of the pyramids was perhaps a solar reference, thought to be a solidified version of the sun’s rays. The texts speak of a ramp from which the pharaoh climbed into the sky with the sun’s rays, the earliest pyramids such as Djoser’s Step Pyramid at Saqqara were originally designed as a staircase. The Egyptian Pyramids were also clearly associated with the sacred Ben-Ben stone, a symbol of the primeval mound considered the site of the first creation. The pyramid was considered a place of regeneration for the deceased monarch.

The best thing to do while on the Giza Plateau is undoubtedly to see the three colossal pyramids of Ancient Egyptian architecture that dominate the landscape. Get up close to the Great Pyramid to fully appreciate its size. Limestone blocks are massive. Imagine the manpower required to build something like this. It’s even more surprising to think that humans built these pyramids almost 5,000 years ago.

​ Where are the Egyptian Pyramids, How to Go?

It is on the fringes of the Western Desert, about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) west of the Nile in the city of Giza and about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southwest of Cairo city centre.

By Private Taxi: The easiest and most popular way to get here for independent travelers is to hire a taxi for a half-day trip in Cairo. The taxi can then take you around the site (if you want) and then return you to the city centre. If you hire a one-way taxi, you can find a return taxi that will take you back to the city from the Sphinx entrance.
Urban Transportation: You can reach the pyramids by using the combination of Cairo Metro and minibus. Take the metro to Giza and then take a minibus (just outside the Giza metro station exit) or a taxi to the pyramids.