The Great Sphinx of Giza was carved from limestone during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre around 4,600 years ago and stands guard behind Khafre's pyramid. The Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for pharaohs and their queens starting before the Old Kingdom, with the three largest at Giza constructed over three generations for Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. While it was once believed that slaves built Khufu's pyramid, it was actually constructed by 100,000 workers during the Nile's annual flooding. The Pyramid of Saqqara was the first to be built out of stone blocks rather than mudbrick and served as the prototype for later

1. Ancient Egyptian Pyramids By: Jeanine Pellettieri

2. The Great Sphinx of Giza The Sphinx was created from a single block of limestone left in the quarry used to build the pyramids. It is believed to be built 4,600 years ago by pharaoh Khafre. Pharaoh Khafre’s pyramid is built directly behind the Sphinx. The face on the Sphinx maybe pharaoh Khafre’s. The Sphinx is half human half lion. It is 240 feet long and 66 feet high. It has gone through many restorations over the years. It is badly eroded.

3. About the Pyramids The Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs have been buried in different shaped and sized pyramids since before the beginning of the Old Kingdom. There are eighty pyramids known today from Egypt. The three biggest and best preserved were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom.

4. The Great Pyramids of Giza These pyramids were built over three generations. By Khufu, his second son Khafre, and Menkaure. It is believed that Khufu’s pyramid was built by slaves. This is not true. 100,000 people had worked on it for three months out of every year during the Nile’s flooding period. It was impossible to farm during this period so most people were unemployed. Khufu provided good food and clothing for the workers and was remembered kindly in folk tales for centuries after.

5. Inside the Pyramids Inside the Pyramids there were several different passage ways. Though, only one would lead to the tomb of the pharaoh buried inside of the Pyramid. The other passage ways were built to confuse the tomb robbers so they could not get to where the mummified pharaoh lay. Gold, food, clothing, weapons and other items could be found along with the pharaoh in a separate room next to where the mummy was kept.

6. The Pyramid of Saqqara This is a step pyramid. It was first built for the pharaoh Djoser. It is actually one mustaba built upon another, upon another. A mustaba is a large but unimpressive building. They were made of sun dried brick and have been crumbling. This step pyramid’s surface was built of limestone. Saqqara has been the site of the first large stone structure built.

8. Thank you for viewing my project on Ancient Egypt. It has been a pleasure.