The document summarizes the evolution of burial architecture in ancient Egypt from early mastabas to later pyramids and rock-cut tombs. It describes the development of pyramids from Zoser's stepped pyramid built by Imhotep, to later versions like the Bent Pyramid and the three major pyramids built by Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure at Giza. It also discusses the construction techniques used to build pyramids and provides details about interior chambers. Additionally, it covers rock-cut tombs like the examples found at Beni Hasan with colonnaded entrances and burial chambers.

1. Burial Architecture
of Egypt

2. Content
1. Introduction
2. Evolution of Pyramid
3. Pyramids at Giza
4. Pyramid Construction
5. Rock hewn Tombs

3. Introduction
Location: Bank of River Nile,
Egypt
Before the “Old Kingdom,” Egypt was
divided into Upper and Lower kingdoms.
Lower Egypt was in the NORTH.
Upper Egypt was in the SOUTH.
Old Kingdom (3400 B.C. to 2500 B.C.)

4. • During the old Kingdom, the
pharaoh and his court lived
in Memphis
• When they died they were
buried at the Necropolis at
Saqqara
• The earthly dwelling of the
ancient Egyptians was seen
as temporary and the tomb
as a permanent dwelling
• Tombs were most outstanding
architectural element of the
period.
• Tombs also serve as the focus
for the worship of the dead.

5. Evolution of the pyramid
Developed in three types:
1.Mastaba
2. Royal Pyramids
Stepped Pyramid
Bent Pyramid
3. Rock Hewn Tombs

6. Mastaba
• The earliest method of burial in
ancient Egypt was in shallow
pits in the desert
• When animals preyed on bodies,
the people dug deeper
• In the end they built a bench-like
structure over graves to create
first burial structure called
Mastaba
• In the Old Kingdom, rich and
noble person built mastaba for
their burial in the city of the dead

7. • Above ground the Mastaba
is a large bench of sun-
baked bricks rising 9
meters high
• It had a rectangular flat top
and slanting walls
• The earliest royal tombs
were decorated with
painted patterns in brilliant
colors

8. • Internally, a mastaba consist of three parts- a
burial chamber, a serdab and a chapel
• The burial chamber was located 30’ below ground
– Connected to burial chamber above ground through a
shaft
– place for the burial of the dead person

9. • In the chamber, the
sarcophagus is found
where the dead body
was placed
• The burial chamber is
packed with all the
necessary things
needed in the afterlife
• After burial, the shaft to
the burial chamber was
sealed

10. • The Serdab and
Chapel are located
above ground
• The serdab is a room
where the statue of
the dead person is
kept
– Statue acts as a
substitute for body in
case it is destroyed

11. • The chapel is where the ka is supposed to live forever
– Colorful room meant to deceive the gods into letting
the ka enter the next world
– false door leading to the land of the dead

12. Stepped Pyramid
• The stepped pyramid was
built for king Zoser by
Imhotep
• King Zoser (Djoser) was the
powerful pharaoh of the third
dynasty of the old kingdom
• It was built as a funeral
complex in the necropolis at
Saqqara
• Imhotep initially conceived of
the tomb as a large Mastaba
of stone

13. • Stepped pyramid was 200’
high with 6 giant steps
• Burial chamber is entered
from north side & is 92’ down
• On either side of chamber are
store rooms for king’s
treasures
• All treasures buried with
Zoser have been stolen
• A stone statue of Zoser also
recently found staring out
through peep holes in his
Serdab

14. • Serdab located on
north side, along
with funerary
temple
• Stepped pyramid
stands at middle of
large complex
• Funeral complex
consisted of
palaces, temples &
stepped pyramid
• All surrounded by
fence wall 33’ high

15. • Fence wall of funeral
complex has breaking
pattern of 200 projections
• Fourteen were larger than
the others & 13 out of the
fourteen had false doors
• Entrance door leads to
long hall with two rows of
columns

16. Bent Pyramid
• After the stepped
pyramids, there were
several attempt at building
a pure geometric pyramid
• Among the prominent
attempts:
– pyramid at Medun
– two pyramids built by
Snefru at Dashur i.e.
Bent pyramid

17. • King Huni made the first
attempt at building pure
pyramid at Medun
• Constructed seven-
stepped pyramid
• square plan
• height of 90m and
• Angle of incline: 51°
Pyramid at Medun

18. • Snefru made two attempts at
pyramid construction
• 1st pyramid, the Bent pyramid
at Dashur had a square plan
with a height of 102m
• The pyramid had a change of
angle midway, leading to its
being called the bent pyramid

19. • Snefru’s 2nd
pyramid--north
pyramid--is place he
was buried
• Low pitch of 43°
instead of 52°
making it look
stunted
• A true pyramid has
an incline angle of
52°

20. The Pyramids at Giza
• Located at Giza
• Called Great Pyramid
because of size
• The pyramid is
• 482’ high on a plan 760’
square
• 1ST pyramid achieved
during reign of Cheops,
son of Snefru

21. • Two additional
pyramids built at Giza
• 2nd largest in the center
built by Chefren, the
son of Cheops
• 3rd and smallest built
by Mykerinus, son of
Chefren
• The three together are
referred to as the
Pyramids at Giza

22. • Three are aligned
diagonally along the
projection of the
diagonal of the great
pyramid

23. The Great Pyramid Cheops
• Great pyramid
unique internal
arrangement
• First: a chamber
built below base of
pyramid
• Another chamber
built above it known
as queen’s chamber
• Larger burial
chamber known as
the king’s chamber
built center of
pyramid

24. The Great Pyramid Cheops
• Chamber where the king
was buried in his
Sarcophagus
• King’s chamber 35’ x17’
and 19’ high
• Both king & queen
chamber connected to
the entrance on the
north side
• Two air shafts connect
king’s chamber to
outside for ventilation
• Once a king is buried,
burial chamber sealed

25. Pyramid Complex
• The pyramids designed as
part of a funeral complex
for burial of pharaoh
• Chefren’s complex is best
preserved example
• Complex consist of three
interconnected units:
– A valley temple by the
river Nile where the
pharaoh’s body was
embalmed
– A pyramid mortuary
temple for rituals
– A long narrow
causeway connecting
the two

26. Pyramid Construction
• No accurate knowledge about the method of
construction of the pyramids
• Estimates vary: 20,000 men worked 3-4
months each year for 20 years to build the
pyramids.
• Limestone quarried from nearby --
transported by lever action
• Built by the farmers - Paid in food, clothing
and drinks
• All their monuments including the pyramids
were built by hand.
• At the construction site, teams of men
dragged the huge stones up ramps and used
mud and water to slide the stones into place.
• Slowly, the walls grew. Workers kept building
ramps higher and higher, dragging stones
with them.

27. • When the pyramid was finished, the
royal work force worked backwards,
taking down all the ramps as they
finished the artwork on the interior
walls and finished smoothing stones
into place.
• With a great deal of pomp and
ceremony, the pharaoh was laid to rest
inside his pyramid, in the burial
chamber, in his sarcophagus.
• The last step was to close the final
door into the pyramid.
• The location of that door was a secret
known by only a few people.

28. • Located in Giza is the great
Sphinx with the body of a lion
and head of Chephern
• Reason for its construction is
not clear
• A theory holds that it was
produced from leftover material
• It may also have been carved to
stand guard over the temple
and tomb of Chephern
The Sphinx

29. The Sphinx
Dimensions of the Sphinx
Paws: 50’ long (15m)
Head: 30’ long (10m) 14’ wide (4m)
Entire Body: 150’ (45m)
Originally commissioned by Chefren (a son of Cheops)
Constructed from a single piece of stone <bedrock>
weighing hundreds of tons bedrock found within the Valley
of Giza.
Age of the Sphinx: ~5,000 years old

30. The Sphinx
Archeologists and historians found many pictures of the Sphinx drawn
with wings, the body of a lion and ox, and the face of man
1867
1925 restoration

31. Rock Hewn Tomb
• Two types of Underground
tombs were built by pharaohs
and nobles during the Middle
and New Kingdom periods-
Rock Hewn tombs and Shaft
tombs
• Rock Hewn tombs are tombs
that are carved out of rocks
• Many of theses are found
along the cliff of the Nile
• A very good example is the
Rock Hewn tomb at Beni
Hassan

32. Beni Hassan consists of
three elements:
– Colonnade entrance
portico for public worship
– Behind portico, a chamber
or hall with columns
supporting the roof
serving as a chapel
– A small recess towards
the back of the chapel
where the person is
buried

33. • The columns on the
exterior were shaped
like a prism with 8 or 16
sides
• The columns in the
interior were designed
as a bundle of reed tied
together by rope

34. CONCLUSION
Major Works
Old Kingdom
1. Mastabas
2. Stepped Pyramid of Zozer @ Saqqara by Imhotep
3. Great Pyramids @ Giza Cheops (Khufu)
Chephren (Kafra)
Mykerinus (Menkaura)
Middle Kingdom
4. Rock Cut Tombs @ Beni Hasan
3200 - 2258 BC
2650 BC
2575 BC
2530 BC
2500 BC
2134 - 1570 BC
1975 - 1800 BC

35. • https://www.slideshare.net
• https://www.historymuseum.ca
REFERENCE
• http://www.historyshistories.com

36. THANK YOU