The Pyramids of Egypt were built over 4,000 years ago as tombs for pharaohs. The largest pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza, stands over 450 feet tall and covers over 13 acres of land. The pyramids were constructed using stone blocks some weighing over 15 tons that were transported and lifted into place. They demonstrate the immense wealth and power of ancient Egyptian civilization.

3. The Pyramids of Egypt
Egypt’s pyramids are the oldest stone buildings
in the world.
They were built nearly 5000 years ago.
These ancient tombs are among the world’s
largest structures. The biggest is taller than a 40-
story building and covers an area greater than
that of ten football fields.
Sometimes up to 100,000 men worked for 20
seasons on one pyramid.

4. The Pyramids of Egypt
More than 80 pyramids still stand today.
There are secret passageways, hidden rooms, ramps,
bridges, and false doors.
The pyramids were built for kings, or pharaohs, to
protect their bodies for the after death. Egyptians
believed that a pharaoh buried in grand style would
continue to bless his people.
The average weight of a pyramid’s stone block was 2½
tons! That’s the weight of 2 medium-sized cars. Some
blocks weigh up to 15 tons!

5. Let’s Compare! Take a
guess!
How tall is the Eiffel Tower in Paris,
France?

6. 984 feet

7. How tall is the
Leaning Tower of Piza in
Italy?

8. 179 feet

9. What about the
Statue of Liberty?

10. 305 feet

11. Earliest times
The first Egyptians were buried in the desert
in shallow pits. The desert’s hot sand
preserved the body, naturally mummifying it.
The dead were buried under a pile of rocks.
Bodies were wrapped in goatskin or reed
mats.
Personal goods were placed around the body.

12. Stairway to Heaven
The first pyramid was built out of stone around 2700 B.C. It is
known as the Step Pyramid and consisted of six steps.
Imhotep is credited with the invention of the Step Pyramid. He
built it for King Zoser so that he could climb the stairs to reach
the gods when he died.
It served two purposes: it was a royal tomb and a temple for
worshipping the spirit of the dead king.

13. Location of the Pyramids
Religious and practical reasons controlled where the pyramids
were built.
1. Pyramids had to be on the west side of the Nile River, where the
sun set.
2. They had to be built close to the Nile so boats could carry the
stones to the construction site.
3. They had to be built high above the level of the river so no
damage would occur during the flood season.
4. Each side of the pyramid had to face one of the four cardinal
points – north, south, east, and west.
5. A pyramid had to be close to the pharaoh’s palace so he could
keep any eye on his “castle of eternity”.

14. Valley of the kings
By 1600 B.C., robbers had ransacked, or taken the
treasures, from most of the pyramids. Later pharaohs
decided that their bodies would be safer in hidden tombs
cut from solid rock. Many of these pharaohs are buried in
the Valley of the Kings.
King Tut was buried in the Valley of the Kings. Practically
untouched by robbers, his tomb contained weapons,
furniture, jewelry, musical instruments, clothing, model
boats – many made of solid gold.
These isolated tombs were built near the isolated cliffs
near Thebes.
62 tombs have been found there. However, even these
tombs were robbed.

15. Pyramids Around the World
The pyramids of Egypt were built over a span of one
thousand years. The most splendid ones date from about
2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C.
Pyramids, however, have been built in many parts of the
world at various times. All of these pyramids contain
certain essential elements.
* They are enormous.
* They have rectangular bases.
* Most are made of stone or brick.
* Most have four sloping sides that meet at a point.

16. The Castillo
Located in Chichen Itza, Mexico, this pyramid is known as the great
pyramid. It was probably built between A.D. 900 and A.D. 1200.

17. The pyramid at the Louvre
This pyramid is located in Paris, France, and is a
transparent glass pyramid that rises to 71 feet. It was
designed by an architecture firm and serves as an
entrance to the museum.

18. Great American Pyramid
This pyramid opened in 1991 and overlooks the Mississippi
River in Memphis, Tennessee. It is 321 feet high and covers
about 6.8 acres. It is a monument to American music.

19. The glory of the King is in the sky,
His power is in the horizon...!!
-from the oldest collection of religious texts of
Ancient Egypt, THE PYRAMID TEXTS