Monumental Pyramids Great Great pyramids line the dry desert on the west side of the Nile River in Egypt Pharaohs the rulers of ancient Egypt built these massive stone structures Pyramids were first built about 4,500 years ago They served as tombs for Egypt’s pharaohs The pharaohs believed the pyramids would help them have eternal life 44 A 30 foot 10 meter wall surrounded the Step Pyramid and buildings around it in Saqqara The buildings included temples chapels and courtyards
Through the years pyramids were built in different ways They were made of huge slabs of stone and brick Granite and limestone were cut from a quarry and moved down the Nile River The bricks were made from river mud straw and sand The workers pressed the mixture into wooden molds They sat in the heat until they hardened The pyramid was then covered with other types of stone Pyramid stones fitted together closely Erosion through the years wore down the stones so the blocks now appear to have separations 5
Lower Egypt Egypt Valley of the Kings Upper Egypt The Nile River is the longest river in the world It supplied the ancient Egyptians with transportation food building materials and water About 80 pyramids still exist in Egypt The three best-known pyramids are at Giza near modern-day Cairo The largest of the three was built for the pharaoh Khufu Archaeologists aren’t sure why the pharaohs chose the pyramid shape for their monuments Some think the shape may be a symbol of the sun’s rays or a pathway to heaven The ancient Egyptians believed death was the beginning of a trip to another world Each person’s eternal life depended on the pharaoh Building the pyramids for their pharaoh would benefit everyone in the kingdom 6
The pyramids at Giza were built so the pharaohs could watch from their palaces as they rose The construction took many years and each pharaoh hoped to live long enough to see his pyramid finished The cost of these giant tombs was enormous The pharaohs gave grand names to the pyramids Khufu named his Great Pyramid Khufu is one belonging to the horizon Brain Builder Khufu’s Great Pyramid rose to a height of about 45 stories 481 feet 147 meters The base measured 755 feet 230 meters along each side It was the tallest structure in the world for more than 4,000 years until the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris France The Great Pyramid was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the only ancient wonder still standing today The mastaba or tomb of Seshemnefer IV includes a group of rooms worship area and burial chamber It sits in front of the Great Pyramid at Giza and is the most visited mastaba Seshemnefer oversaw the two seats of the House of Life and was keeper of the king's secrets 7
