Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

In ancient times there were people who were interested about this fantastic shape and made huge monuments in the shape of pyramids. These structures were absolutely remarkable. Even after thousands of years people still get astonished by them. One great example of such monuments is ancient Egyptian pyramids. In this lesson, let’s talk all about ancient Egyptian pyramids.

What are ‘pyramids’?

Pyramids are massive stone structures that have amazed people from ancient time to the present day.

Who built pyramids in the world?

• Ancient Egyptians
• Ancient Maya people of Mexico and Central America
• People in the Middle-East in the ancient times

Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

Ancient Mayan Pyramids

What are the biggest pyramids in the world?

Egyptian pyramids are the biggest pyramids in the world.

Ancient Egyptian Pyramids are the largest pyramids in the world

Egyptian pyramids

Who ordered to build Egyptian pyramids?

Pharaohs ordered to build Egyptian pyramids

Why did they build pyramids?

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death.So pharaohs ordered to build pyramids to keep their dead bodies and belongings such as their wealth, jewels, furniture, paintings, and even the slaves, who served for the particular pharaoh. Therefore, these pyramids were tombs of ancient Egyptian kings and queens. They also made everyone who lived afterwards know how great they had been by building pyramids.

When were Egyptian pyramids built?

Ancient Egyptians built pyramids about 4500 years ago and it took many years to build just one pyramid.

Where did they build pyramids?

They built pyramids on the west bank of the Nile. These pyramids are called the pyramids of Giza. This area where pyramids were built is called the valley of the kings.

Valley of the Kings

What are the three major pyramids at Giza?

• The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the pyramid of Cheops)
• The pyramid of Khafre (also known as the Pyramid of  Chephren)
• The pyramid of Menkaure (also known as the Pyramid of  Mykerinos)

The Three Major Pyramids at Giza

The interior of these pyramids has great architecture.

Interior Architecture of The Great Pyramid of Khufu

Interior Architecture of The Pyramid of Khafre

Interior Architecture of The Pyramid of Menkaure

What is the largest and most famous pyramid?

The Great Pyramid (the pyramid of Cheops or the pyramid of Khufu) is the largest and most famous pyramid.

Who ordered to build The Great Pyramid?

 
The Pharaoh Khufu ordered to build The Great Pyramid. It is about 147 metres high. That’s 50 stories high! It took 20 years to build The Great Pyramid.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu

What is ‘The Great Sphinx’? (‘sfingks’)

The Great Sphinx is a kind of a statue stands in front of all the pyramids in Giza. It has the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh.

The Great Sphinx

How were pyramids built?

Building a pyramid was a massive job. Thousands of laborers had to work for years to build a pyramid. They cut millions of huge stone blocks. The ancient Egyptians did not have cranes or pulleys to help them lift these huge stones. All their buildings were made using ramps, ropes, wooden rollers, levers and muscle power.

How did ancient Egyptians manage to lift huge pieces of stones to the right height?

For this they used ramps (An inclined or slanted surface connecting two levels). First they made sloping paths. Then they dragged blocks of stone along them on sledges.

How ancient Egyptians used the ramp to lift huge stones to the right height

(Courtesy: Picture scanned from the book ‘The Golden History of the World’)
 

What were the metals used to make ancient Egyptian tools?

• Bronze
• Copper

Also, click here to read more about Ancient Egypt.