Egypt has been one of the world’s oldest countries. It has been around since the time of Abraham to Jesus Christ and one of the major monuments the country is widely known for is its pyramids.
These include Giza’s colossal Pyramids. tombs. We would be exploring some of these pyramids in Egypt this article.
1. Pyramid of Khufu
This is the oldest and largest of the pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering present-day Giza in Greater Cairo, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.
It was built by Khufu who was actually the first pharaoh to build a pyramid at Giza. The sheer scale of this monument stands as a testament to his skills in commanding the material and human resources of his country. It is now believed the pyramids were built using conscripted labor rather than slaves.
Khufu’s sarcophagus rests in the King’s Chamber, and this is where Napoleon is said to have sojourned, deep inside the Great Pyramid. It has very little open space inside its hulking mass.
2. Pyramid of Khafre
The Pyramid of Khafre or of Chephren is the second-tallest and second-largest of the 3 Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza and the tomb of the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre, who ruled c. 2558−2532 BC. It may be used to store offerings, store burial equipment, or it may be a serdab chamber.
The upper descending passage is clad in granite and descends to join with the horizontal passage to the burial chamber. The burial chamber was carved out of a pit in the bedrock. The roof is constructed of gabled limestone beams. It has a height of 136 m and a base of 215.25 meters.
3. Red Pyramid
The Red Pyramid which is also called the North Pyramid is the largest of the pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis in Cairo, Egypt. It was named for the rusty reddish hue of its red limestone stones and it is also the third-largest Egyptian pyramid, after those of Khufu and Khafre at Giza. It is also believed to be Egypt’s first successful attempt at constructing a “true” smooth-sided pyramid.
Local residents refer to the Red Pyramid as el-heram el-watwaat, meaning the Bat Pyramid. However, the Red Pyramid was not always red. It used to be cased with white Tura limestone, but only a few of these stones now remain at the pyramid’s base, at the corner and during the Middle Ages, much of the white Tura limestone was taken for buildings in Cairo, revealing the red limestone beneath.
4. Bent Pyramid
The Bent Pyramid is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately 40 kilometers south of Cairo, built under the Old Kingdom Pharaoh Sneferu. A unique example of early pyramid development in Egypt was the second pyramid built by Sneferu.
It appears “bent” because its slope changes at the mid-way point; the lower part of the pyramid was built at an angle of 54 degrees, but the top part clocks in at an angle of 43 degrees. The Bent Pyramid may represent one step in Sneferu’s journey to find the perfect pyramid formula. The pyramid is 4,620 old.
5. Step Pyramid of Djoser
The Pyramid of Djoser, or Step Pyramid, is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the city of Memphis. The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. It was built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser. Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex included several structures pivotal to its function in both life and the afterlife. A pyramid was not simply a grave in ancient Egypt. Its purpose was to facilitate a successful afterlife for the king so that he could be eternally reborn.
