The Pyramids were built in Egypt from 2700 BC to 1790 BC. These structures served as tombs of pharaohs and queens, and they symbolized the ascension of the pharaohs’ souls to heaven. Presently, 138 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt, and the largest of the all is the Great Pyramid at Giza, which is the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World.
The ancient Egyptians believed that a part of a pharaoh’s spirit would remain in his body when he passed away. To ensure that his spirit would live for eternity, his body had to be preserved through mummification. The mummified body would then be kept in massive tombs or pyramids that contained objects that symbolized prosperity in the afterlife, such as gold, jewelry, food, furniture, clay vessels, and even statues of servants. Huge stones were used to seal the pyramids and the pharaohs’ mummies, but they were later removed by grave robbers, who plundered all the treasures that were found in the pyramids.
Before pyramids were constructed in Egypt, the tombs of pharaohs were rectangular flat-top structures that were made of mud-bricks. These structures were known as mastabas. After Pharaoh Djoser became the king of Egypt in 2630 BC, he built a mastaba for himself in Saqqara. Later on, he decided to add more layers on top of the mastaba, and this resulted in the Step Pyramid, a six-stepped structure that reached a height of 204 feet.
The Step Pyramid was more durable than a mastaba because it was made of stone. The pyramid complex covered a total area of 40 acres, and it was surrounded by a 30-foot wall. Inside the complex, there were chapels, temples, and courtyards. The burial chamber in the Step Pyramid was located underground, and it was only accessible through a maze of tunnels. Many years later, grave robbers managed to find their way through the maze and plundered the treasure that was kept in the chamber. The only thing that is left in the king’s burial chamber is the mummified left foot of Djoser.
After acquiring stones that were fit for the construction of monuments from military conquests, Pharaoh Snefru of the 4th dynasty began to construct a seven-stepped pyramid around 2600 BC. This pyramid came to be known as the Maidum Pyramid, and it is located about 35 miles from Saqqara. Later on, Snefru decided to add one more step to the pyramid, and its height was raised to 306 feet. Before Snefru passed away, the three steps at the bottom of the pyramid were turned into a single step with smooth surfaces on all four sides. The Maidum Pyramid was the first pyramid that featured a burial chamber that was located above the ground.
Pharaoh Snefru built another pyramid after he moved his court to Dahshur. This was his first attempt at building a pyramid that had smooth surfaces on all four sides. When the construction of the pyramid reached the halfway point, the angle of the slope was changed because the architects discovered that the foundation was not stable enough. The end result was the Bent Pyramid, a structure that measures 344 feet high. This pyramid has two burial chambers, which can be accessed from different entrances.
Pharaoh Snefru was not satisfied with the outcome of the Bent Pyramid, and he decided to make another attempt at a smooth-sided pyramid. This new pyramid was the Red Pyramid, and it was the first Egyptian pyramid that had a truly pyramidal shape. Snefru passed away before this pyramid was completed, and his son Khufu took over the construction after his death. The 341-feet Red Pyramid has one burial chamber and two small chambers.
Around 2550 BC, Pharaoh Khufu built the largest pyramid in the world. The Great Pyramid at Giza measures 481 feet high, and it was built with 2.3 million blocks of stone. It is surrounded by a few small pyramids and remnants of a mortuary temple, a valley temple, five boat pits, and a number of tombs. There are three burial chambers in the Great Pyramid. The king’s chamber is located at the center of structure, and it contains a granite sarcophagus. The chamber can be reached via the Grand Gallery, which has a sliding granite system to keep robbers away. Another chamber that is located above the ground is the queen’s chamber. This chamber used to house the spirit statue of Khufu, and it was never used as a queen’s burial place. The third room is an unfinished underground room that is cut into bedrock.
Pharaoh Khafre, son of Khufu, started building his pyramid around 2520 BC. The Khafre pyramid was not as high as the Great Pyramid, but it was built on an elevated ground, and it had more elaborate structures in its complex, including a mortuary temple, storage chambers, entrance hall, courtyard, sanctuary, and the Sphinx. The Sphinx is a huge statue of a lion with a human head, and it embodies the spirit of Khafre. The burial chamber has a small pit that was probably used to store Khafre’s canopic chest.