PyramidsEssay Preview: PyramidsReport this essayPyramids, large structures with four triangular sides that meet in a point at the top, directly over the center of the pyramids square base. Ancient peoples in several parts of the world built pyramids, but the Egyptians constructed the biggest and most famous pyramids, with which this article deals. For information on the pyramids of Mesopotamia, see Ziggurat. For information on the pyramids of the Americas, see Pyramids (The Americas).
The ancient Egyptians built more than 90 royal pyramids, from about 2630 BC until about 1530 BC. During this time, the pyramid form evolved from a series of stepped terraces that resembled the layers of a wedding cake to most of the world, sloped pyramidal shape. The first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Şaqqārah, was constructed during the reign of King Djoser (2630 BC-2611 BC).
Egyptian pyramids are the mysteries of the Eygpt for everyone has an idea what they were used for but no one can be really sure if it is true. The Pyramids mostly served as tombs for kings and queens, but they were also places of ongoing religious activity. After a ruler died, his or her body was carefully treated and wrapped to preserve it as a mummy. According to ancient Egyptian belief, the pyramid, where the mummy was placed, provided a place for the monarch to pass into the afterlife. In temples nearby, priests performed rituals to nourish the dead monarchs spirit, which was believed to stay with the body after death. In the Old Kingdom (a period of Egyptian history from about 2575 BC to about 2134 BC), Egyptian artists carved hieroglyphs on the walls of the burial chamber, designed to safeguard the dead monarchs passage into the afterlife. These hieroglyphic writings, which include hymns, magical spells, instructions on how to act in front of the gods, and other pieces of useful knowledge, are known as the Pyramid Texts.
During the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians built their largest and most ambitious pyramids, typically of large stone blocks. Over time, the size and quality of the pyramids decreased, probably because they were extremely costly. In the Middle Kingdom (2040 BC-1640 BC), the Egyptians built pyramids mostly of mud brick. All pyramids were aligned to the cardinal directions, meaning that their sides ran almost exactly due north-south and east-west. Most pyramids rose from desert plateaus on the west bank of the Nile River, behind which the sun set. The Egyptians believed that a dead monarchs spirit left the body and traveled through the sky with the sun each day. When the sun set in the west, the royal spirits settled into their pyramid tombs to renew themselves.
The Egyptian government began working on these new pyramids in the 1970s and 1980s. These pyramids featured massive, high-strength concrete pyramids with raised columns, with a series of wooden posts and metal rails built from rocks and stones on top. These pyramids were made of pure iron and of high quality stone.
During the Renaissance in Italy, the Egyptian government began erecting monumental structures of stone. The monumental constructions included the Great Pyramid (1612 AD), the Dome of the Rock (1636 AD), and the Great Pyramid of Giza (1720 AD). All were made of an exceptionally durable granite material, so it made a nice cushion for breaking out of cracks in the granite.
The ancient Egyptians also installed solar panels, which used heat and light for their day-to-day work. They built the Sun Palace, which was also designed and constructed by the Egyptians on site.
The New Kingdom built dozens of pyramids, most of which were of stone.
As the late Victorian era continued in the New Kingdom, pyramids, now made of wood, were erected and maintained in temples, halls, and other structures.
In modern times, the pyramids of Egypt were built in smaller and more sophisticated ways, such as the pyramid of Belorim, built 1641 BC. That temple was designed as a model of architecture to represent the Kingdom and represent its glory, peace, prosperity, and glory in the afterlife – often for a lifetime or beyond. According to historian and Egyptian archaeologist, Nasser Nasser Al-Hadeedani the pyramid of Belorim was built on the site where Moses laid out the Seven Wonders of the Universe and at the time of his death. In the early 1900s, archaeologists were surprised at how large, powerful and sturdy a pyramid was and the number of them dwarfed the numbers found in other buildings that were built before. They concluded that the only way to get its size was to build a similar pyramids and that they were an attempt to get at least one of them bigger than the first and the second. These two were built on an older temple complex in the area of Suez, the capital of the Egyptian Kingdom.
But, in the early 1900s, that temple complex became a major part of the kingdom’s architecture, and in later years it became an important monument, symbolizing the success of the Kingdom, the Kingdom’s prosperity, and the glory that came from being an idol of Egypt, that the pyramids were the only means by which it could be used. The palace building of Belorim, on the top of a hill overlooking the Nile, had two large, huge bronze statues sitting along the top of it. The statues were placed on top of each other so as to depict the sun setting and that their placement in heaven
The Pyramid of Ibarra, built in the 2nd century BC, was built on flat flat limestone and used as a shelter in this part of the desert. It was built as a pyramidal structure, designed to withstand high wind and snow forces. It was a great fortress built by the Egyptians to protect against the threat of earthquakes, or for any other reason not related to death. In addition to their pyramids, the Egyptians also built an immense palace or chateau (city) tower which was believed to have been built over this large palace tower in the east, built to guard against earthquakes.
Pilgrims built pyramids of different shapes. Each pyramid had a number of dimensions. On the pyramid side was a point of fire, usually a star. On the sides of the building were the entrances. These entrances were generally very large, so that they formed a main passage leading from the entrance to a chateau in the south (north) then to the north-west exit (eastern) of the pyramid. On other side of a side entrance was a side entrance with two staircases. On each side of these staircases were a number of statues that were built to be standing on top of each other. The central entry was flanked by three tall pillars and was constructed of bronze, made from the finest stone that was found in the region where the Ibarra pyramid was found. These statues led to the main passage in the north (north) of the Pyramid. Once the main passage passed through the building, these statues were destroyed; the new stone structure was the foundation of the pyramid. The original Egyptian building of the pyramids was very elaborate, but very costly. A good story about the pyramids is written by N. P. Mater. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the pyramids were built between 1533 BC and 1638 BC, though this story is false–they were not found in Alexandria until about 835 BC. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the Pyramid of Ibarra was built with three stone pyramids, each having a diameter of 40 cubits or roughly 2 feet. The second pyramid was with a diameter of 17 cubits, and the third with a diameter of 24 cubits. The third and fourth pyramids were of similar size and width, but had many details that were different depending on the distance between their positions. The Egyptian pyramid of Ibarra, and its predecessor in the Ibaran Dynasty (1525 BC-1648 AD), is believed to have been the tallest and most elaborate of all the pyramids, with its top placed in front of a pedestal above an altar. In fact, pyramids at Ibarra can be ascribed to seven different persons: Pharaoh of Ibaria, ruler of Assyria, ruler of Egypt, son of Mhajla, and brother of Amnon; Nymph of Ibar; Pharaoh of Egypt, son of Mh
The Pyramid of Ibarra, built in the 2nd century BC, was built on flat flat limestone and used as a shelter in this part of the desert. It was built as a pyramidal structure, designed to withstand high wind and snow forces. It was a great fortress built by the Egyptians to protect against the threat of earthquakes, or for any other reason not related to death. In addition to their pyramids, the Egyptians also built an immense palace or chateau (city) tower which was believed to have been built over this large palace tower in the east, built to guard against earthquakes.
Pilgrims built pyramids of different shapes. Each pyramid had a number of dimensions. On the pyramid side was a point of fire, usually a star. On the sides of the building were the entrances. These entrances were generally very large, so that they formed a main passage leading from the entrance to a chateau in the south (north) then to the north-west exit (eastern) of the pyramid. On other side of a side entrance was a side entrance with two staircases. On each side of these staircases were a number of statues that were built to be standing on top of each other. The central entry was flanked by three tall pillars and was constructed of bronze, made from the finest stone that was found in the region where the Ibarra pyramid was found. These statues led to the main passage in the north (north) of the Pyramid. Once the main passage passed through the building, these statues were destroyed; the new stone structure was the foundation of the pyramid. The original Egyptian building of the pyramids was very elaborate, but very costly. A good story about the pyramids is written by N. P. Mater. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the pyramids were built between 1533 BC and 1638 BC, though this story is false–they were not found in Alexandria until about 835 BC. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the Pyramid of Ibarra was built with three stone pyramids, each having a diameter of 40 cubits or roughly 2 feet. The second pyramid was with a diameter of 17 cubits, and the third with a diameter of 24 cubits. The third and fourth pyramids were of similar size and width, but had many details that were different depending on the distance between their positions. The Egyptian pyramid of Ibarra, and its predecessor in the Ibaran Dynasty (1525 BC-1648 AD), is believed to have been the tallest and most elaborate of all the pyramids, with its top placed in front of a pedestal above an altar. In fact, pyramids at Ibarra can be ascribed to seven different persons: Pharaoh of Ibaria, ruler of Assyria, ruler of Egypt, son of Mhajla, and brother of Amnon; Nymph of Ibar; Pharaoh of Egypt, son of Mh
The Pyramid of Ibarra, built in the 2nd century BC, was built on flat flat limestone and used as a shelter in this part of the desert. It was built as a pyramidal structure, designed to withstand high wind and snow forces. It was a great fortress built by the Egyptians to protect against the threat of earthquakes, or for any other reason not related to death. In addition to their pyramids, the Egyptians also built an immense palace or chateau (city) tower which was believed to have been built over this large palace tower in the east, built to guard against earthquakes.
Pilgrims built pyramids of different shapes. Each pyramid had a number of dimensions. On the pyramid side was a point of fire, usually a star. On the sides of the building were the entrances. These entrances were generally very large, so that they formed a main passage leading from the entrance to a chateau in the south (north) then to the north-west exit (eastern) of the pyramid. On other side of a side entrance was a side entrance with two staircases. On each side of these staircases were a number of statues that were built to be standing on top of each other. The central entry was flanked by three tall pillars and was constructed of bronze, made from the finest stone that was found in the region where the Ibarra pyramid was found. These statues led to the main passage in the north (north) of the Pyramid. Once the main passage passed through the building, these statues were destroyed; the new stone structure was the foundation of the pyramid. The original Egyptian building of the pyramids was very elaborate, but very costly. A good story about the pyramids is written by N. P. Mater. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the pyramids were built between 1533 BC and 1638 BC, though this story is false–they were not found in Alexandria until about 835 BC. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the Pyramid of Ibarra was built with three stone pyramids, each having a diameter of 40 cubits or roughly 2 feet. The second pyramid was with a diameter of 17 cubits, and the third with a diameter of 24 cubits. The third and fourth pyramids were of similar size and width, but had many details that were different depending on the distance between their positions. The Egyptian pyramid of Ibarra, and its predecessor in the Ibaran Dynasty (1525 BC-1648 AD), is believed to have been the tallest and most elaborate of all the pyramids, with its top placed in front of a pedestal above an altar. In fact, pyramids at Ibarra can be ascribed to seven different persons: Pharaoh of Ibaria, ruler of Assyria, ruler of Egypt, son of Mhajla, and brother of Amnon; Nymph of Ibar; Pharaoh of Egypt, son of Mh
The Pyramid of Ibarra, built in the 2nd century BC, was built on flat flat limestone and used as a shelter in this part of the desert. It was built as a pyramidal structure, designed to withstand high wind and snow forces. It was a great fortress built by the Egyptians to protect against the threat of earthquakes, or for any other reason not related to death. In addition to their pyramids, the Egyptians also built an immense palace or chateau (city) tower which was believed to have been built over this large palace tower in the east, built to guard against earthquakes.
Pilgrims built pyramids of different shapes. Each pyramid had a number of dimensions. On the pyramid side was a point of fire, usually a star. On the sides of the building were the entrances. These entrances were generally very large, so that they formed a main passage leading from the entrance to a chateau in the south (north) then to the north-west exit (eastern) of the pyramid. On other side of a side entrance was a side entrance with two staircases. On each side of these staircases were a number of statues that were built to be standing on top of each other. The central entry was flanked by three tall pillars and was constructed of bronze, made from the finest stone that was found in the region where the Ibarra pyramid was found. These statues led to the main passage in the north (north) of the Pyramid. Once the main passage passed through the building, these statues were destroyed; the new stone structure was the foundation of the pyramid. The original Egyptian building of the pyramids was very elaborate, but very costly. A good story about the pyramids is written by N. P. Mater. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the pyramids were built between 1533 BC and 1638 BC, though this story is false–they were not found in Alexandria until about 835 BC. According to The Pyramid of Ibarra, the Pyramid of Ibarra was built with three stone pyramids, each having a diameter of 40 cubits or roughly 2 feet. The second pyramid was with a diameter of 17 cubits, and the third with a diameter of 24 cubits. The third and fourth pyramids were of similar size and width, but had many details that were different depending on the distance between their positions. The Egyptian pyramid of Ibarra, and its predecessor in the Ibaran Dynasty (1525 BC-1648 AD), is believed to have been the tallest and most elaborate of all the pyramids, with its top placed in front of a pedestal above an altar. In fact, pyramids at Ibarra can be ascribed to seven different persons: Pharaoh of Ibaria, ruler of Assyria, ruler of Egypt, son of Mhajla, and brother of Amnon; Nymph of Ibar; Pharaoh of Egypt, son of Mh
The internal layout of pyramids changed over time, but the entrance was typically in the center of the north face. From here a passage ran downward, sometimes leveling out, to the kings burial chamber, which ideally was located directly underneath the pyramids center point. Sometimes, in addition to the burial chamber, there were storage chambers within the pyramid. These chambers held objects used in burial rituals as well as items for the deceased to use in the afterlife. Some of these items were valuable, and in later years people robbed many of the pyramids and stole the objects.
A pyramid never stood alone in the desert. Instead, it was the focus of a complex of temples and smaller pyramids. Priests and officials entered a typical pyramid complex through a temple near a harbor connected to the Nile by a system of canals. This so-called valley temple was linked to the pyramid by a long, covered walkway, known as a causeway. The causeway ran up from the valley through the desert to another temple, called a pyramid temple or mortuary temple. This temple was connected to the pyramid at the center of its eastern face.
Most pyramid complexes had satellite pyramids and queens pyramids. The satellite pyramids were too small to serve as burial places, and their purpose remains mysterious. They may have contained statues representing the kings ka, an aspect of his spirit. The queens pyramids were simpler, smaller versions of the kings, sometimes with small temples all their own. They were intended for the burial of a kings principal wives.
The Egyptian pyramids developed from royal tombs of the earliest periods of Egyptian history. In the 1st and 2nd dynasties (2920 BC-2770 BC and 2770 BC-2649 BC), kings were buried at the city of Abydos in graves topped with a pile of clean sand inside low-lying brick walls. By the 3rd Dynasty (2649 BC-2575 BC), kings were being buried underneath large mud brick rectangles called mastabas, from the Arabic word meaning “bench.”
King Djoser, who reigned from 2630 BC to 2611 BC, built a more elaborate royal tomb known as the Step Pyramid at Şaqqārah. This tomb started out as a mastaba, but its architect, Imhotep, first expanded the mastaba then topped it with successively smaller mastabas. In the end, Djosers tomb looked like a rectangular wedding cake with six layers.
The Step Pyramid and later pyramids of the 3rd Dynasty were constructed of small, almost brick-sized stones that were laid in vertical courses and inward-leaning to create the sloped sides.
King Sneferu, the father of Khufu, built the initial true pyramids, developing the new technique during construction. The earliest true pyramid, was built at the town of Maydūm, began as a step pyramid with inward-leaning walls and eight levels. After working on the structure for 14 years, Sneferu moved his burial ground north to Dashur for unknown reasons, and construction began on another pyramid. This one, too, was made of stone blocks that leaned inward. The architects had designed it with an angle of 60 degrees (to the ground), but as the pyramid rose, it started to sink because of the weight and angle of the stones. To solve this problem, the builders put up an outer supporting wall, giving the half-finished pyramid a shallower angle of 55 degrees. After this, the architects finished the upper portion of the pyramid off with a slope of only 43 degrees. This shift in angle from 55 to 43 degrees gives this pyramid its name–the Bent Pyramid.
During construction of the Bent Pyramid, the architects made a discovery: On the upper portion, instead of leaning the stones inward, they laid down horizontal layers of larger stone blocks. With the new technique, the pyramid shape resulted because each level was slightly smaller than the one it lay upon. The new technique was then used to construct another giant pyramid for Sneferu, now called the North Pyramid, located about 1.6 km (1 mi) north of the Bent Pyramid. It proved so successful that Sneferu returned to Maydūm, while construction was still in progress on the two Dashur pyramids, and refined the Maydūm pyramid by adding an outer