Pyramid of Egypt

Pyramids of Egypt

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Ancient Egypt is . . .

known for its famous pyramids. The great age of Egyptian pyramid building took place during the Old Kingdom period and reached its peak with the famous Great Pyramid at Giza. This is also when Egypt was one of the wealthiest and most powerful civilizations in the world. Today, there are more than 100 pyramids in Egypt.

Role of the Pharaoh

The pyramids of Egypt reflect the importance of the pharaoh in Egyptian society. Egyptian pharaohs were viewed as divine, meaning they were representative of or chosen by the gods. Ancient Egyptians believed that when the pharaoh died, he would need to be properly prepared for his journey to the afterlife. To properly prepare the pharaoh, his body was mummified, and everything the king would need in the afterlife was buried with him, including gold jewelry, decorative pieces, furniture and other offerings. The construction of pyramids grew out of this focus on the dead pharaoh and were used as tombs to protect the pharaoh and assist in his transition to the afterlife.

Multiple Choice

When was the ‘great age’ of pyramid building in Egypt?

• The New Kingdom

• The Old Kingdom

• The Giza Dynasty

Multiple Choice

Approximately how many pyramids are still present in Egypt today?

• less than 100

• more than 100

• 8 to 12

Open Ended

Egyptian pharaohs were considered to be ‘divine’. What is meant by divine?

Multiple Choice

What the importance of pyramids in relation to the significance of Egyptian pharaohs.

• They were used to show the Pharaohs power

• They were the Pharaoh's home while he was alive and also for when he died.

• to protect the pharaoh and assist in his transition to the afterlife

Mastabas

Before the Age of Pyramids, early Egyptian leaders were buried in underground tombs that had been carved from rock and were lined with mud bricks. They had flat roofs and were often covered with mounds of sand. The structures were known as “mastabas” and over time they became higher, more elaborate and were the foundation for later pyramid construction. 

Multiple Choice

What is a mastaba?

• Underground tombs that had been carved from rock and were lined with mud bricks.

• Large temples that housed the servants of the Pharaohs so they can join in the afterlife.

• A rare species of cat that the Egyptians held in high regard.

Open Ended

How does a mastaba represent a stage in Egyptian pyramid building?

Step Pyramids

King Djoser’s great Step Pyramid was built at Saqqara around 2630 B.C. and is the oldest known pyramid in Egypt. It began as a mastaba but grew into the step pyramid it is today. The pyramid was surrounded by a courtyards, temples and shrines. While step pyramids became common after the construction of Djoser’s in Saqqara, pyramid construction in Egypt eventually transitioned to the smooth-sided style. 

Multiple Choice

What is the oldest known pyramid in Egypt?

• Pyramid of Giza

• Pyramid of Khufu

• Pyramid of King Djoser

True Pyramids

The first smooth-sided pyramid was the Red Pyramid at Dahshur which was constructed for Sneferu, the first king of the fourth dynasty. It gained its named for the color of the limestone blocks used in its construction. It is often considered to be the first ‘true’ pyramid.

Open Ended

What is meant by "true" pyramid?

Multiple Choice

What was the first smooth sided pyramid in Egypt?

• Red Pyramid at Dahshur

• Pyramid of Giza

• Pyramid of King Djoser

Great Pyramid of Giza

The greatest example of pyramid construction in Egypt is the Great Pyramids of Giza. Located on the west bank of the Nile River, the site contains three main pyramids. The oldest and largest of the three pyramids at Giza, is known as the Great Pyramid, and was built for Khufu who reigned over Egypt for 23 years (2589-2566 B.C.). The middle pyramid at Giza was built for Khufu’s son Khafre who reigned from 2558-2532 B.C. His complex is unique in that it contains the famous ‘Sphinx’. The Sphinx is a massive stone figure that has a man’s head on a lion’s body. 

Great Pyramid of Giza Continued

 The southernmost pyramid at Giza was built for Menkaure who reigned over Egypt from 2532-2503 B.C. He was Khufu’s grandson and Khafre’s son. His pyramid is the shortest of the three pyramids at 218 feet. The site also contained many smaller pyramids and mastabas for the wives, relative and officials of the three pharaohs.

Multiple Choice

Who were the three main pyramids at Giza built for?

• John, Paul, and George

• King Tut, Cleopatra, and Ra

• Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure

Open Ended

What was unique about Khafre’s pyramid complex?

Multiple Choice

What was the oldest and largest pyramid on the Giza site?

• Khufu's Pyramid

• Khafre's Pyramid

• Menkaure's Pyramid

Building the Great Pyramids

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is 480 feet tall and measures 750 along each side of its base. It is the largest pyramid. It took an estimated 25,000 Egyptians more than 20 years to build the Great Pyramid and used approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks. Each block weighed several tons or more and took an immense amount of man power to construct. Constructing the pyramids involved moving huge quantities of stone. The quarried blocks were likely transported to the construction site by wooden sleds, with sand in front of the sled wetted to reduce friction. The sleds would then be dragged by many laborers.

Open Ended

Approximately how many people were needed to construct the pyramid?

Open Ended

How long did it take to build the pyramid?

Multiple Choice

How many blocks were used in the construction of the pyramid?

• 2.3 million

• 2.3 billion

• 2.3 trillion

End of the ‘Age of Pyramids’

Pyramids continued to be constructed throughout the fifth and sixth dynasties but never achieved the same scale or importance as the ones built at Giza. The last of the great pyramid builders was Pepy II who reigned from 2278-2184 B.C. Pepy II’s pyramid, built at Saqqara and completed some 30 years into his reign, was much shorter (172 feet) than others of the Old Kingdom. The great Age of Pyramids in Egypt was over.

Multiple Choice

Who was the last of the great pyramid builders?

• Pipyat III

• Pepy II

• Piper V