Pyramids

There are over 80 Pyramids in Egypt of which the most famous is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
They have a square base with four triangular surfaces converging at the top. They are grouped in 13 locations including Giza, Saqqara, Abusir and Dahshur.

The Great Pyramid of Giza, near Cairo, Egypt c. 2600 BCE.
It was known to the Ancient Egyptians as the Great Pyramid of Khufu (c. 2,589-2,566 BCE), whilst the Ancient Greeks knew it as the Great Pyramid of Cheops.
It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
At 456 ft (139 m) high, it was the tallest Monument in the Ancient World until the spire of Lincoln Cathedral was completed in c. 1300 CE.
The Great Pyramid is in a complex along with three smaller Pyramids built for Khufu’s three wives.
Herodotus wrote that the Great Pyramid was built by Cheops, the Greek name for Khufu.

The second largest Pyramid at Giza. Also known as the Pyramid of Khafre (c. 2,558-2,532 BCE).
Herodotus wrote that the second Pyramid was built by Cheops’ son Cephren or Khafre.
Khafre is also thought to have built the Great Sphinx.

The third largest Pyramid at Giza.
Herodotus wrote that the third Pyramid was built by Cheops’s son, Mycerinus (Menkaure) (c. 2,530 BCE)
Saladin’s son attempted to dismantle this Pyramid, but only succeeded in producing a hole in one side, after which he gave up.

The Pyramid of Djedefre (c. 2,528-2,520 BCE), was the fourth Pyramid. He was the son of Khufu.
The Romans successfully dismantled the Pyramid, and used it as a stone quarry for buildings elsewhere.
Today, just a low outline remains in the ground.

The Great Sphinx is located to the east of the Pyramids of Giza and faces due east.
A mythical Being with a lion’s body and a human head. The Egyptian Sphinx is a male, although in Greek Mythology the Sphinx is female.
It is thought to have been built during Pharaoh Khafre’s reign (c. 2,558-2,532 BCE).
Its Egyptian name in the Old Kingdom is unknown as no reference to it has ever been found in any inscription. However, in the New Kingdom it was known as Hor-em-akhet (Horus of the Horizon).
Pliny the Elder commented in his ‘Natural History’ that King Harmais was buried inside it.

The Step Pyramid or Pyramid of Djoser, built by his Architect Imhotep, was the first Pyramid to be built.
Many of the Pyramids are located the Saqqara Necropolis, 19 miles (30km) south of Cairo.
The Saqqara Pyramids contain writings on their walls known as the Pyramid Texts.

The Bent Pyramid, built by King Snefru, Father of Khufu, is located with many other Pyramids at the Dahshur Necropolis, 25 miles (40km) south of Cairo.

The Pyramids of Giza