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Ancient Egyptians built over 100 pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs. The pyramids held possessions and slaves for the afterlife, and were shaped like the sun’s rays. They were built on the west bank of the Nile and the largest took over 80 years to build.
Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs, or kings. A Pharaoh would start planning his tomb, or “house of eternity,” as soon as he took the throne. This is because the Egyptian pyramids held many items in preparation for the afterlife. It was believed that the Pharaohs would need many of his possessions, as well as slaves, for the afterlife.
There are more than 100 Egyptian pyramids, each built for a different person. Most of the pyramids were actually pyramid complexes including a main pyramid surrounded by a courtyard, a nearby mortuary temple, and a small cult pyramid that was meant to house the soul of the king. Some pyramids had small pyramids nearby or other types of tombs reserved for family members.
In ancient Egypt, death was believed to initiate a journey that takes the person to the next afterlife world. The king was mummified and the mummy kept inside the pyramid for both protection and to facilitate travel to the afterlife. His belongings were kept with him in the pyramid so that he could have access to them in the afterlife.
There was a specific reason for the shapes of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. They believed that the pharaoh ascended to heaven under the rays of the sun. The sun’s rays, which a pharaoh used to ascend to the afterlife, were symbolized by the shape of the pyramid. The pyramid shape could also be a monument to Ra, the sun god, who was believed to have created all life.
The location of the pyramids also mattered, as the pyramids had to be placed under the stars which were considered to be the most important. Most of the pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile because the sun was thought to “die” in the west each night.
The first of Ancient Egypt’s Egyptian pyramids was built in 2611 BC for Pharaoh Djoser. This pyramid did not have smooth sides, but consisted of six stepped levels. The Bent Pyramid, the first pyramid without steps, was built about thirty years later. The angle of its sides was changed about halfway through construction, causing the sides to appear bent. This pyramid was not very tall.
About fifty years later, the largest of the pyramids at Giza was built. This pyramid was a true feat of engineering, built with some two million blocks of stone, each weighing up to fifteen tons. It took more than 80 years to build all three pyramids located in Giza.
