Just how many Egyptian Pyramids are there? Well, you'll discover more than 100 of these glorious funerary monuments, built to shelter mummified Egyptian kings and queens in their afterlife. But the best-known are the great pyramids found at Giza - just outside Cairo - in particular, the Great Pyramid of Khufu. There are also two other famous pyramids at Giza - those of Khafre and Menkaure. Let's take a quick look at the three of them...
Great Pyramid of Khufu
Built during the 4th dynasty (around 2550 BC) to house Pharaoh Khufu in his afterlife, this is the largest pyramid ever built. Until the Eiffel Tower was constructed in Paris, it remained the largest building in the World. It was the first, and is now the only remaining survivor, of the original Seven Wonders of the World.
Pyramid of Khafre
The pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu's son - Khafre - may seem taller than his father's Great Pyramid but, in actual fact, it isn't. It just appears so, because it stands on a higher plateau! It was during Khafre's reign that the Great Sphinx was built, standing guard over the awe-inspiring pyramids at Giza. Ancient Egyptians knew it as "Shesib Ankh" or "The Living Image", and it was sculpted out of sandstone.
Pyramid of Menkaure
And, finally, we come to the smallest of the main pyramids at Giza - that of Pharaoh Menkaure, who was Khafre's son. Unlike the other two pyramids, it isn't encased solely in white limestone, but has its first 15 metres encased in pink granite.
Who Built The Pyramids?
Were these wonderful tombs built from slave labor? Apparently not. It's now believed they were constructed over a period of some 80 years by 20,000 to 30,000 Egyptian workers.
Huge limestone blocks would have been floated down the River Nile from the quarries to Giza. Here, numerous laborers would set to work on them. Of course, manual laborers were not the only workers necessary. You'd also find architects, and even priests and astronomers, who would advise on the most suitable sites for the pyramids.
Visiting Egypt
Magical Egypt offers rich culture and history, interesting people, and a remarkable number of beautiful places to visit. However, most visitors - especially first-time visitors - are keen to see the Great Pyramids.
If this applies to you, do check that the holiday of your choice either includes a trip to Giza, or is actually based in or near to Cairo. Many travellers pick Egyptians holidays based in Luxor or Aswan, thinking the Great Pyramids of Giza are nearby. This is not the case, for Cairo/Giza is a good 500 kilometres away from Luxor, and nearly 700 kilometres from Aswan. Enjoy your trip to Egypt, and exploring the Egyptian pyramids!
Great Pyramid of Khufu
Built during the 4th dynasty (around 2550 BC) to house Pharaoh Khufu in his afterlife, this is the largest pyramid ever built. Until the Eiffel Tower was constructed in Paris, it remained the largest building in the World. It was the first, and is now the only remaining survivor, of the original Seven Wonders of the World.
Pyramid of Khafre
The pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu's son - Khafre - may seem taller than his father's Great Pyramid but, in actual fact, it isn't. It just appears so, because it stands on a higher plateau! It was during Khafre's reign that the Great Sphinx was built, standing guard over the awe-inspiring pyramids at Giza. Ancient Egyptians knew it as "Shesib Ankh" or "The Living Image", and it was sculpted out of sandstone.
Pyramid of Menkaure
And, finally, we come to the smallest of the main pyramids at Giza - that of Pharaoh Menkaure, who was Khafre's son. Unlike the other two pyramids, it isn't encased solely in white limestone, but has its first 15 metres encased in pink granite.
Who Built The Pyramids?
Were these wonderful tombs built from slave labor? Apparently not. It's now believed they were constructed over a period of some 80 years by 20,000 to 30,000 Egyptian workers.
Huge limestone blocks would have been floated down the River Nile from the quarries to Giza. Here, numerous laborers would set to work on them. Of course, manual laborers were not the only workers necessary. You'd also find architects, and even priests and astronomers, who would advise on the most suitable sites for the pyramids.
Visiting Egypt
Magical Egypt offers rich culture and history, interesting people, and a remarkable number of beautiful places to visit. However, most visitors - especially first-time visitors - are keen to see the Great Pyramids.
If this applies to you, do check that the holiday of your choice either includes a trip to Giza, or is actually based in or near to Cairo. Many travellers pick Egyptians holidays based in Luxor or Aswan, thinking the Great Pyramids of Giza are nearby. This is not the case, for Cairo/Giza is a good 500 kilometres away from Luxor, and nearly 700 kilometres from Aswan. Enjoy your trip to Egypt, and exploring the Egyptian pyramids!
Mai Sirry is creator of http://www.experience-ancient-egypt.com/ where you'll find plenty of interesting information about Egyptian pyramids.
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