Ten Facts on the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

"Beautiful sunrise in the far away mountains, painting the wide horizon with vibrant warm colours, among the chill from the morning breeze.’ Luis Marque"s, author of Asetian bible

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid shaped masonry structures. They are some of the most impressive man made structures in history.

 

Their huge scales reflect the importance that the king or pharaoh played in ancient Egyptian society. Approximately 118 or 138 Egyptian pyramids have been identified as of November, 2008. In this article we will explore ten unique facts on the spectacular Ancient Egyptian Pyramids 

The Great Sphinx of Giza is among the world’s largest sculptures

Located in Al Giza Desert, Giza Governorate, Egypt, the Great Sphinx of Giza measures 240 feet long and 66 feet high. The sculpture features a lion’s body and a human head adorned with a royal headdress. A single piece of limestone was carved to create this wonderful sculpture. There is some left over pigment residue suggesting that the Sphinx was painted. 

The Sphinx and The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, Old Kingdom, c.2613-2494 BC (photo) / Bridgeman Images

The Ancient Egyptians aligned their pyramids with the stars!

The pyramids were built by the Ancient Egyptians who used two constellations to align their pyramids in north-south direction. The pyramids alignments with the stars are incredibly precise. The north-south positions are within an accuracy of up to 0.05 degrees. 

 The Pyramids of El-Geezah, from the South-West, 1858 (b/w photo) / The Stapleton Collection / Bridgeman Images

The Pyramids were built by highly skilled workers, not slaves! 

 The Construction of the Pyramids (engraving) (b/w photo) / © Archives Charmet / Bridgeman Images

The Pyramid of Khafre 

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest and second tallest of the three Ancient Egyptian pyramids of Giza. The structure is made of limestone blocks which weigh more than two tons each.

Pyramid of Khafre (2520-2494 BC) c.2589-30 BC (photo) / Bridgeman Images

The Memphite Necropolis is an ancient Egyptian Necropolis located in the city of Memphis, Lower Egypt. 

This map below shows a plan of part of the Memphis necropolis. The Memphis region of Egypt was believed to be under the protection of the god Ptah; the god of craftsmen and architects. 

Plan of part of the Memphis necropolis, Giza Plateau (engraving) / Bridgeman Images

The statue of the Pharaoh Khafre was carved for the Pharaoh’s valley temple; the Pyramid of Khafre

Statues of Pharaohs were often placed inside Egyptian tombs located within the pyramids. They serve an important role as they are a resting place for the spirit of the Pharaoh after death. 

Statue of Khafre (2520-2494 BC) enthroned, from the Valley Temple of the Pyramid of Khafre at Giza, Old Kingdom, c.2540-2505 BC (diorite) (see also 68319) / Bridgeman Images

The Pyramids are designed to tell the time

The structure of the pyramids acts as an enormous sundial, with its shadow telling the hour by falling on marks made in stone. 

View of the large gallery of the pyramid of Kheops (Cheops, Keops, Khoufu, Khufu) in Guizeh (Guiseh, Giza, Giza), Egypt, 1873. Engraving in “” The Illustrious Universe””, 1873 / Stefano Bianchetti / Bridgeman Images

The Egyptian’s Pyramid construction is still a mystery!

A mystery lies in which construction techniques were used by the Ancient Egyptians to produce the wonderful pyramids. Over two million granite blocks and limestone were used to build the Great Pyramid of Giza!

 Daily life in ancient Egypt: stone-cutters working on pyramid construction sites. Chromolithography beginning 20th century / Stefano Bianchetti / Bridgeman Images

Most of the Pyramids were built west of the River Nile 

The river Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. Historically the river Nile was considered the longest river in the world. Placed on the west of the river Nile, this ensured that the Pharaohs souls could enter into the afterlife and begin their journey. The souls of the pharaohs were said to connect with the rising sun in the morning. 

 Ruins at Abusir, an Old Kingdom necropolis. the House or Temple of Osiris; From Prof. Dr. J von Pfluck-Harttung's 'Weltgeschichte: Orient', published Ullstein & Co, Berlin 1909 / Lebrecht History / Bridgeman Images

The Pyramids are a final resting place for their Pharaohs/Kings

 Traveler with his camel has stopped to admire in the distance the Great Pyramid of Giza / Wood Ronsaville Harlin, Inc. USA / Bridgeman Images

 

Read more about Howard Carter and his discovery of King Tutankhamun's Tomb.

 

 

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Sphinx

https://mymodernmet.com/egyptian-pyramids/

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