The Pyramids of Egypt

The remains of over 123 pyramids have so far been found in Egypt. Acting like giant billboards, they advertised to the world the might of the pharaohs. However, as the power of the kings declined, so also did the pyramid-building, with fewer and less well-constructed pyramids occurring after the end of the third millennium BC.

Building the Pyramids

Exterior design

The first, Djoser’s Step Pyramid, was built in the 27th century BC. Its six steps culminating in a flat top were thought to have acted symbolically as a staircase to heaven for the king’s spirit. Subsequent pyramids were smooth-sided.

The immense size of the pyramids combined with the blinding-white limestone that once covered them, would have astonished onlookers. Very little of the limestone facing remains; it was removed in the Roman period and ground into powder for mortar, and later during medieval times for the construction of mosques.

Interior design

Inside the sand-, stone- and rubble-filled pyramids, reinforced passageways led to one or several burial chambers where the pharaoh and perhaps also members of his family were buried.

False passages and chambers were sometimes constructed to mislead tomb robbers, who posed a problem even in the pharaohs’ day. The last workers left via an escape passage and both entrances were then carefully concealed.

Decoration

Inside the tombs, decoration could be sophisticated or crude, elaborate or even unfinished (if, for example, the pharaoh died prematurely), depending upon the power and prestige of the pharaoh and his kingdom.

Tomb paintings tell us a great deal about Ancient Egypt, its religion and rituals, culture and society, as well as the life of the pharaohs, the priests and the ordinary people.

Tomb treasures

Tombs were filled not just with precious treasures such as jewellery and gold funerary ornaments, but also with everyday objects that were thought to be useful to the pharaoh in the afterlife, including food, cosmetics, beds, incense, clothing, chariots and weapons. Tutankhamun’s tomb included his favourite toys and even underpants.

Models of servants (called shabtis) were also included in the tomb, sometimes several hundred at a time, that would come to life to perform all the   menial tasks for the pharaoh in the afterlife. Finally, the four canopic jars were placed in the burial chamber.

Building tools and techniques

In the absence of advanced tools and technology (the wheel, along with iron, was not introduced into Egypt until much later, and softer copper tools were used instead) the Ancient Egyptians relied on two things they did have: manpower and good organisational skills.

The vast blocks of stone were transported over land using sledges or wooden rollers pulled by teams of men, and sometimes animals too.

Water channels were used to check the land was level, ramps of sand were constructed to increase the height of the pyramid, and simple systems of levers were used to raise the blocks into place.