- The word “pyramid” comes from the Greek term “pyramis,” which refers to a bread of a conical shape. The term was used to describe the structures because they reminded the Greeks of pointy-tipped wheat cakes.
- The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids, built as tombs for pharaohs and their consorts. There are about 138 Egyptian pyramids identified to date.
- The Great Pyramid of Giza, built for the Pharaoh Khufu, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is the only one to remain mostly intact.
- The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in England in the 14th century.
- The Egyptian pyramids were originally covered with polished limestone, known as casing stones, to reflect the sun’s light and make them shine brightly.
- The building of the pyramids was an enormous engineering project. The Great Pyramid of Giza consists of about 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 to 15 tons.
- The pyramids were not built by slaves. The builders were paid laborers, a fact highlighted by discovered papyri, which are ancient records of workers.
- Pyramids were also built by other civilizations. The Mesoamerican pyramids, for example, were built by the Aztecs and Mayans in Central and South America.
- The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan in Mexico is one of the largest pyramids in the world. Its base is as large as that of the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
- The base of a pyramid is a polygon, and the sides are triangles that meet at one point called the apex.
- The accuracy of the pyramid’s workmanship is so precise that the four sides of the base have an average error of only 58 millimeters in length.
- Pyramids weren’t only built as tombs. In Sudan, for instance, they were used as commemorative monuments.
- The pyramid shape is thought to have been chosen by the ancient Egyptians because it represented the descending rays of the sun.
- The Bent Pyramid in Egypt is unique because it changes the angle of incline part way up, giving it a “bent” appearance. This suggests that the Egyptians were still experimenting with pyramid construction techniques.
- The Great Pyramid was sealed with a huge swivel door at its entrance, so well balanced that it could be opened from the inside but appeared seamless from the outside.
- There is a translucent pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum in Paris. It was completed in 1989 and has become a landmark of the city.
- Pyramids can be found in many parts of the world, including China, India, and parts of Europe.
- The Step Pyramid at Saqqara in Egypt is the oldest pyramid in the world, built around 4,600 years ago.
- The Nubian pyramids in Sudan are recognized by their steep slopes and small size. There are roughly twice as many of them as there are Egyptian pyramids.
- The pyramids of Egypt were built on the west bank of the River Nile, which was seen as the realm of the dead by the ancient Egyptians.
Facebook Comments
