The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures located in Egypt. The following map represents known published pyramid locations in the public domain. (Please note, this map doesn’t include the Nubian pyramid complexes - Map of Nubian Pyramids - Click Here) At least 118 Egyptian pyramids have been identified.[1] Many pyramids are in a poor state of preservation or buried by desert sands. If visible at all, they may appear as little more than mounds of rubble.
Map of Egyptian Pyramids
Key Pyramid Locations in Egypt
All of Egypt's pyramids, except the small Third Dynasty pyramid at Zawyet el-Maiyitin, are sited on the west bank of the Nile, and most are grouped together in a number of pyramid fields.
Giza
The most famous Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built. The Giza pyramid complex (also called the Giza necropolis) in Egypt is home to the Great Pyramid, the pyramid of Khafre, and the pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx. All were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, between c. 2600 - c. 2500 BC. It forms the northernmost part of the 16,000 ha (160 km2; 62 sq mi) Pyramid Fields of the Memphis and its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1979.[1] The Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre are the largest pyramids built in ancient Egypt, and they have historically been common as emblems of Ancient Egypt in the Western imagination.[3] They were popularised in Hellenistic times, when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The GPS coordinates of the Giza Pyramids are exactly 29 ° 58'44 "North and 31 ° 08'02" East. Otherwise, for the curiosity, know that the pyramids of Giza are 2 131Kms and 100m from the Colosseum, 3,215Kms and 190m Eiffel Tower, 3,510Kms and 520m from the Tower of London, 4,568Kms from Taj Mahal, 7,570Kms and 440m from the forbidden city of Beijing, 9,042Kms and 710m from the statue of Liberty and finally they are at 9 869Kms and 140m from the Christ the Redeemer of Rio.
Read also: Giza Pyramids Travel Guide
The Giza Pyramids
Saqqara
The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. The earliest among these is the Pyramid of Djoser (constructed 2630 BC-2611 BC) which was built during the third dynasty. Major pyramids located here include the Pyramid of Djoser-generally identified as the world's oldest substantial monumental structure to be built of dressed stone-the Pyramid of Userkaf, the Pyramid of Teti and the Pyramid of Merikare, dating to the First Intermediate Period of Egypt. Also at Saqqara is the Pyramid of Unas, which retains a pyramid causeway that is one of the best-preserved in Egypt. Together with the pyramid of Userkaf, this pyramid was the subject of one of the earliest known restoration attempts, conducted by Khaemweset, a son of Ramesses II.
The plateau of Saqqara is about twenty kilometers south of Cairo, on the left bank. Saqqara is also the location of the incomplete step pyramid of Djoser's successor Sekhemkhet, known as the Buried Pyramid. South of the main pyramid field at Saqqara is a second collection of later, smaller pyramids, including those of Pepi I, Djedkare Isesi, Merenre, Pepi II and Ibi. The Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Shepseskaf either did not share an interest in or have the capacity to undertake pyramid construction like his predecessors.
The Pyramid of Djoser
Dahshur
The other necropolises are Dahshur, just south of Saqqara. The southern Pyramid of Sneferu, commonly known as the Bent Pyramid, is believed to be the first Egyptian pyramid intended by its builders to be a "true" smooth-sided pyramid from the outset; the earlier pyramid at Meidum had smooth sides in its finished state, but it was conceived and built as a step pyramid, before having its steps filled in and concealed beneath a smooth outer casing of dressed stone. As a true smooth-sided structure, the Bent Pyramid was only a partial success-albeit a unique, visually imposing one; it is also the only major Egyptian pyramid to retain a significant proportion of its original smooth outer limestone casing intact. Several kilometres to the north of the Bent Pyramid is the last-and most successful-of the three pyramids constructed during the reign of Sneferu; the Red Pyramid is the world's first successfully completed smooth-sided pyramid.
Read also: Unraveling Pyramid Mysteries
The Bent Pyramid
Abusir
The other necropolises are Abusir, just north. Abousir has received almost all the tombs of the pharaohs of the 5th dynasty. There are a total of fourteen pyramids at this site, which served as the main royal necropolis during the Fifth Dynasty. The quality of construction of the Abusir pyramids is inferior to those of the Fourth Dynasty-perhaps signaling a decrease in royal power or a less vibrant economy. The three major pyramids are those of Niuserre, which is also the best-preserved, Neferirkare Kakai and Sahure. The site is also home to the incomplete Pyramid of Neferefre. Most of the major pyramids at Abusir were built using similar construction techniques, comprising a rubble core surrounded by steps of mudbricks with a limestone outer casing.
Abu Rawash
Abu Rawash is the site of Egypt's most northerly pyramid (other than the ruins of Lepsius pyramid number one),[citation needed] the mostly ruined Pyramid of Djedefre, son and successor of Khufu. Its location adjacent to a major crossroads made it an easy source of stone. Quarrying, which began in Roman times, has left little apart from about fifteen courses of stone superimposed upon the natural hillock that formed part of the pyramid's core.
Other Notable Locations
About sixty kilometers south of Cairo is Meïdoum, another necropolis known mainly for its truncated pyramid. It's actually a pyramid that has been transformed, giving it that special air of a spilled pot. Zaouiet el-Aryan is three kilometers south of Giza, it is a small necropolis where we find the unfinished Pyramid of Khaba. During the Middle Kingdom the pharaohs had moved the capital, Memphis had fallen into disuse. They were instead buried in the necropolis of Litch and Hawara, close to the new capital. Hawara is a little further south than Meidoum, and especially more to the west. It is the only necropolis hosting pyramids that is so far from the Nile. Litch is a necropolis on the contrary close to the Nile, like the others. It is located 25Kms south of Cairo, in the city of Giza, which is in the suburbs of Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and 8Kms from the Nile.
Orientation and Symbolism
They are all on the left bank of the Nile, towards the West. It is not by chance, it is just that in the conception of spirituality during ancient Egypt, the West is associated with the world of the dead and the East with that of the living. So the necropolises were in the west, the cities in the east. The shape of Egyptian pyramids is thought to represent the primordial mound from which the Egyptians believed the earth was created. The shape of a pyramid is also thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, and most pyramids were faced with polished, highly reflective white limestone, in order to give them a brilliant appearance when viewed from a distance.
Read also: Going Inside Egyptian Pyramids
Chronology of Pyramid Construction
The following table lays out the chronology of the construction of most of the major pyramids mentioned here.
| Pharaoh | Pyramid Location | Approximate Construction Date |
|---|---|---|
| Djoser | Saqqara | c. 2630-2611 BC |
| Sneferu | Meidum, Dahshur (Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid) | c. 2613-2589 BC |
| Khufu | Giza | c. 2580-2560 BC |
| Khafre | Giza | c. 2570 BC |
| Menkaure | Giza | c. 2530 BC |
| Userkaf | Saqqara | c. 2494-2487 BC |
| Niuserre | Abusir | c. 2445-2421 BC |
| Amenemhat I | Lisht | c. 1980 BC |
Constructing the pyramids involved moving huge quantities of stone. In 2013, papyri, named Diary of Merer, were discovered at an ancient Egyptian harbor at the Red Sea coast. It is possible that quarried blocks were then transported to the construction site by wooden sleds, with sand in front of the sled wetted to reduce friction. Workers cut the stones close to the construction site, as indicated by the numerous finds of cutting tools.
Drawing showing transportation of a colossus
The pyramids of Giza and others are thought to have been constructed to house the remains of the deceased pharaohs who ruled Ancient Egypt.[7] A portion of the pharaoh's spirit called his ka was believed to remain with his corpse. Proper care of the remains was necessary in order for the "former Pharaoh to perform his new duties as king of the dead". It is theorized the pyramid not only served as a tomb for the pharaoh, but also as a storage pit for various items he would need in the afterlife.
The work of quarrying, moving, setting, and sculpting the huge amount of stone used to build the pyramids might have been accomplished by several thousand skilled workers, unskilled laborers and supporting workers. Bakers, carpenters, water carriers, and others were also needed for the project. Along with the methods used to construct the pyramids, there is also wide speculation regarding the exact number of workers needed for a building project of this magnitude.
The Giza pyramid complex is surrounded by a large stone wall, outside which Mark Lehner and his team discovered a town where the pyramid workers were housed. The village is located to the southeast of the Khafre and Menkaure complexes. The workers' town appears to date from the middle 4th Dynasty (2520-2472 BC), after the accepted time of Khufu and completion of the Great Pyramid.
In 1990, tombs belonging to the pyramid workers were discovered alongside the pyramids, with an additional burial site found nearby in 2009. Although not mummified, they had been buried in mudbrick tombs with beer and bread to support them in the afterlife. The tombs' proximity to the pyramids and the manner of burial supports the theory that they were paid laborers who took pride in their work and were not slaves, as was previously thought. Evidence from the tombs indicates that a workforce of 10,000 laborers working in three-month shifts took around 30 years to build a pyramid.
The ancient city of Memphis was on the other side of the Nile, it was an important city at the exit of the Nile Delta, a bit like Cairo days. It was a city richly watered by the waters of the river, with a large population. At that time (we are around 2,500 BC), we were at the fourth of the 30 dynasties that make up the history of ancient Egypt, that is, at the very beginning of the reunification of northern Egypt. and South, which marks the beginning of the old Empire.
There are two Pyramids of Giza entrances; one near the Great Sphinx, and one near the Great Pyramid of Khufu. While the wait time at the Great Pyramid entrance is longer, around 40 to 50 minutes, it is a downhill climb to the archaeological site from this entrance. The Main Entrance is ideal as it’s close to the Visitor Center, ticket counters, and most facilities.
Visitors on wheelchairs cannot explore the interiors of the Pyramids of Giza as there are narrow passageways and uneven surfaces. However, wheelchair users can slide right up to the entrance of each of the Pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza to explore the architecture from up close.
How Were the Pyramids Actually Built?
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