Egypt’s Pyramids are the oldest stone buildings in the world. They were built
almost 500 years ago. They are very big. These pyramids were built by men. They
used simple tools and did not have the machines we have today.
More than 80 pyramids are still standing today. These pyramids had secret
passageways and hidden rooms. They also had ramps and bridges. They had
hidden entrances and false doors. What fun it would be to explore one.
The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. The pharaohs wanted
their bodies to last forever. The pyramids were built to protect the bodies of the
pharaohs. Inside each pyramid was the preserved body of the pharaoh. In the
pyramid were also things that he might need in the next life.
In the past the pyramids showed how powerful the pharaoh was. Today,
they remind us of how resourceful and creative these people were.
Earliest Times:
The dead people were buried under a pile of rocks. The bodies were wrapped in
goatskin or reed mats. The dead person’s things were buried around him.
Around 3000 B.C.:
They began to make tombs called Mastabas. Mastabas were made with sunbaked
mud bricks. They would draw things on the walls. These drawings they call reliefs.
Around 2700 B.C.:
They made tombs called the Step Pyramid. It started as a Mastaba tomb, but they
added more layers. In the end the pyramid had 6 steps. The King Djoser was
buried under this pyramid.
Around 2500 B.C.:
The Great Pyramid at Giza was built. It is the largest of the three pyramids that are
in Giza. It is one of the largest man-made buildings in the world. The Pharaoh
Khufu was buried in it.
Around 1500 B.C.:
Later pharaohs were buried in “The Valley of the Kings.” These pharaohs knew
that the tombs were being robbed so they wanted their tombs to be isolated, or
far from the people. So they built their tombs in faraway cliffs near a place called
Thebes. There are 62 tombs that were found there. Even these tombs were
robbed.
Egypt:
It is a long and thin. It is in northeastern Africa.
How it was protected:
Egypt was protected by nature. On the east and west there were deserts. On the
north there were Delta marshes. On the south there were rapids, or fast flowing
water on the Nile. So, Egypt was isolated and in peace.
What they made pyramids from:
The Egyptians had everything they needed to make the pyramids. They mostly
used two kinds of rocks, limestone and granite. First, they would take these
stones from quarries. Then, they would put the rocks on a boat made from wood.
Finally, they would take them to where they were building the pyramid.
The Nile River:
It is the longest river in the world. The people got water from the Nile River. The
land around it was good for farming. The Nile River would flood. Nobody could
farm when the Nile flooded. When there was a flood the farmers used that time
to work for the pharaoh. They believed that a pharaoh who was buried in a special
way would give blessings to his people. So, they were happy to work.
Building a Pyramid was hard and dangerous work. The many people that
made the pyramid were organized and hard working. The Egyptians were very
ingenious to make these pyramids. Experts don’t know exactly how they made
these pyramids, but they have an idea of how they were made.
How did they choose where to make the pyramid?
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It had to be on the west side of the Nile.
It had to be close to the Nile so they can bring the rocks.
It had to be above the level of the river so it wouldn’t get damaged.
Each side had to face in one of the cardinal points (North, South, West, East).
It needed to be close the pharaoh’s palace.
How did they do it?
Tools they used: Chisels, mallet, saw, and drill. The tools were made of steel. They
also used wooden wedges and levers.
They used man power instead of animals. They felt animals were too valuable and
did not use them in building the pyramids.
The steps they took to make the pyramid:
1. The blocks were taken off the boat.
2. Then they were moved on sledges and wooded rollers by groups of men.
They poured water or milk to help the sledge slide.
3. They used ramps to bring the blocks to the place they needed it.
The main purpose of the pyramid was to protect the pharaoh’s body. They built
many things in the pyramid to make sure the pharaoh was safe.
The inside of the Great Pyramid of Egypt is shown.
The Kings Chamber: This is where they buried the king. Then they closed this area
with stone blocks.
Relieving Chambers: These chambers were built to stop the weight of the pyramid
from crushing the mummy.
Air Shafts: Air Shafts let the people breath while they were burying the king.
The Grand Gallery: The main open area. It was closed off after the king was
buried.
The Escape Shaft: It was the way to get out after burying the pharaoh.
The Queens Chamber: They called it this because they thought the queen was
buried there.
An underground finished chamber: It was an empty space. Maybe the pharaoh
was going to be buried there but he changed his mind.
The Egyptians believed in a life after death. They wanted to preserve their dead
for the next life. Then they built the pyramid to protect the body.
They would mummify the body. This could take 70 days.
1st the body was dried out for 40 days with natron (It is like salt).
2nd The body is treated with molted resin and oils.
3rd The body was wrapped in bandages. This would take two weeks. And they used
a lot of linen.
They took out the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines and put them in jars. They
threw away the brain.
They even made mummies of animals.
From mummies we can learn many things about how these people lived in the
past.
Pharaoh Tutankhamen became a king when he was 9 and he died when he was 19.
He was buried in the Valley of the Kings. His grave was almost untouched by
robbers. In 1922 an archeologist named Howard Carter found the entrance.
There were many things inside, such as: vases, chariots, statues, jewelry, ostrich
feather fans.
Four coffins protected the mummy, and one was made from gold.
The treasures from the tombs are in museums around the world.
Pyramids were built in Egypt for one thousand years. There are also pyramids in
other places.
Most pyramids have:
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Rectangular bases.
They are made of stone and bricks.
Most have four sides that meet at a point.
A large size.
The Castillo:
It is in Chichen Itza Mexico:
It was built between 900 and 1200 A.D.
The Pyramid at the Louvre:
It is in Paris, France. It is made from glass.
It is the entrance to a museum.
The Great American Pyramid:
It is in America in Memphis, Tennessee. It was made to show how great American
Music is.