archeologia: Egyptian pyramids

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures located in Egypt. Most were built as tombs for the pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. At least 138 identified pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Approximately 80 pyramids were built within the Kingdom of Kush, now located in the modern country of Sudan. The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are at Saqqara, west of Memphis. Step-pyramid-like structures, like Mastaba 3808 attributed to pharaoh Anedjib, may predate the Pyramid of Djoser built c. 2630-2610 BC during the Third Dynasty. This pyramid and its surrounding complex are generally considered to be the world's oldest monumental structures constru…

Evidence: 45 • authority: 72

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. The site also includes several temples, cemeteries, and the remains of a workers' village. The site is at the edge of the Western Desert, approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, and about 13 km (8.1 mi) southwest of the city centre of Cairo. It forms the northernmost part of the 16,000 ha (160 km2; 62 sq mi) Pyramid Fields of the Memphis a…

Evidence: 45 • authority: 72

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids and the most famous landmark of the Giza pyramid complex in Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. The Great Pyramid served as the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu ("Cheops"), who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. It was built c. 2600 BC over a period of about 26 years. Initially standing at 146.6 metres (481 feet), the Great Pyramid was the world's tallest human-made structure for more than 3,700 years. Over time, most of the smooth white limestone casing was removed, which lowered the pyramid's height to the current 138.5…

Evidence: 33 • authority: 72

The pyramid of Khafre or of Chephren (Arabic: هرم خفرع, romanized: Haram Khafraʿ) is the middle of the three Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, the second tallest and second largest of the group. It is the only pyramid out of the three that still has cladding at the top. It is the tomb of the Fourth-Dynasty Pharaoh Khafre (Chefren), who ruled c. 2558−2532 BC.

Evidence: 26 • authority: 88

Pyramids and their Purpose II. The Pyramid of Khufu (The Great Pyramid). As measurements play a certain art in this article it is as well, before dealing with the pyramid of Khufu, to consider the ancient Egyptian measures. Different values of the cubit or ell (referred to as E), are found in different sites, and in different structures of the same site and period ; but it seems quite certain that the Pyramid Age ell had a value between 20.58 and 20.6 in. In later times the variation is much wider. Opinions differ on the division of the ell, since there was also a ‘ short ell ’ of 6 palms or hands (referred to as H), whereas the normal ell was divided into 7 hands.

Evidence: 26 • authority: 72

The pyramid of Menkaure (Arabic: هرم منقرع, romanized: Haram Manqaraʿ or Arabic: هرم منكاورع, romanized: Haram Minkāwraʿ) is the smallest of the three main pyramids of the Giza pyramid complex, located on the Giza Plateau in the southwestern outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. It is thought to have been built to serve as the tomb of the Fourth Dynasty King Menkaure. With roughly one tenth of the volume of the pyramid of Khufu, it is a part of a Egyptian pyramid complex comprising a mortuary temple and a valley temple linked by a causeway, together with three subsidiary pyramids on its southern side. Numerous signs of unfinished work indicate that the king died while the monument was still under cons…

Evidence: 26 • authority: 72

The Red Pyramid, also called the North Pyramid, is the largest of the pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis in Cairo, Egypt. It is the third largest Egyptian pyramid, after those of Khufu and Khafre at Giza. It is believed to be Egypt's first successful attempt at constructing a "true" smooth-sided pyramid. The pyramid is named for the rusty reddish hue of its limestone, but it was not originally red – it was clad in white Tura limestone. During the Middle Ages, much of the cladding was taken for buildings in Cairo, exposing the red limestone. Only a few white blocks remain, at the pyramid's base. Local residents refer to the Red Pyramid as el-heram el-watwaat, meaning the Bat Pyramid.