Ancient Egyptians - Pyramid Development
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All about Ancient Egyptians

Egyptian Pyramids and Tombs

Pyramid Development
Learn how and why the ancient Egyptians developed pyramids. Were the ancient Egyptian pyramids constructed by accident or design? Discover interesting facts about the history and development of the ancient Egyptian pyramids via the pyramid development fact sheet.

Pyramid Development: Definition of Pyramids
Definition: Pyramids can be defined as massive memorials with a square base and four triangular sides that were built as royal tombs in ancient Egypt.

Important Stages in Pyramid Development
The monumental structures referred to as pyramids evolved over a period of time and were influenced by changing religious beliefs, funerary rituals, advances in building techniques and the availability of building materials and labor. All of these factors had necessary and significant effects on the development of pyramids in ancient Egypt. The following chart provides the critical and important stages that answer how and why the ancient Egyptians developed pyramids.

Stages in Pyramid Development

The Pit Graves

The Mastaba and the burial chamber

Addition of small chapels (temples) for ceremonies and offerings

The architect Imhotep who added tiers to the mastaba tomb design

The 'Layer Pyramid' of Khaba - leaning layers of stone used for construction

The 'Bent Pyramid' of Snefru, first attempt to construct a smooth-sided pyramid, angle was too steep

The Great Pyramid of Giza, aka the Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops, took about 20 years to complete

Menkaure built the the smallest of the three Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramid of Ahmose at Abydos was a cenotaph, not a tomb, and the last Royal Pyramid built in ancient Egypt

All of the Giza Pyramids

Pyramid Development
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about pyramids for kids with some amazing, cool and quick information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians. Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun Pyramid Development for kids and the history, culture and civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Egypt. Interesting, fun Pyramid Development for research, schools, students and kids of all ages.

Pyramid Development
Learn about the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and the tombs of the pharaohs, the fast and easy way via the pyramids Fact sheet.

Ancient Egypt - Pyramid Development Fact Sheet

Fact 1 Pyramid Development: Pit Graves were covered with mounds of stones. wealthy Egyptians required more substantial monuments.

Fact 3 Pyramid Development: The ancient Egyptians developed Mud bricks from at least the 1st Dynasty and the pit graves were replaced by a more impressive type of tomb, called a mastaba.

Traditional mastaba tomb

Fact 5 Pyramid Development: The mastaba tombs were vulnerable to tomb robbers and underground burial chambers were built for additional security.

Fact 6 Pyramid Development: The royal mastaba substantially increased in size were surrounded by many rooms, passages and a chapel (a small temple).

Massive underground mastaba tomb

Fact 7 Pyramid Development: The great ancient Egyptian architect Imhotep was tasked with building a tomb for King Djoser. It began as a flat-roofed mastaba, but instead of using mud bricks that would deteriorate, it was made of stone that would last for ever. 

Fact 8 Pyramid Development: Additional tiers or 'steps' to the original mastaba tomb design. Six tiers, decreasing in size, were added making the famous pyramid shape called the 'Step Pyramid'.

Fact 9 Pyramid Development: The 'Step Pyramid' was the first pyramid constructed in ancient Egypt and the prototype of all pyramids.

King Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara

Fact 10 Pyramid Development: The huge amount of stone required to build these massive structures were obtained from the Ancient Egyptian Stone Quarries.

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Ancient Egypt - Pyramid Development Fact Sheet

Pyramid Development
Learn about the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and the tombs of the pharaohs, the fast and easy way via the pyramids Fact sheet.

Ancient Egypt - Pyramid Development Fact Sheet

Fact 21 Pyramid Development: The 'Step Pyramid' was the first pyramid constructed in ancient Egypt by design rather than accident and is recognized as the first monumental stone structure ever built. It was the prototype of all future pyramids and built for King Djoser.

Fact 22 Pyramid Development: The step design evolved into the 'Layer Pyramid' using thick, leaning layers of stone that were laid against a core, with sloping courses.

Fact 23 Pyramid Development: The 'Meidum Pyramid' was the First True Pyramid because it was covered with one uniform slope of masonry with a smooth sided finish.

Meidum Step Pyramid

Fact 24 Pyramid Development: The 'Bent Pyramid' of Snefru was the first attempt to construct a smooth-sided pyramid but the slope was too steep and the ancient Egyptian architects changed the angle of the monument halfway through its construction resulting in the 'bent' shape. The 'Bent Pyramid' funerary complex was the first to feature a 'Valley Temple'.

Fact 25 Pyramid Development: Snefru then constructed the Red Pyramid which was the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Fact 26 Pyramid Development: The Snefru's son Khufu aka Cheops, built the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Fact 27 Pyramid Development: King Khafre aka Chephren built the second pyramid on the Giza plateau and King Menkaure built the smallest of the three Pyramids of Giza, Menkaure's Pyramid.

Fact 28 Pyramid Development: Many other royal pyramids were built in ancient Egypt but were not as magnificent as those built at Giza in the 4th Dynasty - The Age of the Pyramids.

Fact 29 Pyramid Development: The Pyramid of Ahmose was the last Royal Pyramid in ancient Egypt and signalled the end of the development of the great pyramid.

Fact 30 Pyramid Development: The pyramid shape was, however, used as grave markers by ordinary, non-royal but wealthy Egyptians, who erected pyramid-shaped monuments as memorials.

Ancient Egypt - Pyramid Development Fact Sheet

Facts about Pyramids
Learning about the ancient Egyptians and pyramids inspires everyone to visit historical sites and undertake Egypt Travel and Tours to experience the wonders of this magical land at first hand. Many people choose to experience a tour of Egypt on a Nile Cruise stopping at the famous destinations and sites of Egypt such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. The information and Pyramid Development will provide you with a great insight into Egypt and the legacy of the ancient Egyptians.

Pyramid Development