Pyramids at Abusir

Fact 1 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The 4th Dynasty of ancient Egyptian kings included Khufu aka Cheops who built the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The pyramid of Khafre and the pyramid of Menkaure were also built at the Giza Necropolis.
 

Fact 2 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The above picture shows the pyramids of Abusir and sight of the great pyramids of Giza in the distance. The location of the necropolis is 35 km (21 miles) south of Cairo. The Pyramid of Sahure is the largest of the pyramids and dominates the site.
 

Fact 3 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The Giza necropolis had become full and the the Sun Kings of the 5th Dynasty selected nearby Abusir as their burial ground. The new location was near to Giza and the capital of Egypt, Memphis.
 

Fact 4 on Pyramids at Abusir:

A total of fourteen pyramids were constructed at this site, which also served as the main royal necropolis during this period. Only four of the original monuments are still standing. The three major monuments are those of Niuserre (which is also the most intact), Neferirkare Kakai and King Sahure.
 

Fact 5 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The architecture of the Abusir pyramids were similar to the earlier Step Pyramids, and the pyramid complex consisted of a mortuary temple and a causeway (raised roadway) leading to a Valley Temple.
 

Fact 6 on Pyramids at Abusir:

There was a significant change in religion during the 5th dynasty.  The kings who had built the great monuments at Giza had come into conflict with the powerful priests of the sun god Ra. Greater emphasis was placed on building temples to the gods rather than monuments to the pharaohs.
 

Fact 7 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The pyramid monuments to the Sun Kings were much smaller and less expensive to build that the great pyramids of Giza, but they were still impressive. The temples, however, were beautifully decorated.
 

Fact 8 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The Pyramid of Sahure is just over 78 meters (255 feet) high, whereas the Great Pyramid soared to over 146 metres (480 feet).
 

Fact 9 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The pyramids were constructed stone sourced from a local limestone quarry and the Tura quarry. The complex had a highly elaborate drainage system with a network of underground copper pipes.
 

Fact 10 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The Internal chambers were accessed from the north side at a ground level  passageway lined with red-granite and protected from tomb robbers with a granite portcullis.
 

Fact 11 on Pyramids at Abusir:

The royal necropolis also contained various tombs of the elite and the Sun Temples of the 5th Dynasty Kings located just to the north at Abu Ghorab.

continued...