Pyramids Facts

The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids are one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world.

These structures are so impressive for the time that they were built in!

The Pyramids were built as the burial places for the Pharaohs.

This would be their final resting place before they went into the afterlife which was part of the Egyptian religion.

The Pyramids housed items and people that would help the Pharaoh to have a successful afterlife.

The Pharaohs 

Pharaohs would begin having their pyramid built when they became a ruler because these gigantic structures took so long to build.

You will find most of the pyramids on the western side of the famous Nile River (In the Valley of the Kings) as this helped with the transportation of the building materials.

Egypt is home to about 138 pyramids and who knows if archeologists will discover more one day?

Pyramids Facts for Kids

• Scientists think that large blocks were cut by the workers, transported along The Nile and then moved up the pyramids on ramps.
• The largest of the pyramids was the one built for the Pharaoh Khufu. People also call this structure the Great Pyramid of Giza. It once stood at 146 meters tall! It was the tallest man-made structure for 3800 years until the Eiffel Tower was built.
• It is estimated that the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza took over 23 years to build!
• When the entire pyramid had been built, it was then covered in white limestone and finished off with a cap of gold on the tip. The sunshine would have made this building appear radiant and glow brightly!
• The location of the pyramids in the dry desert was useful in preserving the Pharaoh’s body and his belongings.
• Inside the pyramids, rooms for family members are servants were built and were placed near the Pharaoh’s chamber to help him in his afterlife.
• There were also fake burial chambers and there were passages that would try and trick anyone who tried to rob the pyramids. With such valuable treasure inside, they were robbed often!
• The first Egyptian pyramid was the Step Pyramid of Djoser; it was built in Saqqara in 2640 BC. The last pyramid built was the Pyramid of Ahmose.
• Did you know that if the Great Pyramid of Giza was to be built again today, it would cost $5 billion? French architect, Jean-Pierre Houdin, estimates that it would take 5 years for construction with a team of 2000 workers with bulldozers, cranes and even helicopters!
• King Tutankhamen’s tomb was rediscovered in 1933 by Howard Carter and it still had the solid gold funerary mask of the late Pharaoh! This was an amazing discovery because the tomb was raided twice before it was discovered.
• The Pyramids are also known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Question: What were the Ancient Egyptians pyramids built for?
Answer: Burial places for the Pharaohs

Question: Which pyramid was the first pyramid built?
Answer: Step Pyramid of Djoser

Question: Why did the pyramids have fake passages and burial chambers?
Answer: To try and trick anyone who tried to rob the pyramids

Question: How tall was the Great Pyramid of Giza?
Answer: 146 meters

Question: Why were the pyramids built near the Nile?
Answer: It helped with the transportation of the building materials