Facts about Ancient Egypt

Egypt boasts more than 80 ancient pyramids—the most famous, of course, are the three pyramids at Giza near modern-day Cairo. All are located on the west bank of the Nile River.

Pyramids were used as tombs for the ancient kings, or pharaohs, of ancient Egypt as well as their wives. Chambers within the pyramid contained items the king or queen would need in their afterlife.

The first of Egypt’s pyramids are referred to as step pyramids because of their stepped sides. It is believed that the dead king used the steps to climb into the heavens.

The first pyramid made from stone was built in c.2650 B.C. and was the tomb for King Djoser. It is located at Saqqara was designed by the great ancient architect Imhotep.

King Sneferu reigned as pharaoh from 2613 to 2589 B.C. and built four pyramids that are considered to be the first “true" pyramids because of their smooth sides.

The Great Pyramid at Giza was built by King Sneferu’s son King Khufu in c.2589 B.C. From base to peak it measured 481 feet tall each side of the base measures 756 feet long. It is comprised of 2,300,000 blocks of stone.

The average weight of a single block of stone from the Great Pyramid is about 2.5 tons. Not surprising, the Great Pyramid is the biggest of all the pyramids and is the only surviving ancient wonder of the world.

The Great Pyramid remained the tallest structure in the world until the completion of France’s Eiffel Tower in 1887. It is still, however, considered to be the world’s largest stone structure ever to be built.

Within the Great Pyramid are many hidden chambers and a maze of passages. The pharaoh was undoubtedly buried in the King’s Chamber with walls made of granite slabs, but grave robbers raided it long ago (it is believed that every known pyramid had been looted by 1000 B.C.)

The second most famous pyramid at Giza is King Khafra’s Pyramid. The great Sphinx is crouched before this pyramid and is thought to depict the face of the pharaoh himself.

The oldest known religious writings come from the inner walls of King Unas’s Pyramid displaying many hieroglyphs. They date from about 2340 B.C.

The only ancient account about the building of the pyramids came two thousand years after they were completed from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He claimed that 100,000 workers built the Great Pyramid over a period of twenty years.

Pyramid building declined in the fifth and sixth Egyptian dynasties—they were still built, but not as large or well as the early pyramids. Many of these have collapsed due to poor inner structures.

For more historical facts and more fun stuff, please check us out at Facts Jokes N Fun.Com!