Facts about Egyptian Pyramids

This article will enlighten you with some of the most interesting facts about Egyptian pyramids. Brace yourselves to know all about them.

One of the most amazing creations, which took place at the hands of man, is undoubtedly the Egyptian pyramids. These huge structures were actually the burial monuments for the country’s pharaohs. The Egyptians believed in afterlife. They believed that the dead pharaoh continued to live even after his death, as Osiris, the king of the dead. Some part of his spirit, according to the people, remained in the corpse.

So, in order to take proper care of the soul, the dead body was provided with food and shelter. The body was mummified for its preservation, and in the grave, there would be all those things, which the dead pharaoh would require to fulfill his duties as the king of the dead.

Now, the shelter that was provided to the dead king were tombs, which were carved into bedrock. This structure was topped with a flat-roof structure. So, what would have happened is, with time, dust would get accumulated mounting the grave. So, it is possible that the shape of these mounds could have given rise to the pyramid shape of tombs that came into existence. Here are some more facts about Egyptian pyramids.

Interesting Facts

• These structures were not built by slaves or people hailing from other lands. They were made by the people of ancient Egypt.
• Archaeologists were able to excavate bakeries near these tombs. These bakeries may have supplied about thousands of bread loaves every week.
• Other than bakeries, excavations reveal that the civilization in Egypt also had butchers, granaries, cemeteries, and even health-care facilities.
• In the construction at Giza, it has been found that the number of workers were 20,000 to 30,000 in number.
• As of the year 2010, it is said that 138 of these monuments were discovered in Egypt.
• The Djoser’s Step at Saqqara is known to be the first of all these monuments ever built.
• The Great Pyramid of Giza is honored to be one of the seven wonders of the world. It is also known as the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops.
• It is believed to have been made of over 100,000 giant stones, ranging from 1 to 20 tons in weight.
• Strangely, the biggest of all these monuments is not situated in Egypt, but in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. It is known as Tlachihualtepetl. It has also been honored by the title of the largest monument by volume. The one at Giza is the largest one of its kind on the land.
• From around 2500 B.C till 1889, this monument was attributed to be the tallest structure in the world. However, with the Eiffel Tower coming into existence, it no more retained this position.
• The Red Pyramid is known to be the ‘True’ pyramid that was constructed in 2600 B.C.
• These memorials are associated with the pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. Reportedly, after his tomb was discovered by Egyptologist Howard Carter, he died due to an infected mosquito bite on his cheek. What was strange was that when the death mask of the pharaoh was lifted, there was a lesion in the same place on the cheek. Also, Carter’s dog howled and died at the same time, back home at England. Now, these could be the elements of mere coincidence, or what the media called it … The Pharaoh’s Curse.

Here is a table that gives you a synopsis of the significant Egyptian pyramids that were built under the rulers who reigned from the period of 2630 B.C to 2250 B.C.

This is where I would period my data on some of the most important and basic facts about Egyptian pyramids. What has been presented here can be attributed as the tip of an iceberg. There are several theories, which are buried under these gargantuan man-made structures. Although archaeologists have been able to shovel out most mysteries behind the creation of these monuments, they still have miles to uncover and unearth.