What are the Pyramids of Egypt?
Q: What are the Pyramids of Egypt?
A: The Pyramids of Egypt are among the largest structures ever built and are one of the most important examples of Ancient Egyptian civilisation. Most were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.
Q: What materials were used to build them?
A: The pyramid were mostly made of limestone. The top layers were casing blocks of especially good white limestone laid on top of the main blocks. Each casing block was then trimmed so that the outer surface of the pyramid would be smooth and white. Some capstones were covered with metal leaf.
Q: When did they start being built?
A: The ancient Egyptians started building pyramids as tombs for pharaohs and their queens from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom.
Q: What happened to some casing blocks from Giza?
A: The casing blocks from Giza's Great Pyramid were all removed in 14th and 15th centuries A.D., and used to build Cairo city. Some still remain on top next to Khufu's (belonging to Khafra).
Q: Who was buried in these pyramids?
A: Pharaohs, their queens, and nobles who wanted to be buried close by so they could stay close to him in afterlife, were all buried in pyramids ranging from small sizes up until large ones like Giza's Great Pyramid.
Q: How many small pyramids where built near Giza's Great Pyramid?
A: Three small pyramids where built on eastern side for Khufu's queens, plus a small satellite pyramid which may have been symbolic tomb for his ka (spirit).
