The Most Notable Pyramids Of Egypt

The pyramids of Egypt are masonry structures built in the shape of a pyramid, and they are considered to be one of the greatest landmarks of the ancient world. These pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens with over 100 of these structures located across the country. The construction of these landmarks used a lot of slave labor. The slaves would move huge quantities of stones that were the building blocks for these structures.

The Major Pyramids in Egypt

Pyramid of Djoser

The oldest pyramid in Ancient Egypt is considered to be the Pyramid of Djoser, which was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser. This structure is located in the northwest city of Memphis, and it was constructed during the 27th century B.C. This Pyramid had an original height of 2013 feet and like most of the pyramids, it is built of limestone.

Pyramid of Khufu

The Pyramid of Khufu located at Giza is known as the Great Pyramid, and it is the only Pyramid listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the largest of the three main pyramids of Giza. The construction of this structure took between 10 to 20 years and was built as the tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. This pyramid is surrounded by many other significant structures including three smaller pyramids for Khufu’s wives, two mortuary temples, a small satellite pyramid and small mastaba tombs. The Pyramid of Khufu is considered to be the most famous Pyramid built by the Egyptians.

Pyramid of Khafre

Other than the Pyramid of Khufu, there are two other main pyramids in Giza. The largest of these two is the Pyramid of Khafre. This pyramid is the tomb of the pharaoh Khafre, and it is most known for having the Great Sphinx of Giza located outside of it.

Pyramid of Menkaure

The third main pyramid in Giza is the Pyramid of Menkaure, which was built as the tomb of the pharaoh Menkaure. This pyramid is the smallest of the three pyramids in Giza. That being said, it had an original height of 325 feet meaning that it was still a significantly large structure.

Pyramid of Djedefre

Outside of Giza, another famous Egyptian pyramid is the Pyramid of Djedefre. Although this pyramid is now mostly ruined, it was once one of the largest pyramids in Egypt. The Pyramid of Djedefre is located in Abu Rawash which makes it the most northerly located pyramid in Egypt. This landmark was built by Djedefre, who was the son and successor of Khufu.

Pyramids As Sources Of Tourist Attraction

The pyramids of Egypt are a major tourist attraction in the world as evident from the millions of people visiting Egypt every year. In 2010 alone, 14.7 million people visited Egypt. Although the revolution in the country has impacted tourism, there are still a large number of people visiting with almost 10 million people visiting in 2013. The most popular of the pyramids for tourism purposes are the pyramids that are located in Giza, which also includes the Great Sphinx of Giza. Tourism is a large source of income in Egypt, and the pyramids play a major role in this.