It is said “Human beings are afraid of time, but time is afraid of pyramid.” We must have heard that before.There are a variety of ancient mausoleums still exist in the world, and we can never forget one of the great mausoleums—pyramid. The history of Pharaonic Egypt spans nearly 3 millennia, starting around 3100 BC. Major accomplishments were achieved during 3 periods: the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms which lasted roughly 500 years (2700-2200 BC), 200 years (2000-1800 BC), and 500 years (1600-1100 BC). These periods were interrupted by intermediate periods where loss of central authority or foreign invasion led to decline.
There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Most of them were built as tombs for the Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle kingdom periods. According to the great size of many pyramids in Egypt, we can only surmise that the Pharaohs were making a statement about their own power and perhaps, about the glory and strength of their country. Soon after the first pyramid was built, the form became somewhat standardized. Royal pyramid complexes actually included the main pyramid, a courtyard surrounding the main pyramid, a much smaller cult pyramid for the king's soul, a mortuary temple situated next to the main pyramid, an enclosure wall and a causeway that led down to a valley temple. Some pyramid complexes included subsidiary, smaller pyramids for family members, and most were surrounded by some sort of tombs for family members. However, it should also be remembered that many of the latter pyramids were not nearly as large as the Great Pyramids at Giza.
The Great Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Khufu)
The best known Egyptian pyramids are those ones at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built.
The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World which is still in existence. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built about 2560 B.C.; it is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. The Great Pyramid of Giza also called Khufu's Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khufu, or Pyramid of Cheops because it is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for Forth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu.
There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher within the pyramid structure.
While pyramid construction had been solely for the reigning pharaoh prior to Khufu, his reign saw the construction of several minor pyramid structures that are believed to have been intended for other members of his royal household, amounting to a royal cemetery. Three small pyramids to the east of Khufu's pyramid are tentatively thought to belong to two of his wives, and the third has been ascribed to Khufu's mother Hetepheres I, whose funerary equipment was found relatively intact in a shaft tomb nearby.
Pyramid of Khufu and his royal household
There is a video about the inside of the Great Pyramid. It can make you learn more about the Great pyramid.
Some mysteries still remain, even in some of the best well known Pyramids. The most famous of them all, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, continues, year after year, to give up a few more secrets, and there doubtless remains much to learn from these Egyptian treasures. There maybe one or more pyramids yet to be discovered,just like golden mask, every thing may be covered and someday, people will unveil the mystery.
a picture of golden mask of Tut→
written by Jennifer
Works cited:
10 most fascinating tombs in the world. 2007/10/1 Neatoroma. 2008/ 12/28
A Brief History of Ancient Egyptian Tombs. Tomes of the Pharaohs. 2008/12/29
http://www.tombsofthepharaohs.com/intro.html
http://www.tombsofthepharaohs.com/intro.html
Egyptian pyramids. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2008/12/29
Great Pyramid of Giza. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2009/1/1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza
Into the Great Pyramid. 2007/4/15 Youtube. 2009/1/2
Giza - Esfinge - Sphinx. 2008/6/5 fliker . 2009/1/2
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