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| The Built of Egyptian Pyramids |
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The built of Egyptian pyramids has remained a
mystery for several thousand years.
Throughout history there have been a number of
theories offered to explain the mystery, but no
one seems to have devised a concept that has
been completely accepted. While the question of
how were the pyramids built remains unanswered,
there is no doubt to the complex beauty of the
ancient Egypt pyramids. |
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From the scorching heat of the
Egyptian desert rises up the first of the
ancient Egypt pyramids to be constructed, the
step pyramids. So named because of their
step like exterior, these pyramids are believed
to have been constructed during the Third
Dynasty. It is probable that the first step
pyramid was intended to be an improvement of the
mastabas that were originally designed to
be burial tombs for the royalty. The built of
Egyptian pyramids during this time appears to
have been constructed by stacking box like
structures on top of one another in graduating
sizes, large to small; with the smallest resting
at the top. The first step pyramid is believed
to have been constructed under the reign of
King Djoser. |
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Lying across the same complex of the Djoser
pyramid is what appears to be an unfinished step
pyramid. This later construction was not
discovered until 1952 and is believed to have
been begun by Djoser's architect, Imhothep. The
built of Egyptian pyramids continued throughout
the Third Dynasty, prior to the erection of what
is commonly believed to be the last step
pyramid, by King Snefru. |
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King Snerfu quickly moved on from the
step pyramid to his next attempt, the Bent
pyramid located at Dashur. The pyramid takes
its name from the reduced angle of the top of
the structure, giving it a bent appearance. This
pyramid apparently failed to meet the
expectations of the pharaoh and his architecture
team.
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The final pyramid believed to have been
constructed by King Snerfu was a rousing
success. The Red pyramid, also referred
to as the North pyramid, is considered to be the
first structure to take on the true pyramid
shape.
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The work of Snerfu's pyramids seems to have
inspired his son, Khufu, a great deal.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest
ever built of Egyptian pyramids. Standing at an
impressive height of 146 meters, the Great
Pyramid resides alongside several smaller
pyramids that were intended for the king's wives
and mother as well as a cult pyramid. The
built of Egyptian pyramids usually contains
a number of passageways and chambers as well as
boat pits for the vessels that would carry the
dead to Osiris. Like all ancient Egyptian
pyramids, the Great Pyramid is no different. |
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| Throughout the late Fifth Dynasty, the built of
Egyptian pyramids continued, although none were ever
able to rival the marvel of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
These ancient Egypt pyramids have made a significant
contribution to understanding the history and culture of
the Egyptian nation. The inside of the Egyptian
pyramids, particularly, have proven to quite
valuable in appreciating how the ancient Egyptians lived
and their thoughts on the afterlife. |
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