The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around which the stars appear to revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens. One of the narrow shafts that extends from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the Great Pyramid points directly towards the center of this part of the sky. This suggests the pyramid may have been designed to serve as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh's soul directly into the abode of the gods.
One of the earliest we know is the pyramid of Djoser found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. It was constructed around 2630-2611 BCE. This pyramid and its surrounding complex were designed by the architect Imhotep, and are generally considered to be the world's oldest monumental structures constructed of dressed masonry. The most famous Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built. The pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid found and it is one of the seven world wonders.
Long after the end of Egypt's own pyramid-building period, a burst of pyramid-building occurred in what is present-day Sudan, after much of Egypt came under the rule of the Kings of Napata. While Napatan rule was brief and ceased in 661 BC, the Egyptian influence made an indelible impression, and during the later Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe (approximately in the period between 300 BC–300 AD) this flowered into a full-blown pyramid-building revival, which saw more than two hundred indigenous, but Egyptian-inspired royal pyramid-tombs constructed in the vicinity of the kingdom's capital cities. Al-Aziz Uthman, son of the great Saladin who crushed the Crusaders, tried to demolish the Great pyramids of Giza, but had to give up because the task was too big. However, he did succeed in damaging Menkaure's pyramid.
Many pyramids are in a poor state of preservation or buried by desert sands. If visible at all they may appear as little more than mounds of rubble. As a consequence archaeologists are continuing to identify and study previously unknown pyramid structures. The most recent pyramid to be discovered is that of Queen Sesheshet, mother of 6th Dynasty Pharaoh Teti, located at Saqqara. The discovery was announced by Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, on 11 November 2008. All of Egypt's pyramids, except the small Third Dynasty pyramid of Zawyet el-Amwat (or Zawyet el-Mayitin), are sited on the west bank of the Nile, and most are grouped together in a number of pyramid fields.
The following table lays out the chronology of the construction of most of the major pyramids. Each pyramid is identified through the pharaoh who ordered it to be built, their approximate reign and its location.
Pyramid / Pharaoh
|
Reign
|
Field
|
Djoser
|
c. 2630–2612
BC
|
Saqqara
|
Sneferu
|
c. 2612–2589
BC
|
Dashur
|
Sneferu
|
c. 2612–2589
BC
|
Dashur
|
Sneferu
|
c. 2612–2589
BC
|
Meidum
|
Khufu
|
c. 2589–2566
BC
|
Giza
|
Djedefre
|
c. 2566–2558
BC
|
Abu Rawash
|
Khafre
|
c. 2558–2532
BC
|
Giza
|
Menkaure
|
c. 2532–2504
BC
|
Giza
|
Sahure
|
c. 2487–2477
BC
|
Abu Sir
|
Neferirkare Kakai
|
c. 2477–2467
BC
|
Abu Sir
|
Nyuserre Ini
|
c. 2416–2392
BC
|
Abu Sir
|
Amenemhat I
|
c. 1991–1962
BC
|
Lisht
|
Senusret I
|
c. 1971–1926
BC
|
Lisht
|
Senusret II
|
c. 1897–1878
BC
|
el-Lahun
|
Amenemhat III
|
c. 1860–1814
BC
|
Hawara
|
Map of Egyptian Pyramids
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