10 Interesting Facts About Egyptian Pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids are among the most fascinating monuments in the world. For thousands of years, they have stood as a symbol of mystery, power, and engineering genius. Here are some of the most interesting facts about Egyptian pyramids before you taking a trip to Egypt.

Fact 1: Pyramids Were Built as Gateways to the Afterlife

The ancient Egyptians' devout belief in God made them form a deep-rooted "afterlife concept". They even believed that "life is just a short stay, and it is permanent enjoyment after death".

Therefore, the Egyptians regarded the heavenly life as the continuation of earthly life. Influenced by this concept, the ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife sincerely when they lived. Pharaohs wantonly built tombs for themselves when they lived, setting off a wind of building pyramids in ancient Egypt. Therefore, the ancient kingdom of Egypt is also known as the Pyramid Age.

Fact 2: Every Pyramid Lies on the West Bank of the Nile

Travel Map of Egyptian Pyramids

All the ancient Epyptian pyramids were built on the West Bank of the Nile, which has something to do with the ancient Egyptians' view of life and death. The West Bank of the Nile is where the sun sets, representing the end of earthly life and the start of heavenly life.

Fact 3: The Pyramids of Giza Are Surprisingly Close to Cairo

In many tourist photos, the three pyramids of Giza are always located on the skyline of the desert, showing the mysterious style of ancient Egypt. So many people mistakenly believe that the three pyramids are in the middle of the desert, far away from the city. But in fact, they are right in front of Cairo's bustling urban area, just about 15km from the city center, facing heavy traffic.

Fact 4: The Great Pyramid of Giza Was the World's Tallest Building for 3,871 Years

The Pyramid of Khufu is the largest pyramid in Egypt, with an original height of 146.5 meters and a current height of 138.8 meters. It was once the tallest man-made architecture in the world. This record had been maintained for 3,871 years, and it was not until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in Britain that it broke this record.

Fact 5: Stones for Building Pyramids Came from All Over Egypt

Climb the Pyramid in Giza

The stones for building pyramids came from three places in Egypt. The stones used in the inside pyramid are collected from the sandstone in the desert near Giza; the limestones used in the outer frame are transported from the east bank of the Nile River; the granites used in the Grand Gallery and tombs came from Aswan 960 kilometers away. Every year when the Nile flooded, a huge flat-bottomed barge carrying stones would drift down the upstream of the Nile.

Fact 6: Special Mortar Helped the Pyramids Survive

There is an Arab proverb, which means "Man fears time, time fears the pyramids". Part of the reason the pyramids survived was the use of mortar. The analysis shows that a lot of strong mortar can be used to fix the stone in place. It is estimated that about 500,000 tons of mortar were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza alone.

Fact 7: The Pyramids Were Not Built by Slaves

It is a big misunderstanding that the pyramids were built by slaves. Modern archaeologists found the work records when studying the stone tablet hieroglyphs, and found the contracts engraved with the guarantee for food in the tomb, all of which can prove the existence of employment relations.

According to research, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built by 5,000 permanent employees and 20,000 casual workers. Many of the workers who died during the construction of the pyramids were buried in cemeteries near the pyramids.

Fact 8: Khufu Ship Demonstrated the Superior Technology of Ancient Egyptians

The most famous intact ancient Egyptian ship is the 44-meter-long "Khufu ship", found in the Great Pyramid of Giza. It can be seen that the ancient Egyptians mastered shipbuilding technology thousands of years ago. They sailed on the Nile and took boats for maritime trade with neighboring countries. The earliest boat was a wooden boat, but later it developed into a unique barge and transport ship. The ancient Egyptians skillfully used wooden nails and tenons for connection, which showed their mastery of carpentry.

Fact 9: Chambers of Egyptian Pyramids Are Small

Chamber Inside Pyramid

Despite the massive size of the pyramids, when you go inside the pyramids, it is not like the grand, spacious halls you ever imagined. In contrast, the interior chambers are surprisingly small. Most pyramids have tight passageways, steep corridors, and modest burial chambers. Maybe just enough for the body of pharaoh and a few funerary items.

Fact 10: Egypt Isn't the Only Land of Pyramids

About 140 pyramids have been found in the ancient Egyptian areas, of which the three pyramids in Giza are the most famous. However, there are pyramids in many parts of the world. Egypt is not the country with the largest number of pyramids. In the desert more than 240 kilometers away from Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, there is a pyramid complex with 220 pyramids, which is more than the number of pyramids in Egypt.