The pyramids of Egypt, among the largest constructions ever built by humankind, constitute one of the most potent and enduring symbols of Ancient Egyptian civilization. It is generally accepted by most archaeologists that they were constructed as burial monuments associated with royal solar and stellar cults, and most were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.

Historic Development

By the time of the early Dynastic period of Egyptian history, those with sufficient means were buried in visually unremarkable bench-like structures known as mastabas. The first historically documented Egyptian pyramid is attributed to the architect Imhotep, who in constructing what Egyptologists believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djozer, it is theorised first conceived the notion of stacking a number of mastabas on top of each other ? thereby creating an edifice comprised of a number of steps that decreased in size towards its apex. The result was the Step Pyramid of Djozer ? which was designed to serve as a gigantic stairway by which the soul of the deceased pharaoh could ascend to the heavens. Such was the importance of Imhotep's achievement that he was deified by later Egyptians.

Each of the pyramids had its own name, such as the Pyramid of Teti was known as Teti's cult places are enduring, later the pyramid complexes surrounding the main structures had separate names. Most pyramids have since been given Arabic names by the locals, which usually reflect their appearance.

The most prolific pyramid-building phase coincided with the greatest degree of absolutist pharaonic rule, during the early part of the Old Kingdom. Over time, as the exercise of pharaonic authority became less centralised and more bureaucratised, the ability and willingness to harness the resources required for construction on a massive scale was reduced, and later pyramids were smaller, less well built and often hastily constructed.

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. Whilst Napatan rule was brief and ceased in 661 BCE, the Egyptian influence made an indelible impression, and during the later Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe (approximately in the period between 300 BCE'CE 300) this flowered into a full-blown pyramid-building revival, which saw more than two hundred uniquely indigenous, but strongly Egyptian-inspired royal pyramid tombs constructed in the vicinity of the Meroitic capital city.

Construction

See Also: Construction techniques

The techniques used to construct Egypt's pyramids are thought to have initially been developed by trial and error, and then further evolved based on local economics, resources, and other considerations, over the thousand year pyramid-building phase of Egyptian civilization. At first, what we now know as pyramids were actually step pyramids, which eventually became more complex by filling the empty steps - created the sloped sides.

Recently-discovered worker's tombs have shown how pyramids were made and how important workers were: the pyramid workers were paid craftsmen, not slaves, and they had their own city at Giza. Egyptologists also have presented several pieces of evidence showing this, including proof that many laborers worked on the Pyramids during periods of Nile flooding, and that contributing to the Pyramid construction was, religiously, a very good deed for them.

During the earliest period, in the Third and Fourth Dynasties, pyramids were constructed wholly of stone. In the Fifth Dynasty the physical scale of pyramids was much reduced, and poor quality limestone replaced granite as the chief building material. In?filling with loose rubble was also used for the first time. This enabled pyramids to be built with fewer resources over much shorter periods.

During the Middle Kingdom pyramid construction techniques changed again. Most pyramids built at this time were little more than mountains of mud brick encased in a veneer of polished limestone.

Paradoxically, the materials and methods of construction used in the earliest pyramids have ensured their survival in a generally much better state of preservation than is the case with the pyramid monuments of later pharaohs.