Building the Pyramids

When most people hear the word “pyramid,” they immediately think of Ancient Egypt. Pyramid-shaped structures built almost 5,000 years ago dot the landscape in the plateau region called Giza, and they have come to stand for Egypt itself.

Pharaohs, who were the Egyptian equivalent of kings, believed that they would become gods after they died. They commanded that these magnificent buildings be made for them, thinking of the buildings as tombs worthy of gods. The pyramids were then filled with valuable items as well as the pharaoh’s body to ensure he would be comfortable when he entered the afterlife.