THE PYRAMIDS
The burial rituals of pharaohs were elaborate, and
from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of
the Middle Kingdom, pyramids were built as tombs
for the pharaohs. More than 160 pyramids have
been found. The Great Pyramid at Giza is the only
remaining wonder of the ancient world. It was built
as the tomb of the pharaoh Khufu over a period of 20
years and completed around 2550 BC (see Source 2.40).
Entombing the mummified body and artefacts
of the pharaoh was meant to ensure they would
remain undisturbed for eternity. Barriers were built
in the pyramids to stop robbers from stealing the
pharaoh’s treasures. These included false doors, dead-
end passages, very low ceilings, tunnels blocked with
EXTEND 2.6
1 Investigate how pyramid building developed from mastabas
(rectangular structures with flat roof structures) to pyramids with
smooth sides such as the Great Pyramid. Present your findings as
a flow chart with detailed labels.
2 Conduct research to find out about the archaeologist Flinders
Petrie. Write a brief biography, including information about his
theories and legacy.
REVIEW 2.12
1 Why were pyramids built?
2 Where did the materials for the Great Pyramid come from, and
how were they transported?
Source 2.40 An artist’s impression of the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza. It was originally over 146 metres high and was the world’s
tallest building for over3 000y ears.
88 OXFORD INSIGHT HISTORY 7 AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM FOR NSW STAGE 4
rubble or massive rocks, deep pits and the statues of
the most-feared gods at doorways.
However, tomb robbers became a problem and
later pharaohs were buried in tombs that were carved
into the hillsides of the Valley of the Kings.
There is some contention among historians about
how the pyramid was constructed. It was accepted
for a long time that a single ramp was used to move
stones up to each new level of the pyramid. If you take
a little time to think about it, however, such a method
has problems. A single, linear ramp might have worked
in the early stages of construction for the lower levels,
as shown in Source 2.40 but it is unlikely to have been
used later for the higher levels.
It is generally accepted that ramps were
used, possibly built around the pyramid
or zig-zagging up one side. Recently, a
scientific technique called microgravity was
used to measure the thickness of parts of
the Great Pyramid. It revealed what could
be evidence of internal spiral ramps used
during construction.
 The fact is that the ramp could not be too steep; so
the higher it went, the longer it would have to be. By
the time stones were being moved to the upper levels,
the ramp would have been so long that it would have
taken almost as much effort to build as the pyramid
itself. No evidence of such a massive structure has
been found.
There are no surviving texts or manuals on the
art of pyramid building. Archaeologists and engineers
have worked together to test theories by means of
‘experimental archaeology’. This means building
small-scale versions of the pyramids using ancient
tools and methods.
A pyramidion (smaller pyramid cut from one
piece of stone) once sat on top of the Great
Pyramid. It was around 8 metres high and was
coated with electrum, a mix of gold and silver.
The pyramid itself was coated with panels of white
limestone when finished. These panels were removed
during the European Middle Ages to build nearby
palaces and mosques. On completion, the Great
Pyramid was about 146 metres tall.
Most blocks are made of locally mined limestone.
Others are heavy granite, transported down the
river on barges from the city of Aswan, about 800
kilometres to the south. The blocks were probably
dragged across the sand on sleds. Around 30 men
would have been needed to pull each block.
2.3 WHAT DID ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEVE? 89