THE EGYPTIAN

PYRAMIDS
Surprising
Facts
Made by Calincov
Nicolai
 THEY WEREN’T
ALL POINTED
All pyramids aren’t created equal. In fact,
just as with many building types, there are
distinct phases to pyramid construction.
The earliest pyramids aren’t the pointed
structures we most commonly think of but
were actually flat.
 COUNT THEM
AGAIN!
Though pyramids may give an impression that they
have only 4 sides, Pyramid of Giza has 8 sides. Each
of the four sides of the pyramids is evenly split from
base to tip.
The discovery goes back to 1940 when a pilot named
P. Groves noticed the strange site of 8 sides while
flying over it.
The indentations are visible from above only with
appropriate light.
 GREAT PYRAMIDS
IN ALIGNMENT
From the Great Pyramid of Khufu to the smaller pyramid
of Menkaure, the southeastern corners of all three Giza
pyramids are aligned diagonally.
The structures were arranged deliberately so each of these
corners pointed directly to the Temple of Ra at Heliopolis,
and in concert with the constellation Orion. Pharaohs
believed themselves directly descended from Ra, so by
angling their pyramids perfectly their tombs were a
natural part of the daily life cycle of the sun at the heart of
their religion.
 MOST PYRAMIDS
WERE BUILT WEST
OF THE NILE
Ancient Egyptian culture is full of symbolism and
superstitions that guided decision making. So it should
come as no surprise that even the location of the ancient
pyramids were guided by mythology.
Most were built on the west bank of the Nile, and for a
distinct reason. As the pyramids were the final resting
places of pharaohs, it only makes sense they should reside
where their souls can begin their journey into the afterlife.
For ancient Egyptians, the afterlife and the sun were
closely intertwined.
 THEY WEREN’T
BUILT BY SLAVES
The long-held theory that the pyramids were built by
slaves might not actually be true. It was the Greek
historian Herodotus who helped spread the idea that
slaves built the pyramids. In the 1990s, the graves of
pyramid builders were discovered. Egyptologists are quite
sure they were not slaves, but rather builders who came
from lower income families.
Their burial in a tomb shows that their role in building the
pyramids was an honor, and certainly was not a treatment
that would have been given to slaves.
THE GREAT PYRAMID
CAN TELL TIME
The Great Pyramid of Giza is impressive for many
reasons, but one of the most interesting characteristics of
this celebrated monument is that it can also tell time. The
structure actually acts as an enormous sundial, with its
shadow telling the hour by falling on marks made in the
stone.
Of course, being the Great Pyramid, it couldn’t be just
any old sundial. Its level of sophistication meant that it
not only told time, but was able to signal solstices and
equinoxes and therefore helped the Egyptians define the
solar year.
LOGIC OF IKHET
The word “Ikhet” means glorious light. When
Pyramids were constructed, they were cast in
limestone which used to sparkle in the sunlight.
This light was the reason why pyramids were
called Ikhet. The limestone casting eventually
faded or got destroyed and what was left was just
mortar and gigantic stones.
 THE PYRAMID
TEXTS
200 years after the Pyramid of Menkaure was built came
the pyramid of King Unas at Saqarra. On the walls of the
burial chamber the “Pyramid texts” were found; magical
spells in hieroglyph form meant to help King Unas’ soul
leave his body and commence its journey to the afterlife.
The oldest known religious texts in the world, pyramid
texts have been hugely influential in learning about
pharaohs and the roles and the responsibilities they had in
everyday life. The Unas Pyramid texts also provide the
first reference to Osiris, the god of the Underworld.
 THE PHARAOH IN
EGYPTIAN SOCIETY
Kings held a unique position in Egyptian society.
Somewhere in between human and divine, they were
believed to have been chosen by the gods themselves to
serve as their mediators on earth.
Because of this, it was in everyone’s interest to keep the
king’s majesty intact even after his death, when he was
believed to become Osiris, god of the dead. The new
pharaoh, in turn, became Horus, the falcon-god who
served as protector of the sun god, Ra.
NO SHADOW TIME
Pyramids are one of the most extensively studied
structures in the world. The mystery around its
construction still haunts researchers.
Among many properties of the pyramid, one was of
being a Sundial. It was one of the most sophisticated
Sundials found across the globe, which indicated
solstice and equinox.
At noon, during the spring, the Great Pyramid of Giza
casts no shadow.