Ancient Pyramids of Egypt Photos

The deserts of the western bank of the Nile where the sun god set was the religious burial location of ancient Egypt. Third & fourth dynasty kings chose to build ever more elaborate tombs on what is now the outskirts of Cairo. At first the tombs were rectangular piles of stone (mastabas) to protect the body. King Djoser had a series of mastabas built to form a step pyramid. From this evolved the great pyramids with smooth sides. The smooth surface blocks were taken over time to build structures in Cairo. The sphinx sits among the great pyramids.

See also: Egypt
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Pyramids of Cheops (137.2m height) & Chephren (136.5m) (4th dynasty c2575-2465 BCE) in brilliant sun before storm.

Pyramids of Chephren & Cheops flanking The Sphinx. Pyramids were only built for a short time because they were vulnerable to tomb robbers.

The Sphinx in front of Pyramid of Chephren (Wer-Khefre) with original casing at the top.

The Sphinx (4th dynasty) stands 20m high & 73.5m paw to tail perhaps with the head of Chephren.

Modern entrance cut into Pyramid of Cheops to gain entrance to the interior chambers.

Six Pyramids including Cheops, Chephren & Mycerinus seen across rocky desert from Saqqara.

Step Pyramid of Djoser or Zoser (3rd dynasty ruler c2640-2575 BCE) the first pyramid ascribed to builder Imhotep who is supposed to have devised dressed stone.

Step Pyramid of Djoser beside remains of enclosure wall which once surrounded the complex.

Minor stone pyramid beside Step Pyramid of Djoser.

All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.