Old Kingdom Egypt

The Pyramids

Old Kingdom Egypt is often referred to as "The Age of Pyramids". This is because all of the large pyramids of Egypt were built in this time. The Old Kingdom pyramids have survived and outlived their Middle and New Kingdom counterparts and still have humans gaping in awe as to how they were constructed, as we still don't possess the abilities to recreate such a wonder. The "Age of Pyramids" began with the third dynasty king Djoser, and his famous "Step Pyramid". The pinnacle of pyramid construction was in the fourth dynasty, with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, & Menkaure on the Giza Plateau.

The pyramids looked at by this site include:

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

The Meidum Pyramid of Huni

The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu

The Great Pyramid of Khufu

The Pyramid of Khafre

The Step Pyramid of Djoser (3rd Dynasty)

The step pyramid of King Djoser was built by Imhotep, visier of the king, high priest, healer, and architect. This is the first pyramid and the first building in stone. In six stages or steps, it rises to a height of 61m. The original limestone facing is gone. Djoser's burial chamber is at the bottom of a shaft more than 30m under the base of the pyramid. Even in this initial form the pyramid reaches out to link man with eternity.

The Meidum Pyramid of Huni (3rd Dynasty)

There is some dispute over who actually build this pyramid. There are two theories as to the pyramids construction. One states that the pyramid was started by Huni, Sneferu's predecessor, the other that it was began and ended with Sneferu. Meidum was not always in it's rough state as is seen in the picture to the right. As is evidenced by graffiti on the outside of the pyramid, it survived well into the time of the 18th Dynasty. Meidum still stands as a great attempt, if not a triumph of Egyptian architecture.

Credit for this pyramid has been given to Huni, as it is hard to believe that Sneferu could have built three pyramids in his reign.

The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu (4th Dynasty)

The first pyramid built by Sneferu is known as the Bent Pyramid. Instead of leaving the sides as steps, like previous pyramids, they were filled in and smoothed to form the easily recognizable triangular prism form. This pyramid started out at a steep upward angle, but during the building process, cracks began to appear in the sides. The angle was changed to an easier slope to finish the rise to the peak.

Sneferu's second pyramid, the Red or Northern Pyramid has the same slope as the upper slope of the Bent Pyramid.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (4th Dynasty)

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It is one of the oldest structures on the face of the earth and arguably the best built. The pyramid is an architectural marvel, and is of brilliant quality. Its sides are aslo perfectly oriented with the four cardinal points of a compass.

It is unknown how it was constructed.

The Pyramid of Khafre (4th Dynasty)

After the accomplishment of the building of the Great Pyramid, King Khafre had quite a job on his hands to better it. He built his pyramid on higher ground, thus giving the illusion that his pyramid was taller. His pyramid is designed more modestly than Khufu's. It has two entrances each opening onto a descending passage that leads to a chamber.

There is no evidence that anyone was ever buried in the main chamber.

	The Pyramids

	Old Kingdom Egypt is often referred to as "The Age of Pyramids". This is because all of the large pyramids of Egypt were built in this time. The Old Kingdom pyramids have survived and outlived their Middle and New Kingdom counterparts and still have humans gaping in awe as to how they were constructed, as we still don't possess the abilities to recreate such a wonder. The "Age of Pyramids" began with the third dynasty king Djoser, and his famous "Step Pyramid". The pinnacle of pyramid construction was in the fourth dynasty, with the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, & Menkaure on the Giza Plateau.




	The pyramids looked at by this site include: The Step Pyramid of Djoser The Meidum Pyramid of Huni The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu The Great Pyramid of Khufu The Pyramid of Khafre








	The Step Pyramid of Djoser (3rd Dynasty) The step pyramid of King Djoser was built by Imhotep, visier of the king, high priest, healer, and architect. This is the first pyramid and the first building in stone. In six stages or steps, it rises to a height of 61m. The original limestone facing is gone. Djoser's burial chamber is at the bottom of a shaft more than 30m under the base of the pyramid. Even in this initial form the pyramid reaches out to link man with eternity.










	The Meidum Pyramid of Huni (3rd Dynasty) There is some dispute over who actually build this pyramid. There are two theories as to the pyramids construction. One states that the pyramid was started by Huni, Sneferu's predecessor, the other that it was began and ended with Sneferu. Meidum was not always in it's rough state as is seen in the picture to the right. As is evidenced by graffiti on the outside of the pyramid, it survived well into the time of the 18th Dynasty. Meidum still stands as a great attempt, if not a triumph of Egyptian architecture. Credit for this pyramid has been given to Huni, as it is hard to believe that Sneferu could have built three pyramids in his reign.
















	The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu (4th Dynasty) The first pyramid built by Sneferu is known as the Bent Pyramid. Instead of leaving the sides as steps, like previous pyramids, they were filled in and smoothed to form the easily recognizable triangular prism form. This pyramid started out at a steep upward angle, but during the building process, cracks began to appear in the sides. The angle was changed to an easier slope to finish the rise to the peak. Sneferu's second pyramid, the Red or Northern Pyramid has the same slope as the upper slope of the Bent Pyramid.










	The Great Pyramid of Khufu (4th Dynasty) The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It is one of the oldest structures on the face of the earth and arguably the best built. The pyramid is an architectural marvel, and is of brilliant quality. Its sides are aslo perfectly oriented with the four cardinal points of a compass. It is unknown how it was constructed.















	The Pyramid of Khafre (4th Dynasty) After the accomplishment of the building of the Great Pyramid, King Khafre had quite a job on his hands to better it. He built his pyramid on higher ground, thus giving the illusion that his pyramid was taller. His pyramid is designed more modestly than Khufu's. It has two entrances each opening onto a descending passage that leads to a chamber. There is no evidence that anyone was ever buried in the main chamber.