History of Pyramids ?

Question: History of Pyramids !?
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By the time of the early dynastic period of Egyptian history, those with sufficient means were buried in bench-like structures known as mastabas!.[3][4]

The first historically documented Egyptian pyramid is attributed to the architect Imhotep, who planned what Egyptologists believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djozer!. Imhotep may have been the first to conceive the notion of stacking mastabas on top of each other — creating an edifice comprised of a number of "steps" that decreased in size towards its apex!. The result was the Step Pyramid of Djozer — which was designed to serve as a gigantic stairway by which the soul of the deceased pharaoh could ascend to the heavens!. Such was the importance of Imhotep's achievement that he was deified by later Egyptians!.[5]

The most prolific pyramid-building phase coincided with the greatest degree of absolutist pharaonic rule!. It was during this time that the most famous pyramids, those near Giza, were built!. Over time, as authority became less centralized, the ability and willingness to harness the resources required for construction on a massive scale decreased, and later pyramids were smaller, less well-built and often hastily constructed!.

Long after the end of Egypt's own pyramid-building period, a burst of pyramid-building occurred in what is present-day Sudan, after much of Egypt came under the rule of the Kings of Napata!. While Napatan rule was brief and ceased in 661 BCE, the Egyptian influence made an indelible impression, and during the later Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe (approximately in the period between 300 BCE–300 CE) this flowered into a full-blown pyramid-building revival, which saw more than two hundred indigenous, but Egyptian-inspired royal pyramid-tombs constructed in the vicinity of the kingdom's capital city!.

[edit] Pyramid symbolism

The shape of Egyptian pyramids is thought to represent the primordial mound from which the Egyptians believed the earth was created!. The shape is also thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, and most pyramids were faced with polished, highly reflective white limestone, in order to give them a brilliant appearance when viewed from a distance!. Pyramids were often also named in ways that referred to solar luminescence!. For example, the formal name of the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur was The Southern Shining Pyramid, and that of Senwosret at el-Lahun was Senwosret is Shining!.

While it is generally agreed that pyramids were burial monuments, there is continued disagreement on the particular theological principles that might have given rise to them!. One theory is that they were designed as a type of "resurrection machine"[6]

The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around which the stars appear to revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens!. One of the narrow shafts that extends from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the Great Pyramid points directly towards the center of this part of the sky!. This suggests the pyramid may have been designed to serve as a means to magically launch the deceased pharaoh's soul directly into the abode of the gods!.

All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, which as the site of the setting sun was associated with the realm of the dead in Egyptian mythology!.[7]

[edit] Number and location of pyramids

The number of pyramid structures in Egypt today is reported by most sources as being between 81 and 112[citation needed], with a majority favouring the higher number!. In 1842 Karl Richard Lepsius made a list of pyramids, in which he counted 67!. Pyramid 29 that Lepsius called the "Headless Pyramid" remained lost until being found in an archaeological dig in 2008!.[8] A great many more Pyramids have since been discovered!.

The imprecise nature of the count is related to the fact that as many smaller pyramids are in a poor state of preservation and appear as little more than mounds of rubble, they are only now being properly identified and studied by archaeologists!. Most are grouped in a number of pyramid fields, the most important of which are listed geographically, from north to south, below!.

[edit] Abu Rawash

Main article: Abu Rawash

Abu Rawash is the site of Egypt's most northerly pyramid (other than the ruins of Lepsius pyramid number one)[2]— the mostly ruined Pyramid of Djedefre, son and successor of Khufu!. Originally it was thought that this pyramid had never been completed, but the current archaeological consensus is that not only was it completed, but that it was originally about the same size as the Pyramid of Menkaure, which would have made it among the half-dozen or so largest pyramids in Egypt!.

Its location adjacent to a major crossroads made it an easy source of stone!. Quarrying — which began in Roman times — has left little apart from a few courses of stone superimposed upon the natural hillock that formed part of the pyramid's core!. A small adjacent satellite pyramid is in a better state of preservation!.

[edit] Giza

Main article: Giza pyramid complex

Map of Giza pyramid complex!.
Map of Giza pyramid complex!.

Giza is the location of the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the "Great Pyramid" and the "Pyramid of Cheops"); the somewhat smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Kephren); the relatively modest-sized Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinus), along with a number of smaller satellite edifices known as "Queen's pyramids"; and the Great Sphinx!.

Of the three, only Khafre's pyramid retains part of its original polished limestone casing, near its apex!. This pyramid appears larger than the adjacent Khufu pyramid by virtue of its more elevated location, and the steeper angle of inclination of its construction — it is, in fact, smaller in both height and volume!.

The Giza Necropolis has been a popular tourist destination since antiquity, and was popularized in Hellenistic times when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World!. Today it is the only one of those wonders still in existence!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The pyramids were built to served as the resting place for the dead pharaohs in short it used as a tomb!. When a pharaoh dies everything that he will need will be place there such as gold, slaves etc!. One of known pyramid is at Giza known as the Great Pyramid in Giza!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In general pyramids exist in different cultures, look at this link!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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