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Reading facts about Egyptian pyramids helps kids learn about the earliest civilizations who believed in the concept of the afterlife. Research suggests that ancient Egyptians believed that when the physical body of the person died, their Ka lived an eternal life. Therefore, the grand and majestic pyramids were built as tombs for powerful pharaohs and adorned with numerous materialistic luxuries to help them enjoy their afterlife. Sounds fascinating? There’s more to it. In this blog, you will find more interesting facts about Egyptian pyramids for kids. Make sure to read till the end to find facts about Egyptian pyramids PDF.
Table of Contents
Facts About Egyptian Pyramids
1. Pyramid texts are the oldest known religious texts in the world. They described the life of pharaohs and their roles and duties in society.
2. The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest Egyptian pyramid, built with stone clay.
3. The Red Pyramid of Sneferu at Dahshur is Ancient Egypt’s first true pyramid. In other words, it is smooth-sided.
4. Popular estimates also suggest that over 2.3 million limestone blocks were used to construct the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
5. The pyramids were once the tallest structures built by humans.
6. It is estimated that there are more than 100 pyramids in Egypt.
7. The stones used to build the pyramids weighed more than an elephant.
8. The three Giza Pyramids are aligned diagonally and arranged in a manner that their corners point to the Temple of Ra at Heliopolis.
9. Pyramids had a secret chamber called Serdab built close to the pharaoh’s mummy. It was believed that this is where his Ka statue or the statue holding the king’s life essence after death was placed.
10. In the 12th century, Al-Aziz Uthman, the second Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt tried to destroy Menkaure’s pyramid.
11. It is also believed that the workers who built pyramids were not poor slaves but were well-fed and skilled construction teams.
12. Contrary to popular belief, pyramids are not completely solid and feature a web of chambers, shafts, and passageways.
13. It is also believed that Ancient Egyptians might have used the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper constellations for the alignment of pyramids.
14. There are secret doors that act as passageways into the pyramids.
15. The Great Pyramid of Giza was once covered with limestone blocks. They reflected sun rays and made the pyramid shine like diamonds, making it visible from miles away.
16. Residues of red pigments on the face suggest that the statue of the Sphinx built near the Great Pyramid was once colourful.
17. Ancient Egyptians buried dead people with riches such as gold, jewellery, food, drinks, and other essentials.
Top 10 Interesting Facts About Pyramids of Giza
1. Research suggests that the great pyramids of Giza were built during the reign of King Khufu between 2589 and 2566 BCE.
2. The pyramid of Khafre, the second-tallest pyramid in Giza, is named after King Khufu’s son Khafre. It was built as a tomb for Khufu’s son who took over the throne after the demise of his father.
3. The pyramid of Mankaure, the smallest pyramid in Giza, is dedicated to Khufu’s grandson and Khafre’s son.
4. Another interesting fact about Egyptian pyramids is that it took somewhere around 20 years to complete their construction.
5. The tombs of Queen Hetepheres, Khufu’s mother, his wives and other relatives are easily visible from the Pyramids of Giza.
6. The Great Pyramids are surrounded by mastabas, meaning the graves of the king’s supporters and relatives.
7. The next fact about the great pyramids of Giza is that they were first excavated by Sir William Flinders Petrie in 1880.
8. It is believed that the Great Pyramids were adorned with ancient treasures and valuables. However, they were looted multiple times before being excavated.
9. According to a discovery dating back to 1877, the Great Pyramids are located exactly in the centre of the planet.
10. Researchers also suggest that the Great Pyramids were adorned with limestone which disappeared over the years. Today, we can only see the core or base structure.
Quiz on Egyptian Pyramids for Kids
1. The three Giza Pyramids are aligned diagonally in a manner that the corners point to the _____.
| a) The temple of Khufu |
| b) The temple of Cleopatra |
| c) The temple of Ra |
2. Which is the second-tallest pyramid in Giza?
| a) the pyramid of Khafre |
| b) the pyramid of Khufu |
| c) the pyramid of Mankaure |
3. It is said that the Great Pyramids of Giza are surrounded by mastabas. What do mastabas mean in this sentence?
| a) secret entrances to the pyramids |
| b) the graves of the king’s supporters and relatives |
| c) the graves of people who lost their lives in wars |
4. Who discovered the Great Pyramids?
| a) Sir William Flinders Petrie |
| b) Jean-François Champollion |
| c) Howard Carter |
5. The Great Pyramid of Giza was once covered with which substance?
| a) gold |
| b) copper |
| c) limestone |
6. Which of the following options is considered Ancient Egypt’s first true pyramid?
| a) Sneferu at Dahshur |
| b) Pyramid of Khafre |
| c) Pyramid of Mankaure |
Answer Key
| 1. c | 4. |
| 2. a | 5. c |
| 3. b | 6. a |
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FAQs
5 facts about the Pyramids of Giza include that they were built more than 1,200 years before the rule of King Tut, it is the oldest and the last remaining of the original seven world wonders, it is the final resting place of King Khufu, it is about 481 feet tall, and lastly, the builders of these pyramids were skilled labourers who were paid well.
One special thing about Egyptian pyramids is that they portray the ancient Egyptian glorification of life after death.
The 3 most famous pyramids are the three pyramids of Giza which include Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
Hope you had fun reading interesting facts about Egyptian pyramids. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!