1. The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River Valley.
Ancient Egypt
The Egyptian civilization began in the fertile Nile River Valley.

2. Egypt’s Old Kingdom
Pharaohs (rulers) established a stable, central government
Tombs were built to “shelter” the powerful pharaohs in the afterlife
When a pharaoh died, they were mummified and placed in a massive tomb
Tombs were all shapes and sizes, some took the shape of a pyramid

3. Today, the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Egypt symbolize the magnificence of ancient Egypt

4. There are actually three large pyramids behind the Sphinx…

5. The Great Pyramid Earth’s Largest
Built by: Pharaoh Khufu
Constructed: Over a 20-year period
Completed: Around 2560 BC
Height: 481 feet
Fact: Tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years
Designated one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”

6. Three chambers of the Great Pyramid:
Chamber #1: Underground, carved into bedrock
Chamber #2: “Queen's chamber”, aboveground
Note: This chamber was NOT intended for one of the king’s wives, but held a sacred statue of Khufu himself
Chamber #3: “King's chamber”, which held a red granite sarcophagus (stone coffin)
Only pyramid in Egypt known to contain both ascending and descending passages. (You can walk upstairs and downstairs)

7. Pyramid of Khafre Home of the Sphinx
Built by: Pharaoh Khafre
Completed: Around 2520 BC
Height: 471 feet
Although smaller than his father Khufu’s “Great Pyramid”, it was set on higher ground to appear taller

8. The chambers of Khafre’s pyramid
The burial chamber had a small pit cut in the floor, designed to hold the first canopic chest in a pyramid.
Canopic chests held jars carved in the shapes of protective spirits.
These jars held the preserved liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines of the deceased.
Note: The brain would have been discarded, and the heart left in the body.

9. Pyramid of Menkaure’s Last, and smallest, of the Great Pyramids
Not enough room left on the Giza Plateau? Were building costs too high?
For whatever reason…the last of the three Great Pyramids was considerably smaller
Built by: Pharaoh Khufu
Completed: Around 2490 BC
Height: 213 feet
Menkaure died unexpectedly, and work on his pyramid complex was abandoned.
Menkaure's heir likely completed construction