1. Tombs and Pyramids of Egypt
Complete the “Evolution of Egyptian Tombs” flowchart worksheet as we go through the powerpoint

2. Pits in the Desert Sand “That’s the PITS!” Pre 3100 BCE
Dryness of Desert sand preserves bodies (without mummification process used later)
possessions

3. Mastaba 3100 B.C. Stone-lined, mud brick tombs
Burial chamber below the ground

4. The Step Pyramid at Saqqara
2686 B, Djoser
Likely the world’s first large stone structure
Building complete around 2800 BCE
Imhotep designed a series of mastabas on top of each other
62 m high
buried until the 1920s
The first tombs of the pharaohs were large, unimpressive, bunker affairs called mastabas. They were made from sun dried mud brick and most have long since crumbled to dust. This all changed around 2630 BC with the erection of the step pyramid. It was made for the pharaoh, Djoser and began as a normal mastaba, but was subsequently enlarged by adding one mastaba on top of another until it consisted of six terraces some 200ft (60 meters) high. The surface was originally encased in smooth white limestone which must have caught the sun light and reflected its rays.

5. The Collapsed Pyramid at Meidum
2600 BC
Pharaoh Seneferu built the first true pyramid at a steep angle
The pyramid collapsed
Originally thought to be built by Huni, the last king of the 3rd Dynasty, but now considered to be the work of his son-in-law Snefru. Intended to be geometrically true - loose stones were added to the steps before the pyramid was encased in limestone which eventually collapsed, revealing the original stepped core of the superstructure.

6. Meidum Pyramid Architecture

7. The Bent Pyramid at Dashur
2600 BC
Seneferu’s 2nd pyramid
the angle of the structure changes half the way up the building
103 m high

8. The Red Pyramid at Dahshur
2650 BC
first to successfully achieve the true pyramid shape

9. The Great Pyramid of Cheops at Giza
2570 BC, Khufu
Largest true pyramid
approx. 2.5 million limestone blocks used at 2 tons each
burial chamber in the middle of the structure
aligned with the points of the compass
147 m high

10. The pyramid of Cheops in Giza is the one of the Seven Wonders of the World which has survived to the present However it is also the most ancient (approximately 2560 BC). It was originally 145,75 m high but it lost a 10 m high block from the top, so it’s a frustum pyramid now although this is not visible from a distance. Its sides, just like the other pyramids, are positioned in accordance with the four cardinal points, with the entrance pointing towards the Northern star. Next to it there are the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, the son and grandson of Cheops. White limestone slabs covered all the three pyramids and they are part of a huge funeral complex including temples and other buildings of which only a few traces remain.

11. Valley of the Kings Tombs dug into rock face Thebes
Thought would reduce grave-robbing and desecration