The
first stone pyramids were built by King Djoser (Zozer) who reigned as
Pharoh of the old kingdom in the third dynasty. The oldest is the Step
Pyramid just south of Cairo in Saqqara. Djoser reigned as pharoah
from 2630-2611 bce. That's about 4,500 years ago!
Pyramids were only a part of a complex ritual that was to ensure the eventual ressurection of the pharoah. The pyramid complexes included vast temples and tombs that were used in cult rituals and burials for the loyal followers. Mummies have almost never been found inside a pyramid. Instead, the mummies have been found in the temples within the pyramid complex.
Pyramid building dominated the Egyptian kingdoms from King Djoser until just after king Teti, around 2291 bce, about 500 years, then Egyptian pyramid building stopped. Why? We suspect that the pharoahs were no longer able to control enough people to build them. There are about 50 pharonic pyramids still in Egypt today.
The last Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, lived about 50bce, or about 2,100 years ago, near the end of the Ptolomeic period in Egyptian history. When Cleopatra was alive, the pyramids were already ancient monuments with mysterious legends about them. In fact, the pyramids were older to Cleopatra than she is to us!
Everything fears time,
but time fears the pyramids
Mummies & Pyramids
(Magic Tree House Research Guide, paper)
by Will Osborne, Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)
Find Harrison and Amanda in this book!
Learn More! Find books about Pyramids at Amazon.com
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What
Amanda learned about pyramids
Harrison's
pyramid notes)
Susan's
pyramid summary
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Rob's
thoughts about pyramids
Resources
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