Egyptian pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids are a series of monumental stone structures built primarily as royal tombs across Egypt from the Third Dynasty into later periods, beginning with the Step Pyramid around the 27th century BCE.

Major surviving examples include the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the Red and Bent pyramids at Dahshur, and the three great pyramids at Giza; visitors typically see mortuary temples, causeways and adjacent cemeteries as part of a complex. Many sites also display reliefs, inscriptions and burial goods recovered by archaeologists.

Across different sites one can trace the technical and architectural evolution from step-sided to smooth-sided pyramids, and observe associated structures such as valley temples and causeways. Museums at or near several sites hold important finds such as funerary boats and sarcophagi.

Pyramid building began with the Third Dynasty under King Djoser and continued through the Old and Middle Kingdoms as pharaonic funerary architecture, reaching its largest scale during the Fourth Dynasty. Over time, changes in royal tomb design, resource allocation and political shifts led to fewer large pyramids in later periods.

Pyramid sites are located along the Nile Valley from the Delta in the north to Upper Egypt, with concentrations at Saqqara and Dahshur near Cairo and at Giza on the western edge of the modern metropolis.

• Site distribution: Pyramids are spread across multiple sites from the Nile Delta to Upper Egypt, so visits usually focus on a single pyramid field such as Giza, Saqqara or Dahshur.

What to See #

• Step Pyramid (Saqqara): The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, built in the 27th century BCE by the architect Imhotep and considered the earliest large-scale stone building in Egypt.
• Major pyramid fields: A collection of pyramid complexes across the Nile Valley including the Giza group, Dahshur, Abusir and Meidum, representing different phases of pyramid construction from the Third to the Middle Kingdom.
• Subsidiary tombs and mastabas: Smaller satellite pyramids, subsidiary tombs and mastaba cemeteries that often accompany royal pyramid complexes and provide insight into funerary practices.