The construction of the pyramids was at its peak during the end of the third century B.C., which coincided with the end of the Third Dynasty period. Egypt was one of the wealthiest communities of the world at that time and the pharaohs of Egypt were considered as messengers between god and man, and hence, were treated with a lot of respect and royalty.

And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. - Gen 11:3-4.

 The pyramids were constructed so that their edges represented the rays of the Sun and the Egyptians believed that this pointed structure would help raise their pharaohs into the heavens. Not only this but they also believed that some of the soul of the pharaohs remained in their bodies even after death, and hence they kept inside the pyramids everything they thought their dead pharaohs would need to lead a normal life inside - from jewels and gold to food. Close relatives and top administrators were also buried nearby to help them lead a normal life after death. As a result, the pyramids were often invaded by burglars and a large amount of the riches inside them, as well as the corpses, were stolen. Nonetheless, the pyramids are one of the greatest man-made structures that stand to this day and therefore attracts tourists from all over the world owing to their majesty and splendor.

Although more than a hundred pyramids still exist in Egypt, only a few of them hold historical significance. These are:

The Pyramid of Djoser

Situated near the city of Memphis, this pyramid is the oldest known pyramid in history! Also called the Step Pyramid, it was built for the Egyptian Pharaoh Djoser. It consists of 6 tiers of decreasing size, stacked one over the other.

 Pyramidal Complex at Giza

Standing near the central city of Cairo is a pyramidal complex consisting of three large and three small pyramids, with highly reflective limestone surfaces. The largest pyramid, not only amongst these but otherwise as well, is the Pyramid of Khufu/Great Pyramid, built for King Khufu of Egypt. A product of exclusively human labor, the Pyramid’s base is the size of ten football fields combined and for 4 millenniums, it was the tallest structure in the world! Not surprisingly, it took 23 years to complete and the only surviving structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World! The surrounding small pyramids were built for the wives of Khufu, while other two larger pyramids were built for his son and grandson.

These majestic pyramids give us a peek into the prosperous and magnificent history of the country! They’re one of the most grandeur man-made structures that are present to this day, and their size really makes you wonder how the laborers managed to build such enormous structures without the use of machines!

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_pyramids#Number_and_location_of_pyramids

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex

https://www.ancient.eu/pyramid/