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Egypt’s pyramids are the world’s oldest stone buildings. They are almost 5,000 years old. These ancient tombs are also some of Earth’s largest structures.
The biggest is taller than a 40-story building. It covers more area than 10 football fields. Men built these huge structures, using only the tools they had. They had no cranes and bulldozers. Sometimes, up to 100,000 men worked for 20 seasons on one pyramid.
More than 80 pyramids still stand today. Their white limestone surfaces are no longer smooth. But they’re still full of secret passageways, hidden rooms, ramps, bridges, and shafts. Most had hidden entrances and false doors. Exploring one would be fun!
Of course, the pyramids weren’t built for fun. They had a very serious purpose. Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. For them, it was very real. Their kings, called pharaohs, wanted their bodies to last forever. They had pyramids built to keep their bodies safe after they died. Each pyramid was a home for a pharaoh’s preserved body (mummy). The pyramid was filled with all the things he would need in the next life.
Egypt’s pyramids show us the pharaohs’ power. Today, they remind us of a long-gone civilization that was clever and creative.
