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Pyramid facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the structure. For the shape, see Pyramid (geometry). For other uses, see Pyramid (disambiguation).
Pyramids of Egypt1
Pyramids of Giza

A pyramid is a special building, usually made of stone. It has a flat, square base and four triangle-shaped sides that meet at a point at the top. People all over the world have built these amazing structures for thousands of years.

The word "pyramid" comes from an old Greek word, pyramis. This word actually meant "wheat cake"! The ancient Egyptians called their pyramids "Mer." The Great Pyramid of Giza was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is still standing today.

The very first pyramids were built around 2630 BC. The oldest known pyramid was made for King Djoser of the Third Dynasty in Egypt.

Egyptian Pyramids

In Egypt, ancient kings and queens, known as Pharaohs, were buried in huge stone pyramids. These pyramids were mostly built to be tombs for the Pharaohs. The ancient Egyptian pyramids are very strong and well-built. Many of them are still standing today, even after thousands of years.

The oldest pyramid made by people is called the Step Pyramid. You can find it in Saqqara, near Cairo, Egypt. It was built for King Djoser a very long time ago. Later pyramids were built much bigger. The largest one is the Great Pyramid of Giza, also near Cairo. It was the tallest building in the world for a very long time. It held this record until the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris in 1889.

The Great Pyramid was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is believed that many skilled workers built it. People once thought that slaves built the pyramids. But new information shows that the workers were paid and well cared for. They were very loyal to the Pharaoh.

Inside the Great Pyramid, many old and valuable items have been found. Pharaohs were buried with their treasures. They hoped to take these items with them to the afterlife. Pyramids often had traps to stop thieves from stealing the treasures. Thieves who were caught could face serious punishment. However, by 1000 BC, many pyramids had already been robbed.

A huge statue called the Sphinx stands near the pyramids at Giza. It has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharaoh. The ancient Greeks thought the Great Pyramid was one of the seven wonders of the world. There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Most of them are on the western side of the River Nile.

Ancient Egyptians believed their pharaohs went to the stars to join their gods.

Pyramids in the Americas

Mexico.Pue.Cholula.Pyramid.01
Cholula

The Aztecs and Mayans also built many huge pyramids. These pyramids are not as old or as big as the oldest Egyptian pyramids. Most of them are step pyramids, meaning they have several levels or steps.

Unlike Egyptian pyramids, which were used as tombs, Aztec and Mayan pyramids were used for important religious ceremonies.

Modern Pyramids

Today, people still build structures that look like pyramids. Here are some examples:

  • The Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, is a famous glass pyramid. It acts as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum. It was finished in 1989 and designed by I. M. Pei.
  • The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, United States, is a 30-story pyramid. A bright light shines from its top into the sky.
  • The 32-story Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, was built in 1991. It used to be a sports arena for basketball games.
  • The Walter Pyramid is in Long Beach, California. It is an 18-story blue pyramid. It is used for basketball and volleyball games at California State University.
  • The 48-story Transamerica Pyramid is in San Francisco, California. It is one of the city's most famous buildings.
  • The 105-story Ryugyong Hotel is in Pyongyang, Northern Korea.
  • The Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia, is shaped like an upside-down pyramid.
  • The Summum Pyramid in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a three-story pyramid. It is used for teaching a special philosophy and for mummification rituals.
  • The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
  • The three pyramids of Moody Gardens are in Galveston, Texas.
  • The Co-Op Bank Pyramid, also known as Stockport Pyramid, is a large office building in Stockport, England.
  • The Karlsruhe Pyramid is in the center of the market square in Karlsruhe, Germany. It was built between 1823 and 1825.
  • The Hanoi Museum in Vietnam has an overall design of an inverted pyramid.
  • The "Pyramid" culture-entertainment complex is in Kazan, Russia.
  • The Time pyramid in Wemding, Germany, is a project that started in 1993. It is planned to be finished in the year 3183!

Related pages

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pirámide (arquitectura) para niños

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