How Many Sides Does An Egyptian Pyramid Have
This is not supposed to be a trick question. The traditional Egyptian pyramid has five sides to it. People often times forget the base of the pyramid being a side. The base is the foundation of which makes it possible for the pyramid to be built upwards. These pyramids were built as burial tombs for the pharaohs of the old and new kingdom. It would become the final resting spot for the human side of the pharaoh before he would ascend into the heavens as a god.
There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Most of the pyramids were constructed during the old kingdom from 3100 - 2181 B.C. This was the start of the Egyptian 3rd Dynasty. The first pyramid was commissioned by King Sneferu to construct in 2600 B.C. during the 4th Dynasty. This pyramid is located in the city of Dashur which is about 22 miles south of the Cairo. Dashur is home to the North Pyramid or it is also called the Red Pyramid. As the white Tura limestone was removed from the pyramid during its lifetime it revealed the reddish limestone underneath and hence why it was referred to as the Red Pyramid. This was the 3rd largest of the true pyramids with the other two constructed in Giza. These are the basic dimensions of the Red Pyramid:
- Base Length: 220 meters (755 feet)
- Height: 104 meters (343 feet)
- Side Slope: 43° 22'
As we head to Giza lying north of Dashur we come up to the magnificent structure of the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is the largest of all the pyramids constructed from 2571 BC - 2551 BC. It was commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu and took 20 years of his lifetime to complete. In the ancient Egyptian scriptures it believed that Pharaoh Khufu was known for his negative reputation and was infatuated on building his dynasty so that it could surpass all other ones. Here are the basic dimensions of the Great Pyramid at Giza:
- Base Length: 230 meters (722 feet)
- Height: 146.5 meters (481 feet)
- Side Slope: 51° 50'
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