The Evolution of Egyptian Pyramid Construction

Mastaba

Mastaba“House of eternity”Traced back to Pharaoh Aha (2686

BCE)Designed as protection for the mummyTombs carved into the bedrock and

covered with mud bricks with enclosures on the sides◦Early mastabas not good as sand would

blow away and bodies were eaten by jackals

Djoser’s Step Pyramid at Saqqara

Djoser’s Step Pyramid at Saqqara2650 BCEPharaoh Djoser was 2nd Old KingdomImhotep was his brilliant Vizier/ArchitectFirst major stone building (limestone)

◦Symbolic meaning: stone immortalizes Djoser, preserving him from slow erosion of time

Layers of mastabas placed on top of each other

6 steps (layers) rise to height of 60 metres

Snefru’s Step Pyramid at Meidum

Snefru’s Step Pyramid at Meidum2613-2589 BCESnefru is Khufu’s fatherFirst above ground burial chamberCeiling bears the weight of the

pyramidInterior chambers never finished

◦But innovation in corbelled ceilingFirst attempt at a true pyramid failed

as smooth facing stones slipped off the sides of the seven layers (and were later removed as late as the 19th century)

Snefru’s Bent Pyramid at Dashur

Snefru’s Bent Pyramid at DashurFirst attempt at the classic shapeBuilt on gravel and not solid bedrockInside it is very dangerous because

burial chamber is held together with huge cedar beams

Much larger casing stones usedCasing blocks inclined inward

At nearly 50% complete, the internal chambers and the corners started to crack

Unprecedented two burial chambers, each with a separate entrance

Snefru’s Red Pyramid

Snefru’s Red PyramidFirst true pyramid

◦3rd time’s a charm for Snefru!Built on a smaller scale and at a

43 degree angle to reduce the time of construction

Mortuary chapel was now moved to eastern side from traditional northern side

Great Pyramid of Khufu

Great Pyramid of KhufuDesigned by Hemuinu, Khufu’s

cousinBuilt for 4th Dynasty Pharaoh

KhufuCompleted around 2560 BCEBase built on cardinal points of a

compass

Pyramid of Khafra

Pyramid of KhafraKhafra is the son of Khufu (2558-

2532 BCE)Second largest of the pyramids

◦Illusion of being the largest due to higher elevation of land (10 metres higher)

Made from limestoneSteeper angle

Pyramid of Menkaure

Pyramid of MenkaureSucceeded Khafra as Phraraoh (c.

2620 BC–2480 BCE) Constructed of limestone and

graniteThere are three subsidiary

pyramids associated with Menkaure's pyramid, possibly for his Queens