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The Pharaohs who built the Pyramids of Giza, Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus
| The size of the pyramids at Giza is startling when you first see them. They seem much smaller in photos. The size and its effect was part of the plan. They were meant to stand on the Western Horizon as a symbol of the Egyptian Pharaoh's purpose to travel the underworld and help restore the sun and Ma'at (order) each day. And they were meant to be seen from miles away. There are many theories of how they were built. Daniel Gerardo has a theory that proposes that the uniques shape of the Grand Gallery within the Pyramids of Cheops was used in lifting the stone blocks. Lifting the Stone Blocks in the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) in Egypt. |
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But we do know who the the Pyramids of Giza were built for.
The pyramids were the burial tombs for a father, son and grandson in the Fourth Dynasty, Old Kingdom. The pyramids are shown below with the names of their occupants. This view is from the side and therefore the largest pyramid (Cheops) appears to be the smallest because it is the most distant in the photo. You will also see them called Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure
Each Pyramid had a complex of accompanying buildings and enclosure walls. As many of these were built of mud brick, they have since disappeared. The complex included smaller pyramids for burial of the queens, burial pits for the boats of the Pharaoh, and mastaba tombs for the nobles and administrators of his reign.
Below are pictures of statues of the Kings from the Egyptian Museum. The term Pharaoh means the same as King and comes from Biblical references to the Egyptian Kings.
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Cheops | |
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Chephren | |
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Mycerinus |
