Pyramids in Egypt

During the Old Kingdom, Egyptian civilization really came of age. The power of Egypt expanded considerably through the four dynasties of the Old Kingdom. This was probably due in part to the increasing centralization of government and the creation of an efficient administrative system. The concept of kingship changed too, with greater emphasis being placed on the the divine nature of the office. The king was considered to the incarnation of Horus, and from the fifth dynasty, son of the sun god Re. At the same time, the advances begun in previous centuries, in building, technology, hieroglyphic writing and artistic representation, reached new heights in the Old Kingdom. This can be seen best in the spectacular program of pyramid construction, which reached its height in the 4th Dynasty. Djoser's step pyramid at Saqqara, the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza and the Sphinx are among the most remarkable structures in the world.

Djoser's pyramid
And it's surrounding mortuary complex is recognized to have been the first entirely stone building in the world. The architect who created this wonder was Imhotep, Djoser's vizier, who was later deified. The pyramid started off as as simple mastaba, but was subjected to many revisions. One mastaba after another was placed on top of the last, until the structure finally consisted of 6 step pyramid 62 meters high covering an area of 109 x 125 meters. Its substructure, which is were the final resting place of the pharaoh was, consists of a honeycomb of shafts and tunnels, many of which were dug by robbers. A mummified foot was found in one of the passages, and may be the only remains of the king. Other members of the royal family were also buried in the substructure; a small child of about 8 was found in an alabaster coffin. As the structure was enlarged, these othertombs were sealed with no access.

Between the South Tomb and the pyramid
Lies a wide courtyard with a complex of buildings on the east side known as the heb-sed court. This court has been gradually restored over the years. Its structures were false dummy buildings, which made perfectly good sense since it was intended to be used by the spirit. The whole complex was surrounded by a high wall of white limestone in the Palace Facade style. Thirteen false doorways were set into the wall, with one real door actually opening into the complex, into a long colonnaded hall of fluted columns which were used to support a wall behind them. The hall opens into the large court south of the pyramid.

Khafre
Had his pyramid built at the highest point of the Giza plateau, making it appear larger then it really is. In fact, it looks larger than the Great Pyramid. However, it is only 447 1/2 feet, 33 1/2 feet smaller than Khufu's was originally, before it lost the top 30 feet. Now the Great Pyramid is only 3 1/2 feet taller. Khafre's pyramid is the only standing pyramid to still retain its limestone casing stones though.
In 1954
Another discovery was made next to the Great Pyramid. On the southern face of the pyramid, a pit was discovered with the remains of an intact wooden ship. Made of cedar, probably from Lebanon, the boat measured 141 feet. It had been dismantled to fit into the pit, and was in 650 parts when discovered. It was reconstructed and is now in a museum around the pit that it was found in. Another pit lies nearby, but undisturbed.