Interesting science facts - Egyptian pyramids

The largest Egyptian pyramid is the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza (also called Great pyramid, Pyramid of Cheops), it stands at an impressive 146 meters.

There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts.

Most pyramids were accompanied by smaller satellite pyramids usually built to the south and east of the main pyramid. Some of these small pyramids tombs for queens and princesses.

In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh's wives were never buried with them in pyramids or tombs, they were always buried separately.

It took numerous years, usually decades, for even one of the ancient Egypt pyramids to be built.

Pyramids were primarily used as the burial tomb for the royal family.

The first historically documented Egyptian pyramid is attributed to the architect Imhotep, who planned what Egyptologists believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser.

Not one single mummy has ever been found in a pyramid in Egypt. Mummies have always come from mastabas or tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

The word pyramid has its origin in two Greek words pyra meaning fire, light, and the word midos meaning measures.

In almost all of the pyramids and tombs, it was a general practice that the burial chamber was oriented slightly west of the north/south center line of the pyramid.

The Great pyramid is the only remaining structure of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

Ancient Egyptians believed that once pharaoh dies, he becomes Osiris, king of the dead, and pyramids were tombs fir for kings.

Pyramids were built by Egyptians who lived in villages developed and overseen by the pharaoh's supervisors, and not by slaves or foreigners as some people think.

Estimates say that 20,000 to 30,000 workers built the Pyramids at Giza for more than 80 years.

It was traditional for a pharaoh to begin construction of his pyramid not long after he took the throne and the building process in many cases lasted almost the entire length of his reign, and sometimes even longer.

Of all the known pyramids, only the Great Pyramid has "air shafts".

Pharaoh Snefru is believed to have first begun his work in pyramid building in a true pyramid shape.

Computer calculations indicate that 590,712 stone blocks were used for Great pyramid construction.

The three major Egytian Pyramids at Giza are aligned to the three stars in Orion's belt, in accordance with Dwat, the art of placement practiced in ancient Egypt, wherein the structures of the earth are positioned to mirror the architecture of heaven. The Orion constellation was associated with the Egyptian god Osiris.

All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile because west side was associated with the realm of the dead in Egyptian mythology (sun goes down on west).