Overview:

The Meidum Pyramid is one of the oldest pyramids of Egypt, located in Memphis (on the west bank of the Nile River) and dating back to the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (about 2650BC). The pyramid’s design reveals a clear transition from stepped mastabas to a smooth-sided true pyramid. It is thought that the pyramid was built for the Pharaoh Sneferu and was abandoned when the stepped side of the pyramid began to collapse. The pyramid is composed of a core of rough masonry over which a finer quality casing was built – much of which has proven to be in relatively good condition. The pyramid is surrounded by some of the earliest known satellite pyramids, making up a complex. The pyramid is part of a larger archeological site which includes a mortuary temple and a causeway leading to a valley temple. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

1. Height: The Great Pyramid of Giza is the tallest of the ancient Egyptian pyramids, standing at a height of 146.7 meters (481 ft). 2. Construction: It is estimated that the Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed using over 2.3 million blocks of limestone and granite weighing an average of 2.5 to 15 tons each. The stones were cut and transported from as far afield as 500 kilometers away. 3. Mass: The total mass of the Great Pyramid is estimated to be around 6.5 million tons. 4. Sides: The sides of the Great Pyramid of Giza are perfectly aligned to the cardinal points of the compass and each side is almost perfectly square. 5. Gallery and Chambers: The Great Pyramid contains three known chambers and a Grand Gallery that connect them. The descending passage leads to the Subterranean Chamber and then the Ascending Passage leads to the Queen’s Chamber. Finally, the Grand Gallery leads to the King’s Chamber where an open sarcophagus is located. 6. Roof: The roof of the chambers have 5 precision-cut ridges at the base of each side, and 72 corner sockets which were added during the original construction – all of which indicate fine details in an area that was never meant to be seen. 7. Giza Necropolis: The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of the Giza Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with two other Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The Meidum Pyramid, one of the earliest of the Egyptian pyramids, was constructed for the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh, Sneferu (c. 2613-2589 BCE). It is located in the Meidum Pyramid Complex, about 75 km (47 miles) south of Cairo in the Faiyum Oasis region. The pyramid, which was the first attempt at a true pyramid form, was originally designed as a step pyramid (or stepped pyramid), with a smooth profile or of five steps. Later, the smooth and pyramidal steps were covered up with limestone blocks in an attempt to give a true pyramidal form. The Meidum Pyramid is thought to have begun construction during the reign of Sneferu’s father, Huni (c. 2635-2610 BCE), and was completed by Sneferu. The pyramid has an outer casing of limestone blocks, and is thought to have been originally around 110 meters (360 feet) square at its base and around 90 meters (300 feet) high. Inside, the pyramid is composed of three main levels culminating in a rock-cut chamber. The middle of the pyramid is built up of four courses of limestone blocks and a rectangular core of mudbricks. The inner chambers and descending corridors are made of limestone. The lower chamber is rectangular in shape while the middle chamber is square. The interior decoration of the pyramid is plain, unlike other true pyramids built later in Egyptian history. As the pyramid was intended to be a step pyramid originally, there was no need for elaborate decoration. However, it is thought that the relieving chambers over the burial chamber were at one stage decorated with wall paintings. The inside of the pyramid is thought to have served as a funerary temple and cult center in addition to the burial chamber of Pharaoh Sneferu. How exactly these religious activities were executed is not known, as the pyramid and its inner chambers have been plundered and robbed of their treasures since ancient times. The Meidum Pyramid is thought to have been constructed over a period of around thirty years, under the guidance of four different generations of leading architects: Huni, Sneferu, Khufu, and Hemiunu. This is one of the earliest large-scale building projects that shows the ability of the ancient Egyptians to collaborate and create a unified project over a long period of time. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The ancient Egyptians began building the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2560 BC and it was the largest man-made structure on Earth for 3800 years. 2. The pyramid is believed to have been built as a burial site for King Khufu, who was the second king of the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. 3. The Great Pyramid was built with 2.3 million stones, some of which weigh up to 50 tons. 4. The structure covers an area of 5.3 acres, which is equivalent to a city block, and is estimated to have involved 100,000 workers over 20 years. 5. It is the only surviving monument from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 6. The Great Pyramid is estimated to be composed of about 2 million blocks and it rises to a height of 481 feet. 7. Despite its massive size, it is believed that the pyramid was not visible from the ground until 480 feet up. 8. Despite its age, almost all of the casing stones that once made up its exterior are still in place. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era