The Egyptian pyramids are world-famous and are among the most Wonders of the world. It is not known how the Ancient Egyptians were able to build such enormous structures of this particular shape. Pyramids are polyhedrons: a square base whose sides consist of congruent triangles that meet at a point. There are more than 100 pyramids of various sizes around Cairo. They served as tombs for Egyptian kings and their treasures.

Before the first pyramids were built, the Egyptians erected square tombs for their kings, the mastabas. Over time, more and more layers of stone and earth were added, which were gradually smoothed out on the sides. The tombs took the shape of Benben, a sacred stone in Heliopolis where the first rays of the sun hit every day. The stone imitated the shape of the sun's rays; it was believed to be the path that the pharaohs took to heaven. Later, these triangular elevations were used as a model for the construction of the pyramids.

 

The shape of the pyramids is partly the result of the tools available at the time of the Ancient Egyptians. With only a hammer, mallet, trowel and chisel, the builders of the pyramids were severely limited. They chiselled block-like stones, smoothed them and stacked them on top of each other in such a way as to create a dignified tomb for their king. Whether there were other, deeper and spiritual reasons for this particular form of pyramid is a mystery.