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The Pyramids of Egypt

This series of guides will take you on a fascinating tour that charts the evolution of the pyramid as the tomb of choice for Pharaoh. The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara provided the foundation for the transition from the earlier royal mastaba-tombs to the true pyramids that appeared during the 4th dynasty. His funerary complex is also renowned for containing the world’s first monumental buildings in stone. The development of pyramid architecture undertook its most significant steps during the reign of king Sneferu. As head of a new line of fourth dynasty rulers, his reign is noted for its prodigious and innovative building programme. He can be attributed as the owner of no less than three pyramids – the one at Meidum, in addition to the Bent and Red pyramids further north at Dahshur.
The stunning achievements of Sneferu richly enhanced Egyptian funerary architecture in what was undoubtedly a pioneering age. Their influence had a profound bearing on the ambitions of Sneferu’s immediate successors – those master-builders who would re-shape the desert plateau at Giza with even grander pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Khufu represents the culmination of the architectural tradition of pyramid building begun by Djoser at Saqqara. Not only is its scale unsurpassed, but no other pyramid can match it for the accuracy and perfection of its dimensions.