Editing Pyramid (section)

==== Egypt ====
{{Main article|Egyptian pyramids}}
[[File:Giza-pyramids.JPG|thumb|right|The pyramids of the [[Giza pyramid complex|Giza necropolis]], as seen from the air]]

The most famous African pyramids are in Egypt—huge structures built of bricks or stones, primarily limestone, some of which are among the world's largest constructions. They are shaped in reference to the sun's rays. Most had a smoothed white [[limestone]] surface. Many of the facing stones have fallen or were removed and used for construction in [[Cairo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Viegas |first1=Jennifer |date=28 April 2008 |title=Pyramids packed with fossil shells |work=ABC Science |url=https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/28/2229383.htm |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801134658/https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/28/2229383.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The capstone was usually made of limestone, granite or basalt and some were plated with [[electrum]].<ref name="pennstate-pyramid">{{cite web |last1=Redford |first1=Donald B. |last2=McCauley |first2=Marissa |date=2014-04-15 |title=How were the Egyptian pyramids built? |url=http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/pyramids.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222053326/http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/pyramids.html |archive-date=22 December 2012 |access-date=11 December 2012 |work=Research |publisher=The Pennsylvania State University}}</ref>

Ancient Egyptians built pyramids from 2700 BC until around 1700 BC. The first pyramid was erected during the [[Third Dynasty]] by the Pharaoh [[Djoser]] and his architect [[Imhotep]]. This [[step pyramid]] consisted of six stacked [[mastaba]]s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNVsHwAACAAJ |title=Mark Lehner (2008). The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. pp. 14–15, 84|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-28547-3|author1=Lehner, Mark|date=2008-03-25}}</ref><ref name="Davidovits2008">{{cite book |last=Davidovits |first=Joseph |title=They Built the Pyramids |date=20 May 2008 |publisher=Geopolymer Institute |isbn=978-2-9514820-2-9 |page=206}}</ref> Early kings such as [[Sneferu|Snefru]] built pyramids, with subsequent kings adding to the number until the end of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]]. The age of the pyramids reached its zenith at [[Giza Necropolis|Giza]] in 2575–2150 BC.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2002-10-17 |title=Egypt Pyramids-Time Line |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/timeline.html |url-status=dead |magazine=National Geographic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810165659/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/timeline.html |archive-date=2011-08-10 |access-date=2011-08-13}}</ref> The last king to [[Pyramid of Ahmose|build royal pyramids was Ahmose]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Filer |first=Joyce |title=Pyramids |date=16 January 2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-530521-0 |page=99}}</ref> with later kings hiding their [[tomb]]s in the hills, such as those in the [[Valley of the Kings]] in Luxor's West Bank.<ref>{{cite book |author=Fodor's |title=Fodor's Egypt, 4th Edition |date=15 March 2011 |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |isbn=978-1-4000-0519-2 |pages=249–250}}</ref> In [[Medinet Habu|Medinat Habu]] and [[Deir el-Medina]], smaller pyramids were built by individuals. Smaller pyramids with steeper sides were built by the [[Nubians]] who ruled Egypt in the Late Period.<ref name="Harpur1997">{{cite book |last=Harpur |first=James |title=Pyramid |publisher=Barnes & Noble Books |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7607-0215-4 |page=24}}</ref>

The [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. At {{Convert|146.6|m|ft}} it was the tallest structure in the world until the [[Lincoln Cathedral]] was finished in 1311 AD. Its base covers an area of around {{convert|53000|m2}}. The Great Pyramid is the only extant one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]].

Ancient Egyptian pyramids were, in most cases, placed west of the river [[Nile]] because the divine pharaoh's soul was meant to join with the sun during its descent before continuing with the sun in its eternal round.<ref name="pennstate-pyramid" /> As of 2008, some 135 pyramids had been discovered in Egypt,<ref>{{cite news|first= Michael|last= Slackman|title= In the Shadow of a Long Past, Patiently Awaiting the Future|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/middleeast/17cairo.html|work= The New York Times|date= 2008-11-17|access-date= 2010-04-12|archive-date= 2018-01-06|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180106054739/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/middleeast/17cairo.html|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNVsHwAACAAJ |title=Mark Lehner (2008). The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. p. 34.|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-28547-3|author1=Lehner, Mark|date=2008-03-25}}</ref> most located near Cairo.<ref name="Filer2006">{{cite book |last=Filer |first=Joyce |url=https://archive.org/details/pyramids00file |title=Pyramids |date=16 January 2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-530521-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/pyramids00file/page/n38 38]–39 |url-access=limited}}</ref>