THE OLD KINGDOM

There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most of them were constructed during the Old Kingdom (3rd Dynasty -2686 BC to 6th Dynasty - 2181 BC) which is frequently referred to as "The Pyramid Age". They were built as tombs for the Pharaohs in preparation for the after life.

The earliest known Egyptian pyramid is the Step Pyramid which was built during the Third Dynasty of Ancient Egypt (27th Century BC) in Saqqara, near Memphis. Memphis at the time was the capital of Egypt. The architect, Imhotep built Egypt's first step pyramid, by building a series of six successively smaller mastabas (an earlier form of tomb structure), one atop of another.

The best known Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. The Great Pyramid at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. It was built as a tomb for Fourth Dynasty Egyptian King Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC. This period marked the height of pharonic power during the Old Kingdom. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

The pyramids on the Giza Plateau near Cairo. At far left is the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops - the great grandfather), in the middle is the pyramid of Khafre (Chephren - the grandfather), and on the right is the smallest of the three major Giza pyramids - that of Menkaure (Mycerinus - the father). On the right of Menkaure Pyramid is a very small pyramid built for his daughter (the daughter).

Of the three, only Khafre's pyramid retains part of its original polished limestone casing, near its apex. This pyramid appears larger than the adjacent Khufu pyramid by virtue of its more elevated location, and the steeper angle of inclination of its construction — it is, in fact, smaller in both height and volume.

However, the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Userkhaf initiated reforms that weakened both the Pharaoh and central government. His reign was followed by a period of intermittent civil war as a result of the reforms and the strain put on the treasury by the building works of the previous dynasty. There was widespread famine caused by the civil wars and by a period of cooling in the area which reduced and occassionally eliminated the Nile flooding on which their food supplies depended. Central authority crumbled and power returned to local monarchs.