Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt

Important Information Important Information about Pyramidsabout Pyramids

I. EgyptI. Egypt

A. Upper and Lower Egypt A. Upper and Lower Egypt . Ancient Egyptians . Ancient Egyptians believed that believed that Ma’atMa’at joined them together joined them together to make one large to make one large kingdom.kingdom.a. Ma’ata. Ma’at is the goddess of is the goddess of

truth, justice, harmony, truth, justice, harmony, and and balancebalance..

b. The Pharaoh became b. The Pharaoh became the king of Upper and the king of Upper and Lower Egypt.Lower Egypt.

II. PharaohII. Pharaoh

A. Pharaoh wasn’t A. Pharaoh wasn’t only the supreme only the supreme ruler; he was also ruler; he was also the living god the living god HorusHorus..a. When he dies he a. When he dies he

will become will become OsirisOsiris..

III. PyramidsIII. PyramidsA. The pyramids were built as a final A. The pyramids were built as a final

resting place for the Pharaoh. resting place for the Pharaoh.

B. Why a pyramid shape?B. Why a pyramid shape?1. The pyramid represented the first 1. The pyramid represented the first

land to appear at the beginning land to appear at the beginning of time- a hill called 'Ben-Ben'. of time- a hill called 'Ben-Ben'.

2. The pyramid had sloping sides so 2. The pyramid had sloping sides so that the dead pharaoh could that the dead pharaoh could symbolically climb to the sky climb to the sky and live forever. and live forever.

3. The pyramid represented the rays 3. The pyramid represented the rays of the sun. of the sun.

C. Few Pharaohs of Egypt were C. Few Pharaohs of Egypt were actually buried in pyramidsactually buried in pyramids

a. Most were buried in the a. Most were buried in the Valley of the Kings.Valley of the Kings.

IV. Inside the PyramidIV. Inside the Pyramid

A. Inside the pyramids would be the burial A. Inside the pyramids would be the burial chamber.chamber.

a. Food, drink, clothes, and riches in the burial a. Food, drink, clothes, and riches in the burial chamber.chamber.

1. Items needed for the after world1. Items needed for the after world

B. Inside the burial chamber would be a statue of B. Inside the burial chamber would be a statue of the individual’s soul (KA).the individual’s soul (KA).

a. So the KA could find it’s way back to the a. So the KA could find it’s way back to the body.body.

C. Pyramids of Giza where finished around the C. Pyramids of Giza where finished around the year 2500 B.C.year 2500 B.C.

V. Why stop building Pyramids?V. Why stop building Pyramids?

A. Very expensiveA. Very expensive

B. Used too many B. Used too many resourcesresources

C. Too visible and a C. Too visible and a target for tomb target for tomb raiders.raiders.

- Pharaohs - Pharaohs preferred secret preferred secret tombs.tombs.