Ancient Egypt: The pyramids of Giza
By USHistory.org, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.03.17
Word Count 673
Level 840L
The Pyramids of Giza. Photo from: Wikimedia Commons.
Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for several thousand years. It spanned from 3,000 B.C. until
30 B.C, when Egypt was taken over by the Roman Empire. That was about 5,000 to about 2,000
years ago.
Many of the discoveries and objects of ancient Egypt survived in the Nile River Valley. They hold
many clues about this mysterious and artistic ancient civilization.
Tallest Structures On The Planet
For centuries, pyramids were the tallest structures on the planet. The pyramids of Giza were built
more than 4,000 years ago and are still standing today.
The pyramids were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Humans still don't fully understand
their secrets. How could a civilization without bulldozers, forklifts and trucks build such huge
structures? Why would anyone have spent the time and energy to build them? What treasures
were placed inside these monuments?
Farmers Became Builders
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Only a powerful pharaoh could organize the
manpower needed to build giant pyramids. For six
months each year, the Nile River flooded the land and
nothing could be planted. During that time, farmers
became builders. They constructed the pyramids from
huge stone blocks weighing more than 2,000 pounds.
Egyptologists study ancient Egypt. They think that the
workers used either rollers or slippery clay to drag the
blocks from the quarries to the pyramid site.
Construction of the larger pyramids took many years.
Grand Tombs For Powerful Pharaohs
Pyramids were built for religious purposes. The Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to
believe in an afterlife. They believed that the ka lived within every human being. When the
physical body died, the ka lived on eternally. Osiris was the ancient Egyptian god of the dead.
Egyptians believed that after a person died, Osiris decided who would get eternal life and who
would die forever. Ancient Egyptians wanted to be comfortable in the afterlife. The Great
Pyramids were simply grand tombs of powerful pharaohs.
Three pyramids were built at Giza. It is outside Cairo,
the capital of modern Egypt. Many smaller pyramids
were constructed around the Nile Valley. The tallest of
the Great Pyramids reaches nearly 500 feet into the
sky and covers an area greater than 13 acres, or about
16 football fields. The Great Sphinx is a huge sculpture
nearby, which was made to guard the pyramids. The
human head on the body of a lion stands 65 feet tall.
Many believe that the Sphinx was a portrait of King
Chefren, whose body was buried in the middle
pyramid. The lion symbolized immortality.
Gold, Silver And Bronze Objects In The Tombs
Important Egyptians often wanted to take their favorite possessions with them in death. They
thought their ka could enjoy these things in its next life. Gold, silver and bronze objects were
loaded inside the great tombs. Fine linens and artwork adorned the secret chambers.
In the early days, dead nobles were often buried with their living slaves and animals. But this
custom got too expensive so artists painted scenes of human life on the inside walls. Some
pyramids were even equipped with a bathroom for the pharaoh.
Grave Robbers Cursed Forever
The ancient Egyptians were careful to protect the tombs from robbers. Egyptians believed anyone
who stole from a tomb would be cursed forever. The entrance to the inner chambers was carefully
hidden. The pharaoh's mummy was placed in a huge coffin called a sarcophagus, which was made
of hard stone blocks. Still, tombs were raided over the years by grave robbers.
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Pyramids Have Stood The Test Of Time
The pyramids, however, have stood the test of time.
Their outer layers have long since been removed or
crumbled to dust, but the pyramids still stand. About
80 remain in modern Egypt. They are time capsules
from a once-great civilization.
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Quiz
1 Read the summary below.
The huge pyramids of Egypt were built more than 4,000 years ago as tombs for the pharaohs who ruled the people. When a
pharaoh died, his body and many gold, silver and bronze objects went into the pyramid.
____________________________.
About 80 pyramids remain today, and they give us clues about what ancient Egypt was like.
Choose the answer that BEST fits into the blank to complete the summary.
(A) Artists painted scenes of human life on the walls of the secret rooms.
(B) The Great Sphinx sculpture also protected many treasures inside.
(C) The pyramids were planned to be the Seven Wonders of the World.
(D) The Egyptians believed that the ka needed the body to live forever.
2 According to the article, why is it significant that the sphinx is part lion?
(A) It is a portrait of one of the pharaohs, King Chefren.
(B) It represents the Egyptian idea of eternal life after death.
(C) It stops grave robbers from breaking into the tombs.
(D) It highlights the grandness of the powerful pharaohs.
3 Which sentence from the section “Gold, Silver And Bronze Objects In The Tombs” describes a burial practice that Egyptians had
to stop doing?
(A) Important Egyptians often wanted to take their favorite possessions with them in death.
(B) Fine linens and artwork decorated the secret chambers.
(C) In the early days, dead nobles were often buried with their living slaves and animals.
(D) Some pyramids even had a bathroom for the pharaoh.
4 Which section highlights the relationship between the Nile and the construction of the pyramids?
(A) Introduction [paragraphs 1-2]
(B) "Tallest Structures On The Planet"
(C) "Farmers Became Builders"
(D) "Grand Tombs For Powerful Pharaohs"
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