Pyramid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about pyramid-shaped structures.

For the geometric term, see Pyr amid (geometry). For other uses, see Pyramid (disambiguation). The Egyptian pyramids of the Giza Necropolis, as seen from the air Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan Prasat Thom temple at Koh Ker Pyramids of Gmar, Tenerife (Spain) Madghacen king's burial conical pyramids of ancient Algeria (Numidia) A pyramid (from Greek: p??a?? pyramis[1]) is a structure whose shape is roughly t hat of a pyramid in the geometric sense; that is, its outer surfaces are triangu lar and converge to a single point at the top. The base of a pyramid can be tril ateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three outer triangular surfaces (at least four faces including the base). The s quare pyramid, with square base and four triangular outer surfaces, is a common version. A pyramid's design, with the majority of the weight closer to the ground,[2] and with the pyramidion on top means that less material higher up on the pyramid wi ll be pushing down from above. This distribution of weight allowed early civiliz ations to create stable monumental structures. Pyramids have been built by civilizations in many parts of the world. For thousa nds of years, the largest structures on Earth were pyramids first the Red Pyramid in the Dashur Necropolis and then the Great Pyramid of Khufu, both of Egypt, the latter the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still remaining. Khufu's Pyramid is built mainly of limestone (with large red granite blocks used in some interior chambers), and is considered an architectural masterpiece. It contains around 1,300,000 blocks ranging in weight from 2.5 tonnes (5,500 lb) to 15 tonnes (33,000 lb) and is built on a square base with sides measuring about 230 m (755 ft), covering 13 acres. Its four sides face the four cardinal points precisely and it has an angle of 52 degrees. The original height of the Pyramid was 146.5 m (488 ft), but today it is only 137 m (455 ft) high, the 9 m (33 ft) that is missing is due to the theft of the fine quality white Tura limestone cov ering, or casing stones, for construction in Cairo. It is still the tallest pyra mid. The largest pyramid by volume is the Great Pyramid of Cholula, in the Mexic an state of Puebla. Contents 1 Ancient monuments 1.1 Mesopotamia 1.2 Egypt 1.3 Sudan 1.4 Nigeria 1.5 Greece 1.6 Spain 1.7 China 1.8 Mesoamerica 1.9 North America 1.10 Roman Empire 1.11 Medieval Europe 1.12 India 1.13 Indonesia 1.14 Peru 2 Modern pyramids 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 Notes

6 References Ancient monuments See also: List of ancient pyramids by country (disambiguation) Mesopotamia Chogha Zanbil is an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of Iran. The Mesopotamians built the earliest pyramidal structures, called ziggurats. In ancient times, these were brightly painted in gold/bronze. Since they were const ructed of sun-dried mud-brick, little remains of them. Ziggurats were built by t he Sumerians, Babylonians, Elamites, Akkadians, and Assyrians for local religion s. Each ziggurat was part of a temple complex which included other buildings. Th e precursors of the ziggurat were raised platforms that date from the Ubaid peri od[3] during the fourth millennium BC. The earliest ziggurats began near the end of the Early Dynastic Period.[4] The latest Mesopotamian ziggurats date from th e 6th century BC. Built in receding tiers upon a rectangular, oval, or square pl atform, the ziggurat was a pyramidal structure with a flat top. Sun-baked bricks made up the core of the ziggurat with facings of fired bricks on the outside. T he facings were often glazed in different colors and may have had astrological s ignificance. Kings sometimes had their names engraved on these glazed bricks. Th e number of tiers ranged from two to seven. It is assumed that they had shrines at the top, but there is no archaeological evidence for this and the only textua l evidence is from Herodotus.[5] Access to the shrine would have been by a serie s of ramps on one side of the ziggurat or by a spiral ramp from base to summit. The Mesopotamian ziggurats were not places for public worship or ceremonies. The y were believed to be dwelling places for the gods and each city had its own pat ron god. Only priests were permitted on the ziggurat or in the rooms at its base , and it was their responsibility to care for the gods and attend to their needs . The priests were very powerful members of Sumerian society. Egypt Main article: Egyptian pyramids The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids huge structures built of bric k or stone, some of which are among the world's largest constructions. They are shaped as a reference to the rays of the sun. Most pyramids had a polished, high ly reflective white limestone surface, in order to give them a shining appearanc e when viewed from a distance. The capstone was usually made of hard stone - gra nite or basalt - and could be plated with gold, silver, or electrum and would al so be highly reflective.[6] After 2700 BC, the Egyptians began building pyramids, until about 1700 BC. The f irst pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty by king Djoser and his architect Imhotep, as a step pyramid by stacking six mastabas. The largest Egyptian pyram ids are the pyramids at Giza. "The Egyptian sun god Ra, considered the father of all pharaohs, was said to have created himself from a pyramid-shaped mound of e arth before creating all other gods. The pyramid s shape is thought to have symbol ized the sun s rays" (Donald B. Redford, Ph.D., Penn State).[6] The age of the pyramids reached its zenith at Giza in 2575 2150 BC.[7] Ancient Egy ptian pyramids were in most cases placed west of the river Nile because the divi ne pharaoh s soul was meant to join with the sun during its descent before continu ing with the sun in its eternal round.[6] As of 2008, some 135 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt.[8][9] The Great Pyr amid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. It was the tallest building in the world until Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311 AD. The base is over 52,600 square metres (566,000 sq ft) in area. While pyramid s are associated with Egypt, the nation of Sudan has 220 extant pyramids, the mo st numerous in the world.[10]

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It i s the only one to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians covered the f aces of pyramids with polished white limestone, containing great quantities of f ossilized seashells.[11] Many of the facing stones have fallen or have been remo ved and used for construction in Cairo. The ancient pyramids of Egypt Most pyramids are located near Cairo, with only one royal pyramid being located south of Cairo, at the Abydos temple complex. The pyramid at Abydos, Egypt were commissioned by Ahmose I who founded the 18th Dynasty and the New Kingdom.[12] The building of pyramids began in the Third Dynasty with the reign of King Djose r.[13] Early kings such as Snefru built several pyramids, with subsequent kings adding to the number of pyramids until the end of the Middle Kingdom. The last k ing to build royal pyramids was Ahmose,[14] with later kings hiding their tombs in the hills, like in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor's West Bank.[15] In Medinat Habu, or Deir el-Medina, smaller pyramids were built by individuals. Smaller pyramids were also built by the Nubians who ruled Egypt in the Late Peri od, though their pyramids had steeper sides.[16] Sudan Main article: Nubian pyramids Nubian Pyramids at Meroe with pylon-like entrances. Nubian pyramids were constructed (roughly 240 of them) at three sites in Sudan t o serve as tombs for the kings and queens of Napata and Mero. The pyramids of Kus h, also known as Nubian Pyramids, have different characteristics than the pyrami ds of Egypt. The Nubian pyramids were constructed at a steeper angle than Egypti an ones. Pyramids were still being built in Sudan as late as 300 AD. Nigeria One of the unique structures of Igbo culture was the Nsude Pyramids, at the Nige rian town of Nsude, northern Igboland. Ten pyramidal structures were built of cl ay/mud. The first base section was 60 ft. in circumference and 3 ft. in height. The next stack was 45 ft. in circumference. Circular stacks continued, till it r eached the top. The structures were temples for the god Ala/Uto, who was believe d to reside at the top. A stick was placed at the top to represent the god's res idence. The structures were laid in groups of five parallel to each other. Becau se it was built of clay/mud like the Deffufa of Nubia, time has taken its toll r equiring periodic reconstruction.[17] Greece Main article: Greek pyramids Pausanias (2nd century AD) mentions two buildings resembling pyramids, one, 19 k ilometres (12 mi) southwest of the still standing structure at Hellenikon,[18] a common tomb for soldiers who died in a legendary struggle for the throne of Arg os and another which he was told was the tomb of Argives killed in a battle arou nd 669/8 BC. Neither of these still survive and there is no evidence that they r esembled Egyptian pyramids. Pyramid of Hellinikon There are also at least two surviving pyramid-like structures still available to study, one at Hellenikon and the other at Ligourio/Ligurio, a village near the ancient theatre Epidaurus. These buildings were not constructed in the same mann er as the pyramids in Egypt. They do have inwardly sloping walls but other than those there is no obvious resemblance to Egyptian pyramids. They had large centr al rooms (unlike Egyptian pyramids) and the Hellenikon structure is rectangular rather than square, 12.5 by 14 metres (41 by 46 ft) which means that the sides c ould not have met at a point.[19] The stone used to build the pyramids was limes tone quarried locally and was cut to fit, not into freestanding blocks like the

Great Pyramid of Giza. There are no remains or graves in or near the structures. Instead, the rooms tha t the walls housed were made to be locked from the inside. This coupled with the platform roof, means that one of the functions these structures could have serv ed was as watchtowers. Another possibility for the buildings is that they are sh rines to heroes and soldiers of ancient times, but the lock on the inside makes no sense for such a purpose. The dating of these "pyramids" has been made from the pot shards excavated from the floor and on the grounds. The latest dates available from scientific dating have been estimated around the 5th and 4th centuries. Normally this technique is used for dating pottery, but here researchers have used it to try to date stone flakes from the walls of the structures. This has created some debate about whe ther or not these "pyramids" are actually older than Egypt, which is part of the Black Athena controversy.[20] The basis for their use of thermoluminescence in order to date these structures is a new method of collecting samples for testing . Scientists from laboratories hired out by the recent excavators of the site, T he Academy of Athens, say that they can use the electrons trapped on the inner s urface of the stones to positively identify the date that the stones were quarri ed and put together[citation needed]. Mary Lefkowitz has criticised this research. She suggests that some of the resea rch was done not to determine the reliability of the dating method, as was sugge sted, but to back up an assumption of age and to make certain points about pyram ids and Greek civilization. She notes that not only are the results not very pre cise, but that other structures mentioned in the research are not in fact pyrami ds, e.g. a tomb alleged to be the tomb of Amphion and Zethus near Thebes, a stru cture at Stylidha (Thessaly) which is just a long wall, etc. She also notes the possibility that the stones that were dated might have been recycled from earlie r constructions. She also notes that earlier research from the 1930s, confirmed in the 1980s by Fracchia was ignored. She argues that they undertook their resea rch using a novel and previously untested methodology in order to confirm a pred etermined theory about the age of these structures.[21] Liritzis responded in a journal article published in 2011, stating that Lefkowit z failed to understand and misinterpreted the methodology.[22] Spain The Pyramids of Gmar refer to six rectangular pyramid-shaped, terraced structures, built from lava stone without the use of mortar. They are located in the distri ct of Chacona, part of the town of Gmar on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Is lands. The structures have been dated to the 19th century and their original fun ction explained as a byproduct of contemporary agricultural techniques. Local traditions as well as surviving images indicate that similar structures (a lso known as, "Morras", "Majanos", "Molleros", or "Paredones") could once have b een found in many locations on the island. However, over time they have been dis mantled and used as a cheap building material. In Gmar itself there were nine pyra mids, only six of which survive. China Ancient Korean tomb in Ji'an, Northeastern China Main article: Chinese pyramids There are many square flat-topped mound tombs in China. The First Emperor Qin Sh i Huang (circa 221 BC, who unified the 7 pre-Imperial Kingdoms) was buried under a large mound outside modern day Xi'an. In the following centuries about a doze n more Han Dynasty royals were also buried under flat-topped pyramidal earthwork s. Mesoamerica

Main article: Mesoamerican pyramids Pyramid in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, Mexico A number of Mesoamerican cultures also built pyramid-shaped structures. Mesoamer ican pyramids were usually stepped, with temples on top, more similar to the Mes opotamian ziggurat than the Egyptian pyramid. The largest pyramid by volume is the Great Pyramid of Cholula, in the Mexican st ate of Puebla. Constructed from the 3rd century BC to the 9th century AD, this p yramid is considered the largest monument ever constructed anywhere in the world , and is still being excavated. The third largest pyramid in the world, the Pyra mid of the Sun, at Teotihuacan is also located in Mexico. There is an unusual py ramid with a circular plan at the site of Cuicuilco, now inside Mexico City and mostly covered with lava from an eruption of the Xitle Volcano in the 1st centur y BC. There are several circular stepped pyramids called Guachimontones in Teuch itln, Jalisco as well. Pyramids in Mexico were often used as places of human sacrifice. For the re-cons ecration of Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan in 1487, the Aztecs reported that they sacrificed about 80,400 people over the course of four days.[23] North America A diagram showing the various components of Eastern North American platform moun ds Many pre-Columbian Native American societies of ancient North America built larg e pyramidal earth structures known as platform mounds. Among the largest and bes t-known of these structures is Monks Mound at the site of Cahokia in what became Illinois, completed around 1100 AD, which has a base larger than that of the Gr eat Pyramid at Giza. Many of the mounds underwent multiple episodes of mound con struction at periodic intervals, some becoming quite large. They are believed to have played a central role in the mound-building peoples' religious life and do cumented uses include semi-public chief's house platforms, public temple platfor ms, mortuary platforms, charnel house platforms, earth lodge/town house platform s, residence platforms, square ground and rotunda platforms, and dance platforms .[24][25][26] Cultures who built substructure mounds include the Troyville cultu re, Coles Creek culture, Plaquemine culture and Mississippian cultures. Roman Empire Main article: Pyramid of Cestius Pyramid of Cestius in Rome The 27-meter-high Pyramid of Cestius was built by the end of the 1st century BC and still exists today, close to the Porta San Paolo. Another one, named Meta Ro muli, standing in the Ager Vaticanus (today's Borgo), was destroyed at the end o f the 15th century. Medieval Europe Pyramids have occasionally been used in Christian architecture of the feudal era , e.g. as the tower of Oviedo's Gothic Cathedral of San Salvador. India The main gopura of the Thanjavur Temple pyramid. Many giant granite temple pyramids were made in South India during the Chola Emp ire, many of which are still in religious use today. Examples of such pyramid te mples include Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Temple of Gangaikondacholapu ram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. However the largest temple pyrami d in the area is Sri Rangam in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. The Thanjavur temple was b uilt by Raja raja Chola in 11th century. The Brihadisvara Temple was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987; the Temple of Gangaikondacholapuram an d the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram were added as extensions to the site in 2004.[27]

Indonesia Borobudur, Central Java. Next to menhir, stone table, and stone statue; Austronesian megalithic culture i n Indonesia also featured earth and stone step pyramid structures called Punden Berundak as discovered in Pangguyangan, Cisolok and Gunung Padang, West Java. Th e construction of stone pyramids is based on the native beliefs that mountains a nd high places are the abode for the spirit of the ancestors. The step pyramid is the basic design of 8th century Borobudur Buddhist monument in Central Java. However the later temples built in Java were influenced by Indi an Hindu architecture, as displayed by the towering spires of Prambanan temple. In the 15th century Java during late Majapahit period saw the revival of Austron esian indigenous elements as displayed by Sukuh temple that somewhat resemble Me soamerican pyramid. Peru Caral Tcume Modern pyramids Louvre Pyramid (Paris, France) Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, California The Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, in the court of the Louvre Museum, is a 20.6 meter (about 70 foot) glass structure which acts as an entrance to the mus eum. It was designed by the American architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1989. The Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, United States, is a 30-story true pyramid with light beaming from the top. The 32-story Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee (a city named after the anc ient Egyptian capital whose name itself was derived from the name of one of its pyramids). Built in 1991, it was the home court for the University of Memphis me n's basketball program, and the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzl ies until 2004. The Walter Pyramid, home of the basketball and volleyball teams of the Calif ornia State University, Long Beach, campus in California, United States, is an 1 8-story-tall blue true pyramid. The 48-story Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, California, designed by William Pereira, one of the city's symbols. The 105-story Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, Northern Korea. A former museum/monument in Tirana, Albania is commonly known as the "Pyrami d of Tirana." It differs from typical pyramids in having a radial rather than sq uare or rectangular shape, and gently sloped sides that make it short in compari son to the size of its base. The Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia. This building is shaped l ike an inverted pyramid. The Summum Pyramid, a 3 story pyramid in Salt Lake City, Utah, used for inst ruction in the Summum philosophy and conducting rites associated with Modern Mum mification. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Pyramids at Osho Commune in Pune, India (for meditation purposes). The three pyramids of Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. The Co-Op Bank Pyramid or Stockport Pyramid in Stockport, England is a large pyramid-shaped office block in Stockport in England. (The surrounding part of t he valley of the upper Mersey has sometimes been called the "Kings Valley" after the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.) The Ames Monument in southeastern Wyoming honoring the brothers who financed

the Union Pacific Railroad. The Ballandean Pyramid, at Ballandean in rural Queensland is a 15 meter foll y pyramid made from blocks of local granite. The Karlsruhe Pyramid is a pyramid made of red sandstone, located in the cen tre of the market square of Karlsruhe, Germany. It was erected in the years 1823 1 825 over the vault of the city's founder, Margrave Charles III William (1679 1738) . The GoJa Music Hall in Prague. The Muttart Conservatory greenhouses in Edmonton, Alberta. Small pyramids similar to those of the Louvre can be found outside the lobby of the Citicorp Building in Long Island City, Queens NY. The Pyramids of the City Stars Complex in Cairo, Egypt. Pyramid building belonging to The Digital Group (TDG), at Hinjwadi, Pune, In dia.[28] The Steelcase Corporate Development Center near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sunway Pyramid shopping mall in Selangor, Malaysia. Hanoi Museum with an overall design of a reversed Pyramid. The Pyramide des Ha! Ha! by artist Jean-Jules Soucy fr:Jean-Jules Soucy in L a Baie, Quebec is made out of 3 000 give way signs.[29] The "Pyramid" culture-entertainment complex and Monument of Kazan siege (Chu rch of Image of Edessa) in Kazan, Russia. The "Phorum" of Expocentre business-exhibition complex in Moscow, Russia. Few pyramids of the Marco-city shopping-entertainment complex in Vitebsk, Be larus.[30] The Time pyramid in Wemding, Germany, a pyramid begun in 1993 and scheduled for completion in the year 3183.[31] Triangle, a proposed skyscraper in Paris. The Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid, a proposed project for construction of a mass ive pyramid over Tokyo Bay in Japan. The tomb of Quintino Sella, outside the monumental cemetery of Oropa.[32] The Donkin Memorial, erected on a Xhosa reserve in 1820 by Cape Governor Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife Elizabeth, in Port Elizabeth, South Af rica. The pyramid is used in many different coats-of-arms associated with Port E lizabeth. Adjacent to the Pyramid is the lighthouse (1863) that houses the Nelso n Mandela Bay Tourism office, as well as a 12x8m South African Flag flying from a 65m high flagpole. It also forms part of the Route 67 Public Art route.