Pyramids facts

Kingdom of Kush. The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient kingdom situated south of Egypt, on the confluences of the Blue Nile and White Nile. Approximately 255 pyramids were constructed at three sites (including Meroe listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site) over a period of a few hundred years to serve as tombs for the Kushite kings and queens. These steep pyramids differ from Egyptian ones and were constructed much later.

Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure (Mykerinos). The three pyramids were built by pharaons of the fourth dynasty: Khufu, his son Khafre and Kahafre's son, Menkaure. Today, they are better known by their hellenized names: Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos. Along with these major monuments are a number of smaller satellite edifices, known as "queens" pyramids.

Mostly limestone. It is estimated that 5.5 million tonnes of limestone (quarried across the river), 8,000 tonnes of granite (imported from Aswan), and 500,000 tonnes of mortar were used in the construction of the Great Pyramid.

Djoser. The Pyramid of Djoser, or Step Pyramid is an archeological remain in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the city of Memphis. It was built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his vizier, Imhotep.