Pyramids
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
The most well known of these artificial mountains rises majestically on the edge of the Nile near Cairo (at Giza). The “Great Pyramid” stands 481 feet high with a base of 755 feet. This was constructed by Cheops (Khufu) about 2580 B.C. His son, Chephren (Khafre), and grandson, Mycerinus (Menkaure), followed in their father's footsteps literally building in his shadow. Although not as grand, pyramids were constructed at various other places along the Nile including the distinctive “Bent Pyramid” at Dashur.
The purpose of these edifices was to intomb and immortalize the rulers. They actually act as focal points for a whole complex of buildings including a funerary temple, a causeway to a valley building near the Nile, and buried barges to carry the deceased to his eternal abode. They were not meant to be, however, astro-observatories or generators of mystical power. See Archaeology; Egypt .
Gary C. Huckabay
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [2]
Ancient structures of stone or sometimes brick, resting generally on square bases and tapering upwards with triangular sides, found in different parts of the world, but chiefly in Egypt, where they exist to the number of 70 or 80, and of which the most celebrated are those of Ghizeh, 10 m. W. of Cairo, three in number, viz., the Great Pyramid of Cheop, 449 ft. high, and the sides at base 746 ft. long, that named Chefren, nearly the same size, and that of Mykerinos, not half the height of the other two, but excelling them in beauty of execution. The original object of these structures has been matter of debate, but there seems to be now no doubt that they are sepulchral monuments of kings of Egypt from the first to the twelfth dynasty of them.
