Article
More than four thousand years ago, along the banks of the River Nile, the ancient Egyptians built some of the most incredible structures in history—the Great Pyramids. These enormous stone monuments have stood for thousands of years, surviving wind, sand, and time. Even today, people wonder how they were built and what secrets they hold.
The most famous of the pyramids is the Great Pyramid of Giza, near modern-day Cairo. It was built around 2560 BCE during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, a powerful Egyptian king. The pyramid originally stood 146 meters high and was the tallest structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years. It was made from more than 2 million stone blocks, each weighing several tons. How did workers move such heavy stones without modern machines? That question remains one of history’s greatest puzzles.
Historians believe that tens of thousands of workers—farmers, craftsmen, and laborers—helped to build the pyramids. During the yearly floods of the Nile, when farming was impossible, these workers were fed and housed near the construction site. They worked for years, cutting and dragging stones from quarries miles away. Ramps may have been built to move the stones upward as the pyramid grew taller, but no one knows for sure how this massive project was completed.
The pyramids were more than just buildings—they were tombs for the pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that when a king died, he became a god in the afterlife. To prepare for this journey, the pharaoh’s body was carefully preserved through mummification, and treasures were buried with him—gold, jewelry, food, and even furniture—to be used in the next world. The pyramid protected the king’s body and possessions for eternity.
Over the centuries, many pyramids were robbed by thieves searching for gold. Others were damaged by weather and time. But the Great Pyramid of Giza remains mostly intact. Inside, narrow tunnels and hidden chambers wind through the stone. Scientists using modern technology, such as robots and scanning equipment, have recently discovered new empty spaces inside the pyramid that no one has entered for thousands of years. What lies within them is still unknown.
The mystery of the pyramids continues to fascinate people. Some theories suggest they were built with the help of advanced mathematics and engineering. Others, more imaginative, claim that aliens or lost civilizations were involved. While most experts reject these ideas, they agree that the pyramids show how skilled and intelligent ancient Egyptians were.
Today, the pyramids attract millions of visitors from all over the world. Tourists stand in awe beneath the golden desert sun, staring up at the giant stones that have watched over Egypt for ages. The pyramids remind us of humanity’s creativity, determination, and desire to leave something eternal behind.
Even after 4,000 years, the Great Pyramids of Egypt still hold their secrets—silent witnesses to one of the world’s oldest and most powerful civilizations.
Vocabulary List
Tap the speaker to hear each word.
- pharaoh — A king of ancient Egypt.
- monument — A large structure built to honor a person or event.
- quarry — A place where stone is cut out of the ground.
- ramp — A sloped surface used to move heavy objects upward.
- afterlife — Life that people believe happens after death.
- mummification — The process of preserving a dead body in ancient Egypt.
- treasure — Valuable items like gold and jewelry.
- chamber — A room inside a larger structure.
- scan — To examine something with special equipment.
- civilization — A developed society with culture, government, and technology.
Comprehension Questions
- Where are the Great Pyramids located, and which one is the most famous?
- Who ordered the Great Pyramid of Giza to be built, and about when?
- What are two theories about how workers moved the heavy stones?
- Why did ancient Egyptians build pyramids as tombs?
- What modern technologies have revealed new spaces inside the pyramid?
- Which unusual or imaginative theories exist about the pyramids’ construction?
- Why do the pyramids continue to fascinate people today?