Top 10 Must-see Pyramids Around the World

July 26, 2023, 03:55 PM
by Shahriar Rabab

UNB News
Publish- July 26, 2023, 03:55 PM
Shahriar Rabab
Update- July 26, 2023, 04:57 PM

Top 10 Must-see Pyramids Around the World

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The word pyramid is often associated with the three large triangular structures in Egypt. These iconic tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs are a testament to the glorious history and ancient culture of the country. However, beyond the borders of Egypt, there are other pyramids scattered across the globe. Each of these structures has their own history and purpose. Let’s look at 10 of the most famous pyramids that put visitors under a spell.

Top 10 Notable Pyramids Across the World

Most of the noteworthy pyramids are located in Egypt. However, pyramids were also discovered in Mexico which are similar to the ones in Egypt with a distinctive design. This list comprises the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico as they are the most iconic ones with deep-rooted history.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is located in the pyramid complex of Giza Valley in Egypt along with two other pyramids. The Great Pyramid stands tall as the largest one among the three. It is the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu of the fourth Egyptian Dynasty.

The pyramid was built in 2570 BCE by royal patronage before the death of Khufu. At its center, the tip of the pyramid is 146.6 meter long from the base. Initially, the pyramid was constructed with 2.3 million blocks of smooth limestone and granite which have mostly eroded over time.

The inside of the pyramid has three chambers: the king’s chamber, the queen's chamber, and a subterranean chamber which was never finished.

Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest pyramid in the Giza complex. The Pyramid of Khafre was also built during the fourth dynasty by Pharaoh Khafre, son of Khufu, and was intended to be his burial site. The construction started sometime in 2570 BCE.

The top of the pyramid still retains some of the original limestones. The height of the pyramid is 136.4 meters at its peak. However, it looks taller compared to the Great Pyramid because of its position on a higher base structure.

Pyramid of Khafre

Pyramid of Menkaure

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three pyramids in the Giza complex. It was built as the last of the three, sometime around 2510-2490 BCE by Pharaoh Menkaure, son of Khafre.

At around 63 meter, the Pyramid of Menkaure is one of the smallest pyramids in all of Egypt. Instead of a mix of limestone and granite in the entire building, the pyramid used limestone at the base and granite for the main structure. To this day, visitors can see part of the original limestone casing on some areas of the base.

There are three additional small pyramids around the pyramid of Menkaure. They were built as tombs for his queens and mortuary site.

Pyramid of Menkaure

Pyramid of Djoser

The Pyramid of Djoser is situated in Saqqara of Egypt. It is also known as the step pyramid due to its step-like structure from the base to the top. Unlike the pyramids of Giza, the step pyramid is much smaller.

Built around 2667-2648 BCE, the Pyramid of Djoser is the oldest cut-stone structure in all of Egypt. The pyramid is said to have been designed by the architect Imhotep for the then Pharaoh Djoser as his burial site.

Bent Pyramid

The Bent Pyramid was built in the early years of the fourth dynasty. The pyramid is the second of three consecutive pyramids constructed by Pharaoh Sneferu, father of Khufu.

Also known as the Pyramid of Sneferu, the Bent Pyramid is the earliest Egyptian experiment at building a smooth inclining structure. The Bent Pyramid gets its name from its unique design, where the angle of inclination changes halfway up, creating a noticeable bend in its shape. The lower portion has an angle of approximately 54 degrees, while the upper part has an angle of about 43 degrees. The pyramid complex also includes a mortuary temple.

Bent Pyramid

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid was the third pyramid constructed by Pharaoh Sneferu around 2575–2551 BCE. It is also the final resting place of the pharaoh located near the Bent Pyramid in Dahshur Necropolis.

The Red Pyramid is often credited as the first successful attempt at constructing a truly smooth inclined pyramid. At its base, the pyramid is 220 meter wide with a 105 meter height.

Initially, the pyramid was encased with Tura limestone. But years of wear and tear in the humid weather have rendered a slight red color to the pyramid.

Red Pyramid, Dahshur, Egypt

Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun got its name from the Aztecs who visited the city of Teotihuacan several centuries after it was abandoned. The pyramid was built by the ancient civilization of the Teotihuacans between 200 to 750 CE.

It was completed in two phases with the first one being at around 200 CE. At its center, the pyramid is 65 meters tall. The pyramid was constructed with adobe bricks with a central staircase that led to the temple at the top. Archaeologists speculate that the pyramid was the center of religious congregations in ancient Teotihuacan. However, there is no concrete evidence to connect it with a specific deity.

Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Pyramid of the Moon

The Pyramid of the Moon or Pirámide de la Luna is located at Teotihuacán in Mexico. The pyramid stands near the site of the Pyramid of the Sun in modern-day San Martín de las Pirámides, Mexico. Archeologists believe that the pyramid was built before the Pyramid of the Sun in the 1st century CE.

The pyramid is relatively small compared to the Pyramid of the Sun at about 43 meter. Similar to its counterpart, the Pyramid of the Moon is part of the large Avenue of the Dead. It is geometrically constructed to align in a certain way with the Pyramid of the Sun and the Cerro Gordo. Akin to the Sun Pyramid, the Pyramid of the Moon was also used as an altar for the Moon Goddess and large-scale ceremonial activities.

Pyramid of the Moon (Pirámide de la Luna), Teotihuacán, México

El Castillo

Popularly known as the Temple of Kukulkan, El Castillo is located in Chichen Itza of Yucatan in Mexico. The step pyramid was built as a temple of Kukulcan, a Yucatec Maya deity with the shape of a feathered serpent.

The 30-meter-long pyramid has a temple on top of it. It can be accessed from all four sides. Each side has 91 steps which total to 365 from all sides. This is a reference to the Maya solar calendar comprising 365 days. Archaeologists believe that the Temple of Kukulcan was constructed sometime between the 8th to 12th century CE. The most striking thing about the Temple of Kukulkan is that the steps play light and shadow during autumnal equinoxes in a way that looks like a serpent moving across the stairs. This architectural ingenuity remains a mystery to this day.

El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Temple of Kukulcan

Pyramid of the Magician

The Pyramid of the Magician is situated in the Mayan city of Uxmal in Mexico. It is believed to have been built by the Mayan Civilization around the 6th Century CE. In spanish, this pyramid is called Pirámide del adivino.

The name ‘Uxmal’ refers to something “thrice-built”. Like many structures of the region, the Pyramid of the Magician also went through several layers of construction over 400 years. As a result, the pyramid got its distinct shape of a rounded side and elliptical base. At its center, the pyramid is about 40 meters tall.

The pyramid is thought to be the temple of the Itzamna, the Mayan God of wisdom.

Pyramid of the Magician (Pirámide del adivino)

Final Words

Pyramids are a fascinating creation of the ancient world. While in most cases, the pyramids of Egypt have been used as tombs for royalties, the pyramids in the far west largely served as temples and ceremonial structures. Over the centuries, most pyramids have fallen in disarray. While some stood the test of time, others disappeared from the face of the earth. The existing pyramids are of great historical value for visits as they provide a glimpse into the glorious past of many civilizations.