Who built the pyramids?

Far away in the deserts of Egypt stand giant stone shapes pointing at the sky. They are the pyramids, and they were built thousands of years ago. Who could build something so huge?

Tombs for kings

The biggest pyramids were giant tombs — special resting places. They were built for the kings of Egypt, who were called pharaohs.

People long ago believed a pharaoh would go on a journey after death. So they built him a grand pyramid filled with treasures to take along. The pyramid kept the pharaoh safe inside.

Many busy workers

A pyramid was not built by just a few people. It took thousands of skilled workers all working together for many years. There were stone cutters, builders, cooks and helpers, like a whole busy town.

They were not magic and they did not have big machines. They used ropes, wooden sledges and lots of careful teamwork to do the job.

Lifting heavy stones

Each pyramid is made of huge stone blocks, and some are heavier than a car! Workers dragged the blocks on sledges and may have pulled them up long ramps of earth.

Block by block, the pyramid grew taller and taller, until it touched the sky.

Wonder fact: The Great Pyramid was the tallest building made by people for over 3,000 years — and it is still standing in the desert today!