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Ever wondered what the inside of pyramids looks like? Let’s unravel the mystery of the seven wonders mainstay. A pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are in the form of a triangle, and they converge into a single step.
The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or in any polygon shape. The square pyramid that is with a square base and four triangular outer surfaces is a common form of Pyramids.
The Egyptians were the ones who came up with the idea of pyramids. They used to build tombs inside Pyramids. They built these pyramids and tombs to prepare for the afterlife. They used to believe that there was a second self-called ka that lived within every human being.
When a person got physically dead, the ka enjoyed eternal life. Those fortunate enough to pass the test of Osiris wanted to be comfortable in their lives beyond earth. The Great Pyramids were grand tombs of powerful pharaohs.
For centuries these pyramids were the tallest structures in the entire world. But can you climb these pyramids?
Yes, you can go inside the Pyramids of Giza, as well as you can have a look inside several smaller pyramids at the site. But you might need to purchase additional tickets to gain entry.
Photo by Jens Aber on Unsplash / copyright 2021
1. The Great Pyramids
1.1 The Great Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid, and it contains the tomb of the Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Khufu. Built-in the early 26th century BC during a period of around 30 years, the pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to remain largely intact.
As part of the Giza pyramid complex, it borders present-day Giza in Greater Cairo, Egypt. The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world, standing in the desert for more than 3,000 years.
The Great Pyramid consists of the Great Sphinx of Giza, a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion.
The Great Sphinx is located on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile river in Giza, Egypt. It is believed that the face of the Sphinx represents the pharaoh, Khafre. Its nose was broken for unknown reasons between the 3rd and 10th centuries AD.
The Great Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and one of the most recognizable statues in the world. According to the archaeological evidence, it was created by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of Khafre.
1.2 The Great Pyramid of Cholula
Many of you might think that the Giza pyramids are the largest pyramids in the world, but no, it is not. Then you might think it might be any other Egyptian pyramid. However, you are still wrong as, at present; the tallest pyramid is The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl, located in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.
It is the largest archaeological site of a pyramid in the New World and the largest pyramid by volume known to exist in the world today.
We have all once seen how the pyramids look from the outside, and we have even read the articles as well, but have you ever wondered what it feels like climbing one of those pyramids or what they look like from the inside?
Many of you might wonder what the inside of pyramids is. This article will explore the inside of these pyramids and look at some amazing facts.
2. Eight interesting facts about the inside of pyramids
2.1. Pyramids Are Not Hollow
The pyramids are dark from the inside, which looks scary, but Pyramids are not hollow in fact, there are many passages, shafts, and hidden chambers that are filled in the inside of Pyramids.
The passages in the inside Pyramids are too narrow that it is uncomfortable to crawl through them. Why these pyramids have these chambers and other structures is still a mystery.
We do not know the theory of these chambers because the scientists are under strict orders not to make invasive excavations.
2.2. Funerary text inscriptions
Next in our list of the inside of pyramids, we have the inscriptions that we found inside of pyramids. According to archaeologists, funerary text inscriptions are believed to be inscribed just to serve the single purpose of instructing the dead person’s soul on how to cross the afterworld.
More than two hundred gods and goddesses are mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, from the most famous (such as Ra, Thoth, Osiris, and Isis) to lesser-known deities. These inscriptions were intended to help the pharaoh’s soul in his transition from earth to the afterlife (Field of Reeds), where he would live eternally.
2.3. The Mummies
As ancient Egyptian rulers, pharaohs meant both the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people. The word “pharaoh” means “Great House,” which refers to the palace where the pharaoh lived. While early Egyptian rulers were called “kings,” later on, the name “pharaoh” stuck.
When pharaohs died in Ancient Egypt, they were mummified. This included preserving the body and designing a coffin with painted pictures and writing. The mummies are actually the main attraction of the inside of the Pyramids.
The process of mummifying was done to help the person travel through the underworld, which would get them to the afterlife and the god Osiris(considered the god of the underworld.)
As a part of the mummification process, the internal organs of the Pharaos were put into containers called canopic jars.
Personal items, jewelry, or pets were often interred with the deceased because it was thought they would be needed in the afterlife.
Till now, we have seen what we usually find in all the Pyramids. Now let us have a look inside some of the Pyramids.
Pyramids of Giza
The pyramids of Giza or The Giza pyramids are actually three pyramids located on the Giza plateau. The three primary pyramids on the Giza plateau were built over the span of three different generations by the rulers Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
Each pyramid was part of a royal mortuary complex with a temple at its base and a long stone causeway leading east from the plateau to a valley temple. The pyramids of Giza are famous for their rich history as well. A visit to these pyramids will be a wonderful experience.
And many people might think that the Great Pyramid of Giza is located in the middle of the desert, but to their surprise, it is not. The Giza pyramids are located pretty much close to the city side.
2.4. The Inside of the pyramid of Khufu
Next, in the list of the inside pyramids, we will look inside Khufu’s Pyramid. The Khufu pyramid is the greatest among all the Giza pyramids. Khufu’s pyramid’s interior chamber and passageways are unique and include several enigmatic features.
There is an unfinished chamber whose function is still a mystery and several air shafts radiate from the upper chamber. It is a long, narrow passage inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu that leads up to the three chambers that are King’s chamber, the queen’s chamber, and the subterranean chamber, which is known as the Grand Gallery.
Near the Pharaon Khufu’s pyramid, there is a smaller pyramid belonging to the pharaohs’ wives and children. It consists of three tiny pyramid ruins west of Khufu’s Great Pyramid belonging to his mother, Hetephere, and his wife, Henutsen. There are another three smaller Queens Pyramids near Menkaures pyramid.
Unlike the larger pyramid, the structures have large passageways containing a burial room and a tomb. These rooms can accommodate a small number of guests only.
The tourists visiting here can have a look at the final resting place of the king, the burial chamber of the king, which only has an empty sarcophagus. It is one of the most amazing passages constructed in the ancient world inside an Egyptian pyramid.
Inside the Khufu pyramid, a boat was embedded along the pharaoh Khufu, known as the Khufu ship. These boats were believed to be embedded to help the pharaoh travel to the afterlife.
The Khufu ship is the oldest, largest, and best-preserved ship of all time that was built in ancient times.
2.5. The Inside of the Pyramid of Khafre
Next in our list of the Inside of Pyramids, we have Khafre’s. This pyramid is much simpler than the pyramid of Khufu it just contains an entrance hall, a columned court, five niches for statues of the pharaoh, five storage chambers, and an inner sanctuary.
The Pyramid at Khafre has 2 entrances that lead to only one burial chamber. Although they are not as elaborate as the other pyramids, they have been constructed from huge granite slabs.
The burial chamber is composed of bedrock and is built in white limestone. Similar to the Great Pyramid, you can enter the pyramid and descend its passages to view the stunning sarcophagus of the Pharaoh.
2.6. The Inside of the Pyramid of Menkaure
Now we will have a look into the inside of the Pyramid of Menkaure. Menkaure’s pyramid chambers are complicated, including a chamber carved with decorative panels and another chamber with six large niches. The burial chamber inside the pyramid is covered with massive granite blocks.
His black stone sarcophagus, carved with niched panels, was discovered inside but was lost at sea in 1838 as it was transported to England.
Menkaure’s mortuary and valley temples had a series of statues of the king. The stunning statue of the king with the queen and several triads showing the king being embraced by deities were discovered in the valley temple.
The king and queen statue is now in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
2.7. The Bent Pyramid
Next, in the list of the inside pyramids, we will look inside the bent Pyramid. The Bent Pyramid is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, Cairo, built under the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu.
The bent pyramid is actually considered a failure as the pyramid was not intended to build the way it is today. It got bent due to miscalculations & engineering problems regarding the structure.
The weight of the limestone blocks led to the destruction of the entire pyramid. Its slope changed at the mid-way point. The lower part of the pyramid was built at an angle of 54 degrees, but the top part clocks in at an angle of 43 degrees.
The Bent Pyramid has two entrances, one low down on the north side, to which a substantial wooden stairway has been built for the convenience of visitors. The second entrance is high on the west side of the pyramid.Each entrance leads to a chamber with a high roof. The northern entrance leads to a chamber below ground level, whereas the western entrance leads to a chamber built in the body of the pyramid itself. A hole in the roof of the northern chamber leads through a rough connecting passage to the passage from the western entrance.
2.8. Red Pyramid
Pharaoh Sneferu also built a red pyramid, the true smooth-sided pyramid, as it was the first-ever perfect pyramid with straight sides. The pyramid is known as a red pyramid because of the rusty red color of the stones, and its inner burial chamber was made of rosette limestones.
Although the red pyramid, compared to the Giza pyramids, has fewer visitors but is beautiful. The red pyramid at Dahshur is spectacular, but it is smaller than its larger counterpart, the Great Pyramid.
The base is nearly as big, but its slopes are 43 degrees from its angle. It’s a very pleasant thing that the Red Pyramid doesn’t have as many tourists as the rest. It is interesting to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
The pyramid was never red in color. In fact, it was pure white in color. Not only the red pyramid but all the pyramids in Egypt were shiny and white in color when they were first built.
The red pyramid doesn’t have many things to explore, but a large chamber is filled with incredible craftsmanship.
Closing Thoughts
Pyramid ticket prices for Giza begin at 500 per person for adult children and 100 per person for children. Tickets are available at the palace entrance; however, we recommend making a reservation online.
If your ticket has never been purchased or is not included as part of your travel package, please be aware that entering pyramids will incur additional fees.
The ticket office is near the entrances of the Pyramids of Giza – Sphinx, Entry, and Grand Pyramid entrances. A visit to one of these pyramids is worthwhile as there are many incredible monuments near them that you would like to visit. And there is no problem in giving it a shot to it.
This is the end of our article about the inside of the Pyramids. Thanks for reading.
Last Updated on by Sanjana
