The Step Pyramid of King Djoser at Saqqara has the distinction of being the first large stone structure in the world. The pyramid, built around 2630 BC, was a natural progression away from the original burial monuments of the Egyptians, which were large stone "bunkers" called mastabas. The pyramid at Saqqara is a series of mastabas built on top of one another, gradually decreasing in size until a rough pyramidal shape was achieved. The pyramid measures 60 meters high and was originally covered in white limestone that has since crumbled away. Designed and overseen by King Djoser's vizier, Imhotep, the pyramid was a revolutionary piece of architecture when it was constructed and continues to amaze visitors with its simple ingenuity.
The Bent Pyramid of King Snefru was another step in the evolution of Egyptian pyramid building. Constructed after the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, the Bent Pyramid originally endeavored to be a traditional, smooth-sided pyramid but geometric imperfections in the planning resulted in the unusual shape of the structure. The Bent Pyramid has long intrigued archaeologists due to the relatively intact exterior, which shows the beautiful limestone casing that once covered the entire structure.
The Lahun Pyramid, also called the Brick Pyramid of Senwosret, is a funerary structure of the Middle Kingdom located between Bani Suef and Fayoum. The irregular construction initially lead researchers to dismiss its importance, but further study has shown that the visible mud-brick wasn't intentional but was caused by theft of the valuable limestone facing that once covered it. Little is known about the Lahun Pyramid or its builders, but it is nonetheless an important structure in the time-line of Egyptian architecture.
The pyramids of Giza are the most famous and iconic structures in Egypt, if not the world. The largest of the three, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, is the only pyramid to survive substantially intact. Construction of the Great Pyramid took 20 years to complete and was the tallest structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Although it was originally covered in a white limestone casing, what we see now is only the underlying structure. Despite the effects of weather and time, the Great Pyramid remains one of the wonders of the world and a "must see" when in Egypt.
