Day 2: Mastaba & Pyramids

Lesson 3 - From Mastaba to Pyramid

The pyramids weren't invented in a day.  In fact the pyramids evolved from simpler architecture, but all the buildings were tombs.  The Egyptians were very interested in the afterlife.  Their whole religious beliefs revolved around how the gods would deal with them on earth, but more importantly how people would transition from this life to an afterlife.  It was described as a journey and important people, like kings or pharaohs would need items, animals, food, and servants to assist them in the afterlife and the journey to the afterlife.  Therefore, pyramids and earlier tombs knows as 'mastaba' were warehouses for the pharaoh's body, but also the good he or she would need to be successful in the afterlife.

As you can see from the picture above of a mastaba, the burial chamber was underground.  Inside the burial chamber would be the important items for the pharaoh including his sarcophagus.  The building above the burial chamber would have useful items, but the gold items, the jars of grain, the statues of servants, etc would be stored underground and blocked off from the rest of the mastaba.

Later, the mastaba evolved into the stepped pyramid, which was essential mastabas stacked upon each other.  This allowed pharaohs to demonstrate the high societal position, but also allow secret tunnels and false passageways to be built in order to confuse robbers. If you believed that the items in your tomb were to help you in the afterlife, the last thing you would want is for robbers to come and take those things.  Therefore, many pyramids had false passageways to confuse robbers.  Nevertheless, the actual burial chamber would be below ground.

Eventually, the mastaba would evolve into a stepped pyramid and the stepped pyramid into an actual pyramid.  The purpose and use for the pyramid remained the same - a tomb for an important person (usually a pharaoh).  The larger pyramid demonstrated the greatness of the pharaoh would be buried there.  The interior structure of the pyramid would move the burial chamber from underground into the actual pyramid.  

3. Questions for Lesson 3

.....a) What were pyramids used for?

.....b) What is a mastaba?

.....c) What is a stepped pyramid?

.....d) What is a sarcophagus?

4. Lesson 4 - Khufu Revealed (Part 1)

-Watch the video below to 5:50 and then stop-

5. Questions for Lesson 4 - Khufu Revealed (Part 1)

.....a) Who is Jean-Pierre Houdin?

.....b) What is the great (largest pyramid) in Egypt called? (***hint it is in the title of the video***)

.....c) What kind of pyramid is the Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara?

.....d) How did the trend of building smooth-sided pyramids last?

.....e) What was the diet of the people who built the pyramids?

.....f) When we think of the people who built the pyramids, what do we think they were?  How does this video suggest something other than that?

.....g) What are two mysteries about Khufu’s pyramid?

.....h) What are three common theories on how Khufu’s pyramid was built?