How many pyramids are in Egypt?

Table of Contents  

• Introduction 

• What are Egyptian pyramids? 

• How many pyramids are there in ancient Egypt?

• How many pyramids are still standing in Egypt? 

• How many big pyramids are in Egypt?

• Giza Pyramids  

• Dahshur Pyramids  

• In Saqqara (Step Pyramids of Djoser)  

• Pyramid of Meidum 

• What is the most famous pyramid? 

• How many pyramids are in Cairo, Egypt?

• How many step pyramids are there in Egypt?

• How many pyramids are in Giza, Egypt?

• How many sides are on the pyramids in Egypt?  

• How many blocks are in the pyramids of Egypt?

• Final Thoughts 

Introduction  

Pyramids in Egypt are now part of its national identity and reflect its rich history from a tourism point of view. Are you also curious about knowing actually how many pyramids there are in Egypt? Well, the number falls between 118 and 138 pyramids that exist within the borders of Egypt. These massive structures continue attracting historians, archaeologists, engineers, and travelers from around the world. Built thousands of years ago during different periods, the pyramids served primarily as royal tombs for ancient pharaohs. 

In this blog you will be knowing about the numbers of pyramids and which are the other pyramids at Giza and also where tourists can explore the pyramids other than Giza. Let’s start by knowing the number of pyramids. 

What are Egyptian pyramids? 

These are the masonry structures, which are built as funerary monuments for the resting place of the pharaohs’ bodies after their deaths; they are part of ancient Egyptian burial practices. Why are pyramids called “masonry structures”? The term “masonry” refers to the craft of construction, as they were built by stacking individual units/stones like limestone and granite, which were used to build the Great Pyramid of Khufu.  

How many pyramids are there in ancient Egypt?

According to the archaeological records, Egypt has 118 to 138 pyramids, which were found during the excavation process. The number is debatable as scientists debate about counting mud-brick pyramids and queen pyramids in total. But this is the number that most records show; some specify that there are 120 pyramids in Egypt. 

How many pyramids are still standing in Egypt? 

More than 100 pyramids are still standing in Egypt; however, not all are fully preserved. Most of the pyramids have lost their limestone shine over centuries. Some ancient structure gets heavily damaged because of natural erosion, earthquakes, stone theft, and human activity. The most preserved and appealing pyramids are mainly located at Giza and Dahshur. Several pyramids still remain partially buried beneath the desert sand.  

How many big pyramids are in Egypt?

In Egypt roughly 6 to 8 “major,” or “big,” pyramids are present today that represent the peak of the Old Kingdom’s monumental engineering. Here, mentioning the location-wise great pyramids of Egypt. 

Giza Pyramids  

There are 3 main pyramids at Giza: 

The Great Pyramid of Khufu: It is the oldest of all three and also the largest; construction was completed in 2560 BC. mainly known as the world’s tallest man-made structure over the years and one of seven wonders of the ancient world. This is the royal tomb built for King Khufu’s mummy, and today tourists can enter the pyramid during their all-inclusive Egypt river cruise and Giza private trips. 

The Pyramid of Khafre: It is the second largest pyramid; sometimes because of its base, it looks taller than the father pyramid of Khufu. The pyramid is built for Khufu’s son, Khafre, and recognizable for its slightly smooth coating till its peak. 

The Pyramid of Menkaure: With a height of 218 feet (66 meters), it is the smallest of all three, built for the pharaoh Menkaure. The feature that makes it unique is that the lower part is constructed with the Aswan red granite stone, making it slightly different from the other pyramids. 

Dahshur Pyramids  

The pyramid complex at Dahshur is located around 25 miles from Cairo; it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 3 major pyramids. 

The Bent Pyramid: It is a royal tomb built by the pharaoh Sneferu, who is known as the founding king of Egypt’s fourth dynasty. Famous for its “bent” shape, meaning sloped angle, this is also one of the well-preserved pyramids, as around 70% of the coating of white Tura limestone on the outer surface is still visible. 

The Red Pyramid: The Red Pyramid was also built by the pharaoh Sneferu; the bent pyramid was an experimental monument. Then the Red Pyramid was built, which becomes Egypt’s first successful “true” pyramid with smooth sides. Famous for its reddish hue, also widely known as the North Pyramid, standing 105 meters tall. The tourists can explore the interiors of the red pyramids through narrow corridors. 

In Saqqara (Step Pyramids of Djoser)  

Here is only one major pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt’s first pyramid and the world’s oldest large-scale stone structure, located in the Saqqara necropolis. Built in the 27th century by the legendary architect of ancient Egypt, Imhotep, it is constructed by stacking six mastabas, one of major Egyptian archaeological monuments.  

Pyramid of Meidum 

It is located near the Faiyum Oasis and takes around 1-2 hours to drive from Cairo. The construction of the monument began with building a step pyramid in the 3rd dynasty under the pharaoh Huni and was later expanded under the pharaoh Sneferu. Due to critical engineering errors, it collapsed, so now only the step center core remains. Originally, it was designed around 311 feet; today it stands at around 213 feet in height. It is open daily from 08:00 AM to 04:00 PM for tourists. 

What is the most famous pyramid? 

The most famous pyramid in Egypt belongs to King Khufu, known as the Great Pyramid of Giza, widely known for its size with an original height of 146.6 meters and 481 feet, built with around more than 2 million stone blocks, and also part of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 

What makes it unique? A burial monument, which was built around 2600 BC, approximately 4,500 years ago. Over centuries it has survived earthquakes and erosion and stands as proof of Egyptian civilization. Do you know that you can actually go inside the Great Pyramid of Giza? Yes, book a private tour to the Pyramid of Khufu while on your Dahabiya Nile cruise and Egypt trip and explore the ancient monument with the assistance of the experienced Egyptologist and private transfers on day tours. 

How many pyramids are in Cairo, Egypt?

Zero, Cairo had no present pyramids within the city limits. The pyramids are located at locations like Giza, Saqqara, and Dahshur, which are located across the west bank of the Nile, bordering the Cairo metropolitan area. Tourists can stay at hotels in Cairo and, with a day tour, can explore the pyramids and nearby historical locations. 

How many step pyramids are there in Egypt?

According to the archeologists, there are 10 step pyramids. The Djoser pyramid was the prominent step structure at Saqqara; the other two major pyramids are the Layer Pyramid (Zawyet El Aryan) and the Buried Pyramid (Saqqara). With that, 7 minor identical step pyramids are in Egypt, named the Seila Pyramid, Zawiyet el-Meiyitin Pyramid, Sinki Pyramid, Kula Pyramid, Naqada Pyramid, Edfu Pyramid, and Elephantine Pyramid. 

How many pyramids are in Giza, Egypt?

In Giza there are 9 distinct pyramids, which include the 3 massive pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menakaure. With them, 6 queen or subsidiary pyramids are present there near Khufu’s pyramid; three royal funerary structures were built, named Pyramid G1-a, which belongs to Queen Meritetes; G1-b is of Queen Hetepheres; and the southernmost, G1-c, was built for Queen Henutsen. 

Then 3 other structural queen pyramids were built near the Pyramid of Menkaure. Tourists, while on the all-inclusive Nile cruise tours, should plan a dedicated day visit to the Giza Plateau for exclusive knowledge about the historical and architectural features of the pyramids. 

How many sides are on the pyramids in Egypt?  

For most of the individuals it’s a 4-sided monument, but actually it’s an 8-sided burial monument. It is documented after the scanning survey by Egyptologists and experts that reveals the four sides are slightly concave. The 8-sided geometric structure is nearly impossible to see from the ground but becomes visible from the air during the spring and autumn equinoxes, when the sun forms a half-shadow across its faces.  

How many blocks are in the pyramids of Egypt?

These are historical monuments, so counting each pyramid’s block is nearly impossible, but the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza contains approximately 2.3 million to 2.5 million stone blocks, and the major stone blocks weigh around 2.5 tons, and the granite ceiling weighs around 80 tons. Here the fascination and mystery lie: in ancient times, without any advanced construction equipment, the Egyptians built such a massive structure that is still standing even after hundreds of centuries. 

Final Thoughts 

Egypt contains more than 120 pyramids, including big monumental to minor ruined structures, like Khufu’s pyramid, which is known for its ancient engineering and architecture. The first pyramid in Egyptian history ever constructed was the Djoser step pyramid, depicting the innovation and evolution of architecture that then enabled the ancient architects to build the largest pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza. So, if you are visiting Egypt for a 3-night Nile cruise, plan a day or two for exploring the pyramids and Giza Plateau. For booking the private tour to the pyramid of Khufu, you can contact us for high-end travel experiences.