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Pyramids and Hieroglyphs

Explore the pyramids at Giza and find out about the history, building, size, and purposes of the major pyramid complexes in ancient Egypt.

To begin your exploration, take a look at this famous ancient place at http://ce.eng.usf.edu/pharos/cairo. You will see three pyramids. There is a well-known ancient structure missing from the picture. What is it?

To confirm your answer, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/pyramid/explore/. Then answer these additional questions.

• Which pyramid is the smallest?

• Which one was built for a pharaoh who ruled from 2520–2494 B.C.?

• Which one is also known as the Great Pyramid?

To learn more about the size of the pyramids, go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/pyramid/geometry/base.html.

How many football fields would you have to walk the length of in order to equal the distance around the base of the Great Pyramid?

In the pyramids, hieroglyphs, or the Egyptians' picture writing, has been found. You can uncover the secrets of reading hieroglyphs at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/pyramid/hieroglyph/.

Try to crack the code of the hieroglyph that is shown. (Do so before peeking at the answer!) Then try writing your own name or even a message to a friend in hieroglyphs.

Extension Activity

Build a scale model of the Great Pyramid using the plans given at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/pyramid/geometry/model.html.