Why were pyramids built

The 138 pyramids in Egypt together constitute one of the Seven Wonders of the World and for good reason. The architecture of these massive structures are in fact so advanced for the time in which it was built, that the theories about the techniques used are still debated by archeologists and experts around the world. However, the pyramids were built with a purpose in mind and that purpose was to entomb the Egyptian kings or “Pharaohs”, as they were called. Apart from the Pharaohs, their family and close friends were also entombed at times within these massive monuments. Although it is not the only instance of rich monarchs spending a lot of money and forcing people under their command to do something huge for selfish goals, the Egyptians pyramids are certainly some of the greatest examples of the phenomenon.

Now that the basic purpose of these triangular buildings have been made clear, it is time to discuss the reasons as to why the Pharaohs chose pyramid monuments and did all that they did in those times. The Egyptians had their own religious beliefs and when the pyramids were made (3000 BC – 1600 BC) those beliefs were polytheistic. The Egyptian gods were supposed to exist in all things that surrounded them men in their daily life. They strongly believed in the existence of afterlife and considered it much more important than the mortal life on this earth. In fact, they even held that it was possible for some men to unite with these gods as one in their afterlife and thus attaining the highest level of existence. As it can be easily imagined, this unification was highly craved by everyone, especially the all powerful pharaohs. The chance to unite with a higher being and enter the afterlife was thought to be embedded in the quality of the burial chamber and with the offerings that the person was buried with. Thus, the magnificent tombs known to us today as pyramids were ordered into creation over the years by these powerful kings. They were buried after mummification, with treasures of the finest quality and of the highest value so that they could have an eternal afterlife.

Although not much is confirmed about the pyramids, this much is known that the structure and shape of the tomb was such that there would always be a slender pathway for the entombed pharaoh to rise up to the top and enter the afterlife as a superior being through the night sky. It has been found that every single pyramid built by the Egyptians was built on the western bank of the Nile. The reason behind choosing the location was again their belief in afterlife, because according to ancient Egyptians, the time after sunset was for the deceased and west is where the sun sets.