The Egyptian pyramids were built primarily during Egypt's Old Kingdom period, around 4,500 years ago. The earliest pyramid is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, constructed circa 2670 BCE. The most famous pyramids at Giza were built during the Fourth Dynasty: Khufu’s Great Pyramid around 2580 to 2560 BCE, Khafre’s Pyramid around 2570 BCE, and Menkaure’s Pyramid around 2510 BCE. Construction of these pyramids typically took about 20 to 30 years each. These dates are widely accepted based on archaeological evidence and radiocarbon dating of materials from the pyramids.
Timeline of Key Pyramids
- Step Pyramid of Djoser: ~2670 BCE (Third Dynasty)
- Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid (Sneferu, Fourth Dynasty): ~2600–2590 BCE
- Great Pyramid of Khufu: ~2580–2560 BCE
- Pyramid of Khafre: ~2570 BCE
- Pyramid of Menkaure: ~2510 BCE
While there are alternative and speculative theories proposing much older dates (e.g., 10,000 years), these lack archaeological substantiation and are not accepted by mainstream Egyptology.
In summary, the pyramid building era flourished mainly between about 2700 BCE and 2500 BCE, marking a golden age of monumental Egyptian architecture.
