The Egyptian pyramids were built by the ancient Egyptians, primarily as royal tombs for pharaohs during the Old Kingdom period. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest and most famous, was built under Pharaoh Khufu around 2550 B.C. His successors, Khafre and Menkaure, also built pyramids at Giza
. Contrary to popular myths, the pyramids were not built by slaves but by tens of thousands of skilled workers who were likely paid laborers or conscripted workers. Archaeological evidence shows these workers lived in purpose-built villages near the pyramids and were buried with honors, suggesting they were respected rather than enslaved
. The construction involved sophisticated techniques, including the use of ramps and sledges to move massive stone blocks weighing from 2.5 to 15 tons each. Recent discoveries of ancient ramp systems and papyri records from the reign of Khufu indicate organized labor forces transporting limestone blocks along the Nile to the pyramid sites
. The pyramid-building era began earlier with the Step Pyramid of Djoser around 2630 B.C., designed by the architect Imhotep, and evolved through the reigns of Snefru and others before reaching its peak at Giza
. In summary:
- Built by ancient Egyptians, not slaves but skilled workers and laborers.
- The Great Pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu around 2550 B.C.
- Construction used advanced engineering methods and organized labor.
- Workers lived in nearby villages and were honored in death
