Why were pyramids built?

barbaro4ever

Pyramids were built as tombs for Egyptian Pharoahs, or kings. Over the bricks they used, they made a layer of white stone, and topped the pyramid with a cap of gold. Mar 11 07, 1:19 PM

toughynutter

The Mayans are also know for pyramids. " The Mayan version of the pyramid is truncated so that a temple can be built on the top(Stierlin99). The ancient Mayans built two types of pyramids, those that were meant to be climbed and those that were not. The first type was used for holding sacrificial rituals. The other type was not meant to be touched and was sacred. The steps on theses structures were too steep to climb and many times they had doorways leading to nowhere. " http://www.courses.psu.edu/anth/anth008_cmg149/pyr.html Mar 11 07, 2:03 PM

skysmom65

The true pyramid exists only in Egypt, though the term has also been applied to similar structures in other countries. Egyptian pyramids are square in plan and their triangular sides, which directly face the points of the compass, slope upwards at approximately a 50° angle from the ground and meet at an apex. The prototype for the pyramid are the mastabas of the Old Kingdom (2680–2565 B.C.), which are rectangular in plan and have only two sloping sides. After these came the step-pyramid at Sakkara, built c.2620 B.C., which soon evolved into the straight-sided true pyramid. This monumental structure was developed around the IV dynasty and continued to be the favored form for royal burial through the VI dynasty. Each monarch built his own pyramid in which his mummified body might be preserved for eternity away from human view and sacrilege. As a result of the lack of sophisticated machinery, the construction of each pyramid took many years and required measureless amounts of building materials and labor. Entrance into a pyramid is through an opening in the northern wall. A small passage, traversing lesser chambers, leads to the sepulchral room deep beneath the surface. Stone blocks forming a gable divert the weight of the great masonry masses over these chambers. Though the pyramids were usually built of rough stone blocks laid up in horizontal courses, many were constructed of mud bricks with a stone casing. MORE: http://www.answers.com/Pyramids Mar 11 07, 4:33 PM

Baloo55th

To answer the question:, as barbaro says, for burying people in. They were a late development of the simple earth (earth? sand or mud!) heap, which became a mud brick heap, which naturally assumed a pyramidal form, as it's easier to build. Gradually, they became more and more elaborate, but with a stepped pyramid shape not the true pyramid we associate with them. Eventually, some bright spark had the idea of enlarging an already mainly built pyramid and smoothing the sides off at the same time. From there, it was a short step to the Great Pyramid. And after that, a decline as the cost had grown too great. Or possibly the reign lengths had shortened, giving not enough time to complete the structure. They were not robber proof, and concealed cave tombs gave greater security. Mar 11 07, 5:17 PM

star_gazer

"We've constructed pyramids in honor of our escaping, for this is the land where the Pharoh died..." Mar 11 07, 8:23 PM