Ancient worldAt the beginning of this chapter, it explains how the pyramids were built, what they were used for, the three pyramids of Giza, some messages found on the stones used to build the pyramids, and what that a mastaba is. The pyramids are tombs built for the Egyptian pharaohs. Pyramids are large, four-sided, triangle-shaped structures that meet at the top to form a point. The ancient Egyptians used the pyramids as tombs for pharaohs and temples for their gods. The pyramids are attached to one or two small temples, which welcome their relatives and servants. A few pyramids still exist today and are great attractions for tourists. The pyramids were built by bringing granite blocks to the workshop, measuring the blocks, shaping them, and placing them into the body of the pyramid. The core of the structure is now complete. Then you place the limestone blocks on top of the structure (they started putting the blocks on top then worked their way down). They left two empty rooms to place the pharaoh and his goods. They sealed the pyramids so well that it took two thieves four hundred years to figure out how to get in. Free citizens, conscripted for public work, not by slaves of any kind. sort, build the pyramids. Four thousand expert stone carvers built the pyramids all year round. An additional task force of approximately ninety-five thousand men worked on the pyramids during the four months of the flood (a period of forced inactivity for farmers, since the fields were covered by the waters of the Nile). The pyramids were built between 1600 BC and 2700. Many scholars believe that the reason the pyramids were built in a triangular shape is because they had religious significance to the Egyptians. The inclined side could have reminded the Egyptians of the oblique rays of the sun, that the pharaoh's soul could ascend to the sky and join the gods. In the pyramids, the body of the pharaoh was buried. There was a room for the body. There was also a room for treasures of gold and other priceless items for the pharaoh's afterlife. Sometimes a boat is placed inside so that the pharaoh would have a way to transport himself to his afterlife. In the pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu there was his mummy, coffins filled with jewelry, furniture inlaid with ivory and gold, bowls and vessels made of silver and alabaster, chests. filled with precious clothing and ornaments, and jars filled with food and wine.