Pyramids

The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids. They are huge structures built of brick or stone, some of which are among the world's largest constructions. The age of the pyramids reached its peak at Giza in 2575-2150 B.C. As of 2008, some 138 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their companions during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. The Great Pyramid of Giza was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the only one to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians covered the faces of pyramids with polished white limestone, containing great quantities of fossilized seashells. Many of the facing stones have fallen or have been removed and used to build the mosques of Cairo.