See the Pyramids Along the Nile Quiz

Answer: Robbers' Tunnel

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest of pyramid on Giza Plateau. It is the only one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World to still be standing despite it being the first to be constructed. It was also the tallest manmade structure in the world until England's Lincoln Cathedral was completed in 1311. The pyramid is dedicated to Khufu/Cheops, an ancient pharaoh.

The Great Pyramid is Egypt's most famous site. Tourists who visit the Great Pyramid can enter from the Robber's Tunnel entrance. The origin of this entrance way is unknown but is commonly believed to have been built from a part of the pyramid, robbers or invaders had broken through. Many of the chambers inside the pyramid are off limits to tourists for safety reasons.

Answer: The Sphinx

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest of the three pyramids on Giza Plateau. It is dedicated to Khafre/Chefren, Khufu's son. Although it is shorter the Great Pyramid, an illusion makes it appear taller because it was built on higher ground.

The Sphinx is located close to the Pyramid of Khafre. It is commonly believed that the Sphinx was built to represent Khafre and is built from the same rock used to build the pyramid itself. Archaeologists suspect the Sphinx and the Pyramid may have at one time been part of the same temple complex.

Answer: A huge gash in one of the sides

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three pyramids on Giza Plateau. It is best known for the gash on the northern face of the pyramid. This opening was caused by twelfth-century invaders who tried to break their way into the pyramid. However, this was a fruitless task as the stones were too heavy to move or break.

The invaders only succeeded in removing a few of the stones before giving up.

Answer: The Lost Pyramid

The Pyramid of Djedefre, located at Abu Rawash, is the northernmost pyramid in Egypt. It is called the Lost Pyramid because it remains largely in ruins. When it was intact, the Pyramid of Djedefre stood about as tall as the Pyramid of Menkaure. How the pyramid fell into ruins is unknown.

It is commonly believed that it was destroyed as a pagan symbol when Coptic Christians settled in the region but historical accounts suggest that at least part of the pyramid still existed as late as the 1800s.

Answer: White

The Red Pyramid lies south of Cairo on the Dahshur Plateau along the Nile River. The pyramids here are very well preserved and are among the oldest in Egypt. The Red Pyramid is dedicated to Sneferu the father of Khufu.

It is called the Red Pyramid because it is made of red limestone. However, the pyramid was actually built with a layer of white tura limestone covering it. The limestone from this pyramid and others was removed centuries ago and used to construct some of Cairo's famous white limestone buildings. Some of the white limestone can be seen in spots of the Red Pyramid, particularly along the base.

Answer: Poor construction methods

The ruins of the Pyramid of Sahure is the most famous site located at the Sahure complex along the Nile. Among the other buildings here included a mortuary temple and a sun temple. The cult of Sekhmet developed around here as well and a Coptic Christian following later adopted the temples for its own purposes.

Today, the pyramid is largely in ruins caused by poor construction. This is ironic because the pyramid was considered the gold standard construction-wise with many new techniques and architectural layouts used. The problem is believed to be that workers sped up the construction for unknown reasons and cut corners. In addition, much of the material was stolen and was either not replaced or replaced with something inferior.

The ruins of the pyramid were discovered by Europeans in the mid-1800s but explorers thought it was too unsafe to explore. It wasn't until 1907 that archaeologists entered the pyramid for the first time.

Answer: Sneferu

The Bent Pyramid is one of a few pyramids dedicated to Sneferu. It is so named because as the pyramid rises, the angle becomes steeper and steeper giving it the appearance that it is bent. There are many theories as to why the pyramid was constructed in this manner.

The most prevalent is that it was to avoid collapse during the building phase. The Bent Pyramid is located nearby the Red Pyramid and is one of a few pyramids in Egypt to retain a large amount of its original white limestone coating.

Answer: False

The Luxor Pyramid is a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It received its name and theme, however, from the Luxor Complex in Egypt.

The Luxor Temple is located down the Nile in central-southern Egypt. It is a vast complex of buildings built during the reign of several pharaohs including Tutankhamen and Ramses III. The Luxor Temple was built as a symbolic revitalizing of kings of Egypt. Many pharaohs were crowned here.

The Luxor Temple Complex itself is part of an even larger complex called Karnak, which is mostly the ruins of the ancient city of Thebes. Karnak Temple Complex is the most visited place in Egypt outside of Giza Plateau.

Answer: Kush

Nuri is an area along the Nile in northern Sudan that once served as the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kush. The area, today, is best known for the series of pyramids, which are in various states of ruin. The best known and largest pyramid here is the one belonging to King Taharqa. His pyramid is largely in ruins but was once the centerpiece of the pyramids in the area. Other kings' pyramids were build around near his. King Taharqa's pyramid was so built that on the day the Nile flooded, the sun would rise directly over the point of the pyramid.

In addition, there are smaller pyramids believed to belong to the mothers and wives of various kings. It is not known for certain who is buried or was supposed to be buried in many of the pyramids.

Answer: Pyramids of Meroe

The Pyramids of Meroe are divided into three groups: North, South and West. Each group consists of pyramids and burial places of kings and queens from different periods in the Kingdom of Kush. The North Cemetery contains the most pyramids as well as having the best preserved pyramids. Many of the identities of the kings and queens interred in these pyramids are unknown.

The pyramids were well intact until the 1830s when they were looted and destroyed by Giuseppe Ferlini. Ferlini blew up at least forty pyramids and robbed them of gold and silver. However, many merchants in Europe thought he was a fraud and refused to buy his treasures, believing they were fake. Many of these treasures are displayed in various Egyptian museums throughout Europe.