Step by step guide to building pyramids:

Step 1: Start with steps



The Step Pyramid of Djoser (aka Zoser... how dare these Egyptians have names that predate the invention of the Latin alphabet by thousands of years, thus making it mildly inconvenient for me to write about them?) is basically the oldest major stone structure in the world (over 4700 years old!). It's about as tall as a 15-storey building.

Step 2: Figure out which building materials to use



After completing the main structure, the ancient Egyptians began experimenting with covering the jagged blocks with form-fitted ones. In this case, they didn't make it very far up yet.

Step 3: Don't just put stones over top a pile of sand



Some of the pyramids they experimented with used mudbricks for the interior, instead of stone blocks throughout. This turned out not to stand the test of time...

Step 4: Get your angles straight



The Bent Pyramid... this first attempt at a "true" pyramid had to be readjusted partway, presumably because of stability issues due to too steep an angle.


Step 5: Start thinking big



The Red Pyramid is hailed as the first time they perfected the art of pyramid building. At about 25 storeys tall, this thing is getting big. When I walked up to it at first, though, I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be. I suppose it's because I've seen many other taller things in my day, and it's not trivial to put yourself in the mindset of someone from 4600 years ago and imagine how small it must have made them feel.

However, my viewpoint changed when I tried to snap a picture of it. I stood back and... well, that won't fit in the viewfinder... ok, take a few more steps back and... nope, not even close... about 100 meters back and... geez, I guess not...

The picture above gives you a bit of an idea, with the busload of tourists climbing up to the entrance for the sole purpose of providing a scale for my shot ;)

Step 6: Start thinking even bigger

Tomorrow we're off as a group to the Great Pyramids at Giza. Stay tuned...