Ancient Egypt (4)--Pyramids

There are ten Pyramids of Giza, standing on the west bank of the Nile River outside Cairo. The three largest, shown here, constitute the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Each pyramid was built to protect the body of an Egyptian king (pharaoh). The Egyptians thought that a person's body had to be preserved and protected so the soul could live forever. Many scholars believe that the pyramid shape has a religious meaning to the Egyptians. The sloping sides may have reminded the Egyptians of the slanting rays of the sun, by which the soul of the king could climb to the sky and join the gods. The ancient Egyptians believed that they could enjoy life after death. They believed that the bodies of the dead had to be preserved for the next life, and so they mummified (embalmed and dried) corpses to prevent them from decaying. After a body was mummified, it was wrapped in layers of linen strips and placed in a coffin. The Egyptians filled their tombs with items for use in the after life.. These items included clothing, wigs, food, cosmetics, and jewelry. Tombs also had statues representing servants who would care for them in the next world. Scenes of daily life were painted on walls inside the tombs. The Egyptians believed that certain prayers said by priests would make the God Osiris bring the scenes as well as the dead to life.