When first constructed, pyramids were often covered with a layer of polished limestone or granite to create a more aesthetically pleasing and durable shape. The pyramids also typically featured a pyramidion at the top to facilitate cleaning and maintenance.
The Egyptian pyramids rising above the sands at Giza stand as a testament to human ingenuity and engineering. These structures, built to mark the tombs of ancient pharaohs, have endured for thousands of years. However, over the millennia, the pyramids have changed significantly, largely due to the reuse of materials by builders and tomb robbery.
Digital reconstruction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. (Photo: Budget Direct).
Initially, when the pyramids were erected, both at Giza and elsewhere, they did not have the sandy brown color we see today. Instead, the pyramids were covered with a layer of polished sedimentary stone. All pyramids were clad in fine white limestone, according to Mohamed Megahed, an assistant professor at the Institute of Egyptology at Charles University in Prague. The limestone casing gave the pyramids a smooth, bright white exterior under the sunlight.
Builders used about 5.5 million tons of limestone in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, according to the National Museum of Scotland. The Great Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, named after Pharaoh Khufu who reigned from 2551 to 2528 BC, is one of the largest and oldest of all the pyramids still standing at Giza. However, the casing stones of the pyramid were later repurposed for projects by other Egyptian pharaohs. Evidence shows that the casing stones began to be removed during the reign of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (from 1336 to 1327 BC), and this practice continued until the 12th century, according to Egyptologist Mark Lehner. An earthquake in 1303 also loosened some of the stones.
Today, several pyramids at Giza still retain some of the original limestone casing, although it has been significantly worn down compared to ancient times. The Pyramid of Khafre, named after Pharaoh Khafre (who reigned from 2520 to 2494 BC), retains some casing stones at the top, giving the appearance of a second peak atop the first. In ancient Egypt, this pyramid had a casing of red granite on its lower levels, according to Egyptologist Miroslav Verner. The third and smallest of the main pyramids at Giza is the Pyramid of Menkaure, named after Pharaoh Menkaure, who reigned from 2490 to 2472 BC, and it also featured red granite on its lower levels.
Today, nothing sits at the apex of the pyramid, but originally, the structure featured a pyramidion, covered in electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, according to Megahed. The pyramidion resembled a pointed jewel at the top of the pyramid. Most of the pyramidion has been lost over time, but some specimens have been preserved in museums, revealing the pyramidion engraved with religious images. For instance, the British Museum holds a limestone pyramidion from Abydos, inscribed with hieroglyphs depicting the deceased worshiping the god Osiris and undergoing mummification under the hands of Anubis, the jackal-headed god.
