The first Egyptian pyramid was built over 4500 years ago as a tomb for an Egyptian pharaoh, the then rulers of ancient Egypt. His successors followed him in this burial method and, like their predecessor, were mummified after death and placed in the interior of a pyramid with valuables and personal belongings. In total, about eighty pyramids have been preserved, built over a period of about a thousand years. The earliest form of a pyramid is the mastaba, a box-shaped construction in which important people were buried. The Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara is the first step towards building true pyramids.
The shape of the pyramids probably had two meanings:
1.primeval mound: According to one of the cosmogonies, the primeval mound or tumulus was the first to emerge from the chaos/water. The primordial mound stood for creation and the pyramid is said to symbolize the creation of resurrection after death.
2. stairway to heaven: a 'stairway to heaven': the pharaoh used the pyramid as a stairway to take place between the circumpolar stars after his death.
Dimensions: 7x7x6cm
