Pyramide

Pyramide is a geometric solid defined as a polyhedron with a polygonal base and triangular faces that converge at a single point called the apex. If the base has n sides, the pyramid has n triangular faces plus the base, for a total of n+1 faces. When the base is a regular polygon and the side faces are congruent isosceles triangles, the figure is a regular pyramid. The height is the perpendicular distance from the apex to the base, while the slant height is the altitude of a lateral triangular face.

In architecture and archaeology, pyramids are monumental structures built as tombs or religious monuments. The most famous examples are the Egyptian pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, built for pharaoh Khufu around 2560 BCE, and the earlier Step Pyramid of Djoser. Egyptian pyramids typically use dressed limestone and granite, were carefully aligned with cardinal directions, and contained complex internal passageways and burial chambers. The construction techniques remain debated, with hypotheses ranging from straight ramps to internal spiral ramps.

Beyond Egypt, pyramid forms appear in other cultures. In Mesopotamia, ziggurats are tall, stepped structures functionally similar to pyramids but structurally distinct from true pyramids. In Mesoamerica, pyramidal platforms often supported temples and altars and are exemplified by the pyramids of Teotihuacan and the Maya sites such as Chichen Itza and Tikal. Across cultures, pyramids symbolize monumental scale, religious significance, and enduring architectural achievement.