Reading Space · Bilingual Themed Reading Ancient Egypt

Author: Compiled by American Corbstone Publishing Company
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The pyramid is a massive tomb used to store the mummies of deceased pharaohs. Its foundation is nearly a perfect square and accurately points to true north. The area of the foundation is 13.5 acres, and its north-south sides are not perfectly parallel, differing by only one inch (2.5 cm). People built the tombs in the desolate and remote valleys of southern Egypt and protected them. Today, we call these valleys the "Valley of the Kings." Perhaps, the tombs built on mountain tops could serve a symbolic function of pyramids. In the early history of the Egyptians, they believed that only the preserved bodies of the dead could allow their souls to remain after death. Therefore, people invented the technique of mummification, which ensured that the bodies remained intact in the tombs.