Khufu and was positioned in keeping with the astronomi-
cal and religious traditions of the era. Originally part of a
vast complex, the pyramid now stands amid only two
other great pyramids and various smaller tombs of
queens and other members of the royal family.
Suggested Readings:Hawass, Zahi A. The Pyramids of
Ancient Egypt.New York: Carnegie Museum of Natural
History, 1998; Isler, Martin, and Dieter Arnold. Sticks,
Stones, and Shadows: Building the Egyptian Pyramids.Nor-
man: University of Oklahoma, 2001; Lawton, Ian, and
Chris Ogilvie-Herald. Giza: The Truth: The People, Politics,
and History Behind the World’s Most Famous Archaeological
Site.Montpelier, Vt.: Invisible Cities Press, 2001; Siliotti,
Alberto. Guide to Pyramids of Egypt.New York: Barnes &
Noble Books, 1997; Verner, Miroslav, and Steven Rendall,
transl. The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of
Egypt’s Great Monuments.New York: Grove Press, 2001.
pyramidion See BENBEN.
Pyramid Texts The oldest surviving examples of reli-
gious literature in Egypt, these texts were actually
inscriptions on the walls of the royal pyramids of the
Fifth and Sixth Dynasties (2465–2323 B.C.E. and
2323–2150 B.C.E.). The priests of HELIOPOLISwrote the
texts that appear in the tomb of UNIS (r. 2356–2323
B.C.E.) and those of other pharaohs and their queens.
Unis’s Pyramid Texts served as the standard for other
inscriptions. Funerary formulas, spells, incantations, and
magical phrases that enabled the pharaoh to become the
sun and a star were included. The texts provided the tra-
ditional forms called the “sun-ladder,” which could be
used to ascend into the heavens. They were discontinued
when the pharaohs abandoned the construction of the
pyramids. As the tombs were smaller at the close of the
Old Kingdom (2134 B.C.E.), COFFIN TEXTSrepeated the
formulas in confined spaces.
See also CANNIBAL HYMN; TOMB TEXTS.pyramid workers Groups of skilled artisans and
builders who served as the builders of the pyramids of
the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 B.C.E.), these groups are
now called “gangs,” and they left inscriptions detailing
their work. The gangs used colorful names such as
“Friends of KHUFU” and the “DRUNKARDSof MENKAURÉ.”
Some gangs existed for more than six decades. Their sup-
port facilities, residence, and necropolis areas are being
uncovered in modern excavations.
See also DEIR EL-MEDINA; GIZA; SERVANTS OF THE
PLACE OF TRUTH.Pythagoras(d. c. 500 B.C.E.) Famous Greek mathemati-
cian who visited Egypt
He was on the Nile in the reign of AMASIS (570–526
B.C.E.). Pythagoras went to MEMPHIS, HELIOPOLIS, and
then to THEBES. He remained in the region for more than
two decades, earning the respect of the local priests and
eventually being allowed to take part in sacrifices to the
gods.Pythagoras 323