Editing Pyramid (section)

=== Africa ===
==== Egypt ====
{{Main article|Egyptian pyramids}}
[[File:Giza-pyramids.JPG|thumb|right|The pyramids of the [[Giza pyramid complex|Giza necropolis]], as seen from the air]]

The most famous African pyramids are in Egypt—huge structures built of bricks or stones, primarily limestone, some of which are among the world's largest constructions. They are shaped in reference to the sun's rays. Most had a smoothed white [[limestone]] surface. Many of the facing stones have fallen or were removed and used for construction in [[Cairo]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Viegas |first1=Jennifer |date=28 April 2008 |title=Pyramids packed with fossil shells |work=ABC Science |url=https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/28/2229383.htm |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801134658/https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/28/2229383.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The capstone was usually made of limestone, granite or basalt and some were plated with [[electrum]].<ref name="pennstate-pyramid">{{cite web |last1=Redford |first1=Donald B. |last2=McCauley |first2=Marissa |date=2014-04-15 |title=How were the Egyptian pyramids built? |url=http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/pyramids.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222053326/http://www.rps.psu.edu/probing/pyramids.html |archive-date=22 December 2012 |access-date=11 December 2012 |work=Research |publisher=The Pennsylvania State University}}</ref>

Ancient Egyptians built pyramids from 2700 BC until around 1700 BC. The first pyramid was erected during the [[Third Dynasty]] by the Pharaoh [[Djoser]] and his architect [[Imhotep]]. This [[step pyramid]] consisted of six stacked [[mastaba]]s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNVsHwAACAAJ |title=Mark Lehner (2008). The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. pp. 14–15, 84|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-28547-3|author1=Lehner, Mark|date=2008-03-25}}</ref><ref name="Davidovits2008">{{cite book |last=Davidovits |first=Joseph |title=They Built the Pyramids |date=20 May 2008 |publisher=Geopolymer Institute |isbn=978-2-9514820-2-9 |page=206}}</ref> Early kings such as [[Sneferu|Snefru]] built pyramids, with subsequent kings adding to the number until the end of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]]. The age of the pyramids reached its zenith at [[Giza Necropolis|Giza]] in 2575–2150 BC.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=2002-10-17 |title=Egypt Pyramids-Time Line |url=http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/timeline.html |url-status=dead |magazine=National Geographic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810165659/http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/timeline.html |archive-date=2011-08-10 |access-date=2011-08-13}}</ref> The last king to [[Pyramid of Ahmose|build royal pyramids was Ahmose]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Filer |first=Joyce |title=Pyramids |date=16 January 2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-530521-0 |page=99}}</ref> with later kings hiding their [[tomb]]s in the hills, such as those in the [[Valley of the Kings]] in Luxor's West Bank.<ref>{{cite book |author=Fodor's |title=Fodor's Egypt, 4th Edition |date=15 March 2011 |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |isbn=978-1-4000-0519-2 |pages=249–250}}</ref> In [[Medinet Habu|Medinat Habu]] and [[Deir el-Medina]], smaller pyramids were built by individuals. Smaller pyramids with steeper sides were built by the [[Nubians]] who ruled Egypt in the Late Period.<ref name="Harpur1997">{{cite book |last=Harpur |first=James |title=Pyramid |publisher=Barnes & Noble Books |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7607-0215-4 |page=24}}</ref>

The [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. At {{Convert|146.6|m|ft}} it was the tallest structure in the world until the [[Lincoln Cathedral]] was finished in 1311 AD. Its base covers an area of around {{convert|53000|m2}}. The Great Pyramid is the only extant one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]].

Ancient Egyptian pyramids were, in most cases, placed west of the river [[Nile]] because the divine pharaoh's soul was meant to join with the sun during its descent before continuing with the sun in its eternal round.<ref name="pennstate-pyramid" /> As of 2008, some 135 pyramids had been discovered in Egypt,<ref>{{cite news|first= Michael|last= Slackman|title= In the Shadow of a Long Past, Patiently Awaiting the Future|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/middleeast/17cairo.html|work= The New York Times|date= 2008-11-17|access-date= 2010-04-12|archive-date= 2018-01-06|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180106054739/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/middleeast/17cairo.html|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNVsHwAACAAJ |title=Mark Lehner (2008). The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. p. 34.|publisher=Thames & Hudson|isbn=978-0-500-28547-3|author1=Lehner, Mark|date=2008-03-25}}</ref> most located near Cairo.<ref name="Filer2006">{{cite book |last=Filer |first=Joyce |url=https://archive.org/details/pyramids00file |title=Pyramids |date=16 January 2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-530521-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/pyramids00file/page/n38 38]–39 |url-access=limited}}</ref>

==== Sudan ====
{{Main article|Nubian pyramids}}
[[File:Nubian20pyramids.jpg|right|thumb|Pyramids at [[Meroe]] with [[Pylon (architecture)|pylon]]-like entrances]]
[[File:Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe-114973.jpg|thumb|Nubian pyramids at archaeological sites of the Island of Meroe]]
While African pyramids are commonly associated with Egypt, Sudan has 220 extant pyramids, the most in the world.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3641516.stm | work=BBC News | title=Sudan's past uncovered | date=2004-09-09 | access-date=2010-04-12 | first=Lawrence | last=Pollard | archive-date=2020-07-28 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728071528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3641516.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Nubian pyramids were constructed (roughly 240 of them) at three sites in [[Sudan]] to serve as tombs for the kings and queens of [[Napata]] and [[Meroë]]. The pyramids of Kush, also known as [[Nubian pyramids|Nubian Pyramids]], have different characteristics than those of Egypt. The Nubian pyramids had steeper sides than the Egyptian ones. Pyramids were built in Sudan as late as 200 AD.

==== Sahel ====
{{Main article|Tomb of Askia}}The Tomb of Askia, in [[Gao]], [[Mali]], is believed to be the burial place of [[Askia Mohammad I]], one of the [[Songhai Empire]]'s most prolific [[emperors]]. It was built at the end of the fifteenth century and is designated as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

[[UNESCO]] describes the tomb as an example of the monumental mud-building traditions of the West African [[Sahel]]. The complex includes the pyramidal tomb, two [[mosque]]s, a [[cemetery]] and an assembly ground. At 17 metres (56&nbsp;ft) in height it is the largest pre-[[Colonialism|colonial]] [[Architecture|architectural]] monument in Gao. It is a notable example of the [[Sudano-Sahelian architecture|Sudano-Sahelian architectural]] style that later spread throughout the region.

==== Nigeria ====
{{Main|Nsude pyramid shrines}}
One of the unique structures of [[Igbo people|Igbo]] culture was the Nsude pyramids, in the Nigerian town of Nsude, northern [[Igboland]]. Ten pyramidal structures were built of clay/mud. The first base section was {{convert|60|ft|abbr=on}} in circumference and {{convert|3|ft|abbr=on|1}} in height. The next stack was {{convert|45|ft|abbr=on}} in circumference. Circular stacks continued to the top. The structures were temples for the god [[Ala (Odinani)|Ala]], who was believed to reside there. A stick was placed at the top to represent the god's residence. The structures were laid in groups of five parallel to each other. Because it was built of clay/mud like the Deffufa of Nubia, over time periodic reconstruction has been required.<ref>Basden, G. S(1966). Among the Ibos of Nigeria, 1912. Psychology Press: p. 109, {{ISBN|0-7146-1633-8}}</ref>