Sneferu was the first king to build a "true pyramid". He built two pyramids at Dahshur, south of Saqqara.  The first is known as the "Bent Pyramid" (or Rhomboidal ). The angle of the sides changes two thirds of the way up its height, as structural problems were discovered. The second is the "Red Pyramid", as red coloured limestone was used in the centre of the pyramid. This is where Sneferu was buried.  Not only did he build the pyramids he also had a valley and pyramid temple built, along with a causeway that was decorated with raised relief scenes related to kingship and various festivals.   It was hoped that these scenes would enable Seneferu to participate in similar events in the afterlife. 

KHUFU ( CHEOPS) c 2589 - 2566 BC

It was Seneferu`s successor, Khufu, that built the "Great Pyramid". This is the largest in Egypt.  It is 146.5 metres high and has a ground area of 230 square metres.  His burial chamber was in the core of the pyramid unlike most other burial chambers which were either at ground level or below.  It is thought that approximately 2,300,000 stone blocks weighing about 2.5 tons were used in its construction.  In a pit near the pyramid a dismantled boat has been found and restored.  It is believed that this was to be used by the dead king to travel across the sky with the "Gods".

DJEDEFRA ( RADJEDEF) c2566 - 2558 BC

Djedefra, who was the next 4th dynasty king was the first to incorporate the name Ra into his own (Radjedef). His pyramid was never completed 

KHAFRA (CHEPHREN) c 2558 - 2532 BC

The next king was Khafra, who was another son of Khufu. Both he and Menkaura erected their pyramids at Giza. Khafra`s pyramid is the second largest in Egypt (143.5 metres tall and a ground area of 214.5 metres).  The "Great Sphinx" was part of Khafra`s pyramid complex and stood as a guardian near the temple causeway.  It measures 72 metres long and 20 metres high. 
 

MENKAURA ( MYCERINUS) c2532 - 2503 BC
SHEPESKAF c 2503 - 2498 BC
 

Menkaura used granite instead of limestone in building his pyramid although it was smaller than the previous pyramids.  His son, Shepeskaf, had a sarcophagus shaped mastaba built at Saqqara instead of a pyramid.

It is thought that the construction of these pyramids was done when the Nile flooded and it was not possible for the farmers to work in their fields.

During the fourth dynasty a "funerary cult" was established.  The pyramid complexes were where the relatives of the dead king could make offerings on alters and offering tables. It was believed that this would provide the deceased king with all the food and nourishment he would need in the afterlife.
 
 

Userkaf was the first king to build a temple dedicated to the sun-god, Ra.  This was built at Abusir, north of Saqqara. Ra had become the the "main" God at this time.  The sun temple was made up of a valley temple that was linked to an upper temple by a causeway.  In the upper temple was an obelisk which was the symbol of the sun-god.Ra was seen as the source of life. Userkaf also built a small pyramid in north Saqqara.

Sahura`s pyramid is at Abusir.It`s causeway that linked the valley and pyramid temples was decorated with wonderful reliefs.  It was in the pyramid of the next 5th dynasty king, Neferirkara, that some important papyri were found.  These papyri give details of how the pyramid community was run, lists of its priests, temple equipment, letters and records of deliveries of produce. King Raneferef had a very short reign and his pyramid was only completed to it`s lower level, despite this, similar papyri were found here as those found in Nefererkara`s pyramid. King Nyuserra built his sun temple at Abu Ghurab, north of Abusir

During the 5th dynasty there were less members of the royal family that occupied high offices than had previously been the case.The sun-temples were also incorporated into the economic system of the state.  Although Ra had been elevated to the "state" god, each area of Egypt still worshipped their own preferred deity.  Many expeditions continued to be made outside of Egypt to bring back turquoise, copper, gneiss, malachite, myrrh and electrum.  More of the priests and high officials were now able to have their own tombs built funded by themselves.  Some of the finest tomb decoration was seen in these mastabas.

King Menkauhor`s successors did not build sun-temples despite the continued worship of Ra. King Djedkara built his pyramid at southern Saqqara and was quite small compared to his predecessors.  That built by the next 5th dynasty king, Unas, was even smaller.. The causeway linked to this was beautifully decorated with scenes that recorded events from Unas`s reign, including the transportation of granite columns from Aswan.  Unas was the first king to include the interior decoration of his pyramid with religious texts.  These were known as the "pyramid" texts, and shed some light on the development of Egyptian religious beliefs.  The deceased king Unas was identified with the gods Ra and Osiris.  In his deceased form he was called Osiris Unas as it was believed that after death the king entered the "underworld" of Osiris.  The texts were included in the pyramid to give the dead king information that was needed by him in the "afterlife".

To be continued