PHARAOH.SEThe three impressive and colossal pyramids at Giza are a testament to the enduring presence of ancient Egypt like no other. They have existed for 5,000 years and continue to fascinate.
There are countless books written about the pyramids of Egypt, most about the three great ones on the Giza plateau in Cairo. Yes, they used to be far outside the city, but the seemingly uncontrolled urban sprawl is already starting to envelop the pyramids completely. Give it a decade or two and the pyramids will be inside Cairo.
There are approximately 120-140 pyramids in Egypt, or rather, that is the number of pyramids built by the ancient Egyptians throughout their history. Many of these are now just piles of rubble, due to erosion or because the materials were quarried by subsequent pharaohs for other building projects. The quality of each pyramid also varied greatly, from poorly made mud bricks to perfectly cut granite blocks.
The most famous pyramids are the three at Giza: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafra, and the Pyramid of Menkaura. A large number of other pyramids can be seen a little further south of Giza, at Saqqara and Dahshur. They vary in size and shape. Some are very small, while others are massive structures that can be seen for miles around.
Sadly, it seems that Egypt does not realise that the uniqueness of the Giza plateau is being seriously eroded by Cairo's completely uncontrolled growth. What was once far out in the desert is now within the city.
The name used by the ancient Egyptians is 
of a pyramid. The signs used to write the word are 
(mr-m:r-mr).