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Pyramid

A pyramid (from Ancient Greek πυραμίς (puramís) 'pyramid')[1][2] is a structure whose visible surfaces are triangular and converge to a point at the top, making the shape roughly a pyramid in the geometric sense. The base of a pyramid can be of any polygon shape, such as trilateral or quadrilateral.

This article is about pyramid-shaped structures. For the geometric shape, see Pyramid (geometry). For other uses, see Pyramid (disambiguation).

A pyramid has the majority of its mass closer to the ground[3] with less mass towards the pyramidion at the apex. This is due to the gradual decrease in the cross-sectional area along the vertical axis with increasing elevation. This offers a weight distribution that allowed early civilizations to create monumental structures.


Civilizations in many parts of the world have built pyramids. The largest pyramid by volume is the Mesoamerican Great Pyramid of Cholula, in the Mexican state of Puebla. For millennia, the largest structures on Earth were pyramids—first the Red Pyramid in the Dashur Necropolis and then the Great Pyramid of Khufu, both in Egypt—the latter is the only extant example of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The granite gopuram (tower) of Brihadeeswarar Temple, 1010 CE.

The granite gopuram (tower) of Brihadeeswarar Temple, 1010 CE.

The pyramidal structure above the sanctum at Brihadisvara Temple.

The pyramidal structure above the sanctum at Brihadisvara Temple.

Pyramid-structure inside Airavatesvara Temple.

Pyramid-structure inside Airavatesvara Temple.

Ranganathaswamy Temple gopurams at Srirangam dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Maha Vishnu.

Ranganathaswamy Temple gopurams at Srirangam dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Maha Vishnu.

Two pyramid-shaped tombs were erected in , Ireland, c. 1840, belonging to the De Burgh family.

Maudlin's Cemetery

Louvre Pyramid (Paris, France)
The Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France, in the court of the Louvre Museum, is a 20.6 metre (about 70 foot) glass structure that acts as a museum entrance. It was designed by American architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1989. The Pyramide Inversée (Inverted Pyramid) is displayed in the underground Louvre shopping mall.

The village was an Egyptian-themed set of buildings and monuments built near Eatonton, Georgia by Nuwaubians in 1993 that was mostly demolished after it was sold in 2005.

Tama-Re

The in Las Vegas, United States, is a 30-story pyramid.

Luxor Hotel

The 32-story (Memphis was named after the Egyptian capital whose name was derived from the name of one of its pyramids). Built in 1991, it was the home court for the University of Memphis men's basketball program, and the National Basketball Association's Memphis Grizzlies until 2004. It was not regularly used as a sports or entertainment venue after 2007, and in 2015 was re-purposed as a Bass Pro Shops megastore.

Memphis Pyramid

The , home of the basketball and volleyball teams of the California State University, Long Beach, campus in California, United States, is an 18-story-tall blue true pyramid.

Walter Pyramid

List of largest monoliths

Lists of pyramids

List of pyramid mausoleums in North America

Mound

Pyramid power

Stupa

Triadic pyramid

(burial mound)

Tumulus