The Egyptian pyramids were originally polished white.

Ancient Pyramids of Giza

Today, the famous pyramids of Giza are known as sand-colored monuments that seem to blend into the surrounding desert, but they were originally built to stand out in spectacular fashion. When the pyramids were first erected about 4,500 years ago to mark the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, they were covered with a polished white limestone that would have sparkled in the sun and made the already-imposing structures even more dazzling.

According to ancient papyrus scrolls written by people who actually participated in the construction of the pyramids, workers transported boats filled with limestone up the Nile River to the building site in Giza. The limestone casing stones were thoroughly polished in order to increase their luster, and each one weighed upwards of 15 tons. The fact that these massive polished stones were used to encase the entirety of each pyramid, fitted together perfectly to create a nearly seamless white exterior, is a testament to the engineering genius of the ancient Egyptians. Over the centuries, most of the limestone exterior of the pyramids has been destroyed, worn away, or stripped for use in other construction projects, but faint remnants of weathered white limestone can be seen toward the top of Giza’s Pyramid of Khafre — the last remaining architectural evidence of what pyramids looked like in the days of the pharaohs.

By the Numbers

Did you know?

The world’s largest pyramid is actually located in Mexico.

Although pyramids are most commonly associated with Egypt, the world’s largest pyramid is located not in Egypt, but in Mexico. The Great Pyramid of Cholula, found in the city of Cholula in central Mexico, is more than 1,400 feet wide and has a volume of 157 million cubic feet — nearly double the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza (although it is shorter). The Great Pyramid of Cholula was constructed gradually over several centuries by multiple Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmecs and the Toltecs, and was built to honor the god Quetzalcóatl. Despite its record-holding status, the Great Pyramid of Cholula isn’t world famous, which might be due in part to the fact that it’s hidden under a hill and topped by a 16th-century Spanish church. Nevertheless, the structure remains an impressive reminder that the ancient Egyptians were far from the only civilization capable of building these staggering feats of engineering.