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Pyramids: History & Geometry

From the deserts of Egypt to the classrooms of geometry, the pyramid is an iconic shape.

A Pyramid is a polyhedron formed by connecting a polygonal base and a point, called the apex. Each base edge and apex form a triangle, called a lateral face.

Ancient History

Pyramids are perhaps the most famous ancient structures. The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2560 BC, is a square-based pyramid that remained the tallest man-made structure for over 3,800 years. Ancient Mesopotamians also built step pyramids called Ziggurats. In geometry, the Greeks formalized the volume calculation of a pyramid, discovering that it is exactly one-third the volume of a prism with the same base and height.

Common Types

1. Square-based Pyramid

Has a square base and four triangular faces. This is the shape of the Egyptian pyramids.

2. Triangular-based Pyramid (Tetrahedron)

Has a triangular base and three triangular faces. If all faces are equilateral triangles, it is a Regular Tetrahedron, one of the Platonic Solids.

Questions & Answers

Q: How many faces does a square pyramid have? A: It has 5 faces: one square base and four triangular sides.
Q: What is the Apex? A: The apex is the top vertex where all the triangular faces meet.