What do the pyramids, either the ones at Giza or the smaller ones scattered across Egypt, reveal about the importance of the pharaoh in Egyptian society? First explain the purpose of the pyramids, and briefly describe how they were built. What does this indicate about how the Egyptians understood the role of pharaohs? Who built the pyramids, and what does that fact reveal about the status of the pharaoh? Were the pharaohs alone in this status and the ability to inspire such massive and costly building projects? To what extent does that alter our previous considerations?