Do You Know: For what purpose were the pyramids built? (colour litho)

For what purpose were the pyramids built? Conjectured through time to be astronomical observatories, standards of measurement, treasure houses, and even Joseph's granaries, these monuments, originally in early dynastic Egypt, are simply gigantic tombs, each pyramid designed for a single interment. Khufu (Cheops) produced the great pyramid at Gizeh, near Cairo - the only one of the "seven wonders of the world" still extant, and probably the most stupendous work of human hands. It is computed that the masonry weighed 6,840,000 tons, and a hundred thousand men were employed for twenty years in this colossal work. Illustration for one of a set of 50 "Do You Know?" cigarette cards issued by Carreras in 1939.