The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom. There are about 80 pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. Giza holds the 3 largest and most best preserved pyramids. The most known pyramid was built for pharaoh Khufu, its name is the Great Pyramid. It was built on the west nile bank. A house of eternity is another name the pharaohs and egyptians would call the pyramids. Cemeteries were built on the west bank because the sun "died" on the western horizion.