Why are the Egyptian pyramids aligned with the stars?

Why are the Egyptian pyramids aligned with the stars?

The Egyptian pyramids are aligned with the stars due to the ancient Egyptians’ deep understanding of astronomy and their religious beliefs. The ancient Egyptians believed that the pharaohs were divine and that their souls would ascend to the stars after death. They also believed that the pyramids were the pharaohs’ final resting places and that the pharaohs’ souls would use the pyramids as a kind of stairway to the stars.

The pyramids are also aligned with the cardinal points, with the pyramid’s entrance facing true north and the pyramid’s diagonal corridor aligning with the pole star. This is thought to be because the ancient Egyptians believed that the pharaohs would need to navigate the underworld and the afterlife with the help of the stars. Additionally, the pyramid’s alignment might have also been used for practical purposes.

For example, it allowed for the accurate measurement of time and the prediction of the annual flooding of the Nile. Overall, the alignment of the pyramids with the stars was a combination of religious beliefs, practicality, and astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians.