
 There are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt, or for that matter elsewhere in the world, than the Great Pyramids at 
Giza. They are, without question, the icon most associated with the Egypt. They have been both the main destination for tourists, and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over three thousand years.
However, there are actually over 100 pyramids in Egypt, many of which are relatively unknown to anyone who is not an ancient Egypt enthusiast. All but a very few are grouped around and near the City of 
Cairo, just south of the Nile Delta. Otherwise, only one royal pyramid is known in southern Egypt (at Abydos), that being the one built by 
Ahmose, founder of the 
18th Dynasty and Egypt's 
New Kingdom. It may have also been the last royal pyramid built in Egypt.
Hence, major pyramids were not built throughout Egypt's ancient history. The Pyramid Age began with a burst of building, starting with the 
3rd Dynasty reign of 
Djoser. Some of the early kings, most specifically 
Snefru, built more than one pyramid. Almost all of the 
kings added to their number through the end of the 
Middle Kingdom, with the possible exception of the 
First Intermediate Period between the 
Old and 
Middle Kingdoms. After the first Pharaoh of Egypt's 
New Kingdom, 
Ahmose, royal pyramid building by Egyptians ceased entirely. Somewhat abruptly the kings of the New Kingdom chose, rather than making their tombs completely obvious, to hide them in the hills of the 
West Bank of 
Thebes (modern 
Luxor).