The Ancient Egyptians Egypt, a country located in Northern Africa, was once home to one of the oldest civilizations, known as the Ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians called their country the “Black Land,” due to the rich, dark soil where they first began cultivation and settlement along the Nile River. For thousands of years, the Egyptians thrived, known for their knowledge in arts, science, technology and religion. Egyptian culture was popular and influenced other ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans. The ancient Egyptians are well known for their monuments, tombs, temples and works of art. The Egyptians believed that a self-generating sun god emerged from the silt produced by the primordial waters of the Nile. The sun god referred to as Amun, Re (Ra), or Aten was considered greater than any other deity in the Egyptian pantheon. The Egyptians firmly believed that the sun was an important element. The period between 2613 and 2181 BC was known as the Old Kingdom, when an increasing rate of architecture honoring the gods and famous monuments developed. The smooth, angled sides of the pyramid symbolized the sun's rays and were designed to help the king's soul ascend to heaven and join the gods, especially the sun god. During the Old Kingdom, the pyramids and the Great Sphinx were built in Giza. Imhotep designed the first step pyramid at Saqqara c. 2670 BC, built by King Djoser, also reigned in that period. Imhotep was known as an architect and physician who wrote the first medical texts describing the treatment of over 200 diseases. During 2589-2566 BC, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, composed of more than two million stone blocks and weighing between 2 and 50 tons. The Great Pyramid of Khufu stands approximately 480 feet tall and covers an area of ​​13 acres, it was the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to be built. This was followed by the construction of the pyramids of Khafre (2558-2532 BC) and Menkaure (2532-2503 BC.).