Minecraft - the Greatish Pyramid

Another month in quarantine, another chance to keep the creative juices flowing!

May-June: The Greatish Pyramid

My interpretation of an ancient Egyptian pyramid was plenty overdue on my channel; it may not be as grand and as mysterious as the real Giza pyramids are, but its there...sort of. Below I present to you how I did it, and how you can do so too.

Step 1: The Finest Materials From Pharoah's Kingdom

Piece List - Structure only

Sandstone (pretty much all variants)

Gold blocks

Obsidian

Terracotta blocks (dark, earthy colours will do)

Everything else you see are but accessories to the overall build, however opulent your pharaoh may be, depends on your own infatuation with treasures and other worldly riches.

Step 2: Foundations Set in Stone

Pyramids are daunting, behemoth like monoliths with a very, very large perimeter, which while does not have to be exactly perpendicular across all sides (mine wasn't) the overall square base is essential.

You would think that a pyramid build would take weeks, months even, but no. Layer up the foundations one level a day, or two a day, and even the greatest of pyramid builds would be over in a jiffy.

Sandstone blocks, preferably smooth or chiseled are best, nothing too ornate. sand is a terrible block to use on its own, so do not use that under any circumstances.

Step 3: ALIENS!

Once you reach the summit, it may not look square, or even symmetrical! but never fear, for the cherry on top is the divine, precious headstone, and it will round off your build magnificently.

Traditionally, most pyramids had metal summits, nobody as of yet understands why. Iron or gold could work to finish your pyramid off, however!...

Consider gold or light grey wool, hear me out. Wool blocks blend in better, and won't layer up as much as metal does in-game. Gold wool in particular mixes well with the sandstone, and doesn't give off the impression it was just added on top by some celestial crane - your pyramid is a cake, treat it so.

Step 4: Monument to the Gods

For my interpretation, I was inspired by the typical Egyptian statues most commonly found in the Valley of the Kings. Pharaohs of old, perched on their thrones, guarding their tombs? Or is it a mere ego trip, you decide.

Once again, stick with the colours you started with, you want it to blend as if it was carved from the same stone.

Step 5: Center Chamber

Our pyramid is hollow, so its center chamber would be grandiose and fit for a king. You may already note that the light dispersion is spotty at best, and you would be correct. You can't just leave lanterns loitering about, so set some deliberate fires high up top - Westerosi style.

This hall could/would be used to host events and religious ceremonies, so it needs to have capacity to seat. hollowing out the edges created a sort of amphitheater for guests and other important figures seating room.

For the Roman/Egyptian architecture of the time, rectangular ponds were trending faster than marble selfies (get it, because...oh never mind) and so our religious chamber requires a lot of negative space to fill, so a large pond was fitted, adorned with water lillies and reeds taken from the Nile itself.

Step 6: Defender of the Afterlife

Completing the center is the proposed tomb of the fallen Pharoah, guarded by 2 Jackels (Anubi?) These were created in the image of Anubis, Egyptian god of the afterlife.

Simple builds requiring little resources, adding something to the foreground, something with not a lot of colour, really filled the room with enough atmosphere.

The "tomb" itself was created with note blocks en robed in yellow wool, surrounded with very flammable hay.

Step 7: Booby Traps, Corridors and Secret Tunnels

Of course that wasn't his real sarcophagus!

The inner workings of the pyramid, the real bread and butter, were build both underground, and right above the center chamber, in order to give more space to it, and to hide it from unsuspecting grave robbers (Looking at you Virginia Smith!)

Now obviously, these screenshots will be hard to see, and I apologize for the lack of light. But what you are seeing is the construction of the secret tunnels and corridors leading to the real tomb of the Pharaoh.

Step 8: The Antechamber

I placed the real tomb right up top, facing the heavens themselves so to speak.

Tucked away in a treasure room guarded by eternal fire, I used the mannequin to imitate a mummy of sorts, a taxidermied king.

The rest of the room was not entirely complete at the time of the screenshot, this was taken before and the other one was seemingly lost, but picture a stuffed room full to the brim with treasures and forbidden artifacts.

There is no room for proper storage within these pyramids. Since most Pharaohs were not expecting their treasures to be stolen en-masse, his things were simply chucked and piled up into small rooms, awaiting him in the afterlife.

Step 9: The Legend Continues...

And there you have it, a pyramid how to do.

True, this was shorter than most of my other builds, but it was always meant to be a tad shorter, in order for you lot to be creative and use this as a template for your own amazing creations.

I have one cooking up that has proven to be my most ambitious build ever!

Keep safe, and keep building!

- DW