Each pyramid had a valley temple, a landing and staging area, and a pyramid temple, or cult chapel, where religious ceremonies for the deceased king's spirit were performed. Around three major pyramids at Giza, a city of tombs was built by means of slave labor. These cities each contained mastabas, meaning "bench tombs", which were named because of their resemblance to the sloped, mud-brick benches commonly found in front of Egyptian homes of the time period. The mastabas were for the members of the royal family, high officials, and courtiers.

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