Innovation No. 21 of 77 in the book
Plumbing
Copper pipes installed beneath pyramid structures
- When
- c. 2480 BCE
- Dynasty
- 5th Dynasty
- Era
- Old Kingdom
The oldest metal plumbing on earth runs beneath an Egyptian pyramid complex, laid around 2480 BCE in the Old Kingdom.
Inside King Sahure’s temple at Abusir, workers installed copper pipes to carry water — a supply-and-drainage network built into sacred stone, some of it still in place.
They understood slope, sealed joints and covered channels: water where you wanted it, waste carried away.
Indoor plumbing, that most modern comfort, was threaded through Egyptian temples 4,500 years ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for plumbing in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 2480 BCE during Egypt's Old Kingdom (5th Dynasty). The oldest metal plumbing on earth runs beneath an Egyptian pyramid complex, laid around 2480 BCE in the Old Kingdom.
How did ancient Egyptians develop plumbing, and what is its legacy?
Inside King Sahure’s temple at Abusir, workers installed copper pipes to carry water — a supply-and-drainage network built into sacred stone, some of it still in place. Inside King Sahure’s temple at Abusir, workers installed copper pipes to carry water — a supply-and-drainage network built into sacred stone, some of it still in place. Indoor plumbing, that most modern comfort, was threaded through Egyptian temples 4,500 years ago.