How to Draw a Pyramid Shape

A pyramid has a polygon-shaped base and several lateral faces that converge at the vertex. Many ancient civilizations built pyramid-shaped structures, some of which are still intact today. They tower over many modern buildings, leaving us to wonder about the ingenuity of early human engineering. The next time you are sketching architectural designs reminiscent of the past or are simply doodling, follow these steps for drawing a three dimensional pyramid shape.

Instructions

1. 

   Draw a horizontal line.

2. 

   Draw a downward-facing diagonal line that begins at the left end of the horizontal line and forms a 45 degree angle.

3. 

   Draw a horizontal line from the end of the diagonal line. Be sure to make this line longer than the initial horizontal line from step 1.

4. 

   Connect the right edges of the two horizontal lines with a diagonal to form a trapezium-shaped base.

5. 

   Place a small dot above the base to mark the vertex. This point should be located slightly to the left or right of the center of the initial horizontal line.

6. 

   Connect the top and bottom left corners of the base to the vertex with diagonals. Repeat this step on the top and bottom right corners to complete the pyramid's lateral faces.

References

• Parts of a pyramid