[gus_massa]

The pyramids were a power demonstration. Probably indirectly profitable. Some unespoken threat like

Fake> I ordered them to build the pyramid. If you revolt I will order them to pillage your village. Have a nice day and please send 20% more goats.

[roywiggins]

The most familiar thing to compare the pyramids to is probably European cathedrals. They were huge public works projects requiring a lot of labour, both skilled and unskilled, and done for religous, political, and probably economic reasons.