Giza Great Pyramid

Giza Great Pyramid

Learn about Giza Great Pyramid of Ancient Egypt including who built it, how big it is, inside the pyramid, the Giza Complex, and interesting facts.

Giza Great Pyramid

Overview

One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the biggest of all the Egyptian pyramids. It is situated about five miles west of Cairo, Egypt, on the Nile River.

Giza Necropolis

The Giza Necropolis, a larger complex, includes the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure are two other significant pyramids in the complex. The Great Sphinx and other graves are also part of it.

Why was the Great Pyramid built?

The Great Pyramid was constructed as King Khufu’s tomb. All of the valuables that Khufu would take to the afterlife were previously kept inside the pyramid.

How big is it?

When the pyramid was built, it was around 481 feet tall. Today, because of erosion and the removal of the top piece, the pyramid is around 455 feet tall. At its base, each side is approximately 755 feet long. That’s well over twice as long as a football field!

In addition to being tall, the pyramid is a massive structure. It covers an area of over 13 acres and is constructed with around 2.3 million stone blocks. Each of the stone blocks is estimated to weigh over 2000 pounds.

How long did it take to build it?

The Great Pyramid took about 20 years and 20,000 workers to complete. Its construction started in about 2580 BC, not long after Khufu assumed the throne, and it was finished in about 2560 BC.

How did they build it?

Nobody is really certain how the pyramids were constructed. How the Egyptians managed to move such massive stone slabs all the way to the top of the pyramids is the subject of numerous theories. They most likely used ramps to move the stones up the pyramid’s sides. To make the stones move more easily and with less resistance, they might have utilized water or wooden sleds.

Inside the Great Pyramid

The King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, and the Grand Gallery are the three main spaces inside the Great Pyramid. The rooms are accessible from the outside via a few tiny tunnels and air shafts. Of all the chambers in the pyramid, the King’s Chamber is located at the top. A huge granite tomb is inside. A spacious hallway measuring roughly 153 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 29 feet high is called the Grand Gallery.

Other Pyramids

The Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure are Giza’s other two significant pyramids. Pharaoh Khafre, the son of Khufu, constructed the Pyramid of Khafre. It was just 10 feet shorter than the Great Pyramid at its initial height of 471 feet. For Pharaoh Menkaure, Khufu’s grandson, the Menkaure Pyramid was constructed. Its original height was 215 feet.

Facts about the Great Pyramid of Giza

• It is thought that the architect of the pyramid was Khufu’s vizier (his second in command) named Hemiunu.
• There were three small pyramids next to the Great Pyramid built for Khufu’s wives.
• It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years until a spire was built on the Lincoln Cathedral in England in 1300.
• Recent evidence suggests that paid skilled workers built the Giza Pyramids, not slaves.
• Despite its name, archeologists do not think that the Queen’s Chamber is where the queen was buried.
• No treasure was found inside the pyramid. It was likely looted by grave robbers over a thousand years ago.
• The pyramid was originally covered with flat polished white limestone. It would have had a smooth surface and shone brightly in the sun. These cover stones were removed to construct other buildings over the years.

Giza Great Pyramid

Read also : Pyramids of Ancient Egypt