Great Pyramid of Giza | Ancient Egypt
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.
Necropolis of Giza
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 constructed?
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.
What size is it?
The pyramid was around 481 feet tall when it was constructed. The pyramid is around 455 feet tall today due to erosion and the destruction of the top section. Each side is roughly 755 feet long at the base. That is far longer than a football field!
The pyramid is not only towering, but also a huge building. It has a surface area of more than 13 acres and was built with about 2.3 million stone pieces. The stone blocks are thought to weigh more than 2000 pounds each.
How much time did it take to construct?
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 was it constructed?
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.
The Great Pyramid’s interior
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.
Various 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.
Informative Statistics Regarding the Great Pyramid of Giza:
It is believed that Hemiunu, Khufu’s vizier (his second in command), was the architect of the pyramid.
For Khufu’s wives, there were three smaller pyramids built near to the Great Pyramid.
Prior to the construction of a spire on the Lincoln Cathedral in England in 1300, it held the record for the world’s highest man-made structure for more than 3,800 years.
Recent data reveals that skilled craftsmen who were compensated for their job built the Giza Pyramids, not slaves.
Despite its name, archaeologists do not believe the queen was interred in the Queen’s Chamber.
Inside the pyramid, no treasure was discovered. Over a thousand years ago, grave robbers probably stole it.
Initially, white limestone that had been flattened and polished covered the pyramid. It would have glistened beautifully in the sunlight and had a flawless surface. Over time, these cover stones were taken out to make way for additional structures.
