Omar Bennett
The Great Pyramid of Giza, commissioned by Snefru's son, Khufu, is the largest of the three pyramids of Giza and is the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. The pyramid was constructed around 2600 BC and is made up of approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 to 15 tons. While the exact construction techniques are still debated, the most plausible theory is that the Egyptians used a sloping ramp of brick, earth, and sand, which was lengthened as the pyramid grew taller, to haul the stone blocks into place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pharaoh Khufu |
| Architect | Hemiunu, Khufu's vizier |
| Height | 481 ft (147 m) originally; 450 ft (137 m) currently |
| Weight | 5.75 million tons |
| Number of blocks | 2.3 million |
| Weight of blocks | 2.5-15 tons each |
| Purpose | Tomb of pharaoh Khufu |
| Chambers | 3 |
| Construction time | 20 years |
| Construction workers | 100,000 (according to Herodotus) |
| Construction theory | Sloping and encircling embankment of brick, earth, and sand |
| Orientation | Sides rise at an angle of 51-52 degrees and are oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass |
| Location | Giza, on the west bank of the Nile River in northern Egypt |
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What You'll Learn
- The Great Pyramid of Giza was commissioned by Snefru's son, Pharaoh Khufu, and is the largest of the three pyramids
- It was constructed around 2550 BC using 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2.5 to 15 tons
- The internal chambers are undecorated, unlike other Egyptian tombs of the time, but feature work-gang graffiti
- The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres, with sides rising at a 51-degree angle to a height of 481 feet
- The Great Pyramid is believed to have been plundered in ancient and medieval times, with mummies and treasures reported inside
The Great Pyramid of Giza was commissioned by Snefru's son, Pharaoh Khufu, and is the largest of the three pyramids
The Great Pyramid of Giza, commissioned by Snefru's son, Pharaoh Khufu, is the largest of the three pyramids. It was constructed around 2550 B.C. and served as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres, with sides that rose at a 51-degree angle and were over 755 feet long. It originally stood at a height of 481 feet, but today it measures 450 feet. The massive structure is composed of an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons.
The Great Pyramid's construction remains a mystery, with no definitive consensus on the exact techniques employed. However, it is believed that a vast workforce was required to quarry the stone from the Giza plateau and transport materials such as limestone casing from Tura across the Nile. The Greek historian Herodotus reported that 100,000 men worked for three months a year over two decades to build it, although modern estimates suggest a smaller workforce.
The pyramid complex of Khufu included two temples: the pyramid temple, dedicated to the Sed festival celebrating Khufu's 30th jubilee, and the valley temple, which remains largely unexcavated. The mortuary cult of Khufu, which operated in these temples for centuries, indicates that Khufu was successfully interred in the Great Pyramid. The pyramid itself contains three known chambers, with the Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber above ground, containing a granite sarcophagus.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was likely looted during the First Intermediate Period, and stories from Arab accounts describe discoveries of mummies and treasures within the pyramid. The pyramid has been attributed to Khufu based on the writings of classical authors like Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus. Pharaoh Khufu was the first Egyptian king to build a pyramid in Giza, and his legacy is further solidified by the inclusion of his name in various inscriptions found in chapels, quarries, and pyramids.
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It was constructed around 2550 BC using 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2.5 to 15 tons
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was constructed around 2550 BC. It is the oldest of the three pyramids at Giza and was built by Pharaoh Khufu, with the second pyramid being built by his son, Khafre, around 2520 BC, and the third by Khafre's son, Menkaure, circa 2490 BC.
The Great Pyramid is made up of an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 to 15 tons. The total weight of the pyramid is close to 6 million tons. The construction of the pyramid required massive stones, with some weighing as little as 2 tons, others as heavy as 30 tons, and a few exceptional ones reaching up to 50 tons.
The methods used to transport and place these blocks remain a subject of debate. Some scholars suggest the use of ramps, while others propose a machine system involving levers and fulcrums. It is believed that a large workforce of 20,000 to 30,000 skilled workers was required to build the pyramid, and they likely lived in camps near the site. The construction of such an imposing structure reveals a great deal about the labour forces, tools, technical knowledge, and people of Egypt at that time.
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The internal chambers are undecorated, unlike other Egyptian tombs of the time, but feature work-gang graffiti
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 2600 BC, is the tomb of pharaoh Khufu and still contains his granite sarcophagus. It is the largest of the three pyramids at Giza, originally standing at 481 feet (147 metres) but now shorter due to erosion and the removal of its smooth casing stones. The Great Pyramid is part of a larger complex, including a palace, temples, solar boat pits, and other features.
The internal chambers of the Great Pyramid of Giza are notably undecorated and lack inscriptions, which is unusual compared to other Egyptian tombs from the fourth to late fifth dynasty. However, they do feature work-gang graffiti, including the names of Khufu and the names of work gangs such as "craftman-gang". This suggests that the workers left their marks on the stone blocks during the construction process.
The absence of decorations and inscriptions in the Great Pyramid's internal chambers may be due to the fact that it predates the custom of inscribing pyramids with text by over 200 years. Instead, the focus of decoration and inscription appears to have been on the surrounding pyramid complex, which included two temples lavishly adorned with scenes depicting Khufu, officials, priests, and other characters performing rituals.
The Great Pyramid's internal chambers include the Queen's Chamber and the King's Chamber, which are located above ground within the pyramid structure. The King's Chamber is entirely lined and roofed with granite, and from this chamber, two narrow shafts run obliquely through the masonry to the exterior of the pyramid. The purpose of these shafts is uncertain, but they may have served religious or ventilation functions.
The construction techniques employed in building the Great Pyramid remain a subject of debate, with various hypotheses proposed by scientists and engineers. The most plausible theory suggests the use of a sloping embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was gradually increased in height and length as the pyramid rose. Stone blocks were then hauled up the ramp using sledges, rollers, and levers.
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The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres, with sides rising at a 51-degree angle to a height of 481 feet
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest and most famous of all the pyramids. It was commissioned by Snefru's son, Khufu, also known as Cheops, and is the largest of the three pyramids of Giza. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres, with sides rising at a 51-degree angle to a height of 481 feet. It is a masterpiece of technical skill and engineering ability.
The Great Pyramid is made up of an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons. The accuracy of the pyramid's perimeter is remarkable, with the four sides of the base differing in length by only 58 millimetres on average. The finished base was squared to a mean corner error of just 12 seconds of arc. The completed design dimensions are measured to have originally been 280 royal cubits high by 440 cubits long at each of the four sides of its base.
The Great Pyramid's core is made of yellowish limestone blocks, with the inner passages constructed from finer light-coloured limestone. The interior burial chamber is built of huge blocks of granite. The outside layers were bound together by mortar. The majority of the stones are not uniform in size or shape, and are only roughly dressed. The pyramid's three internal chambers lack inscriptions and decorations, which is typical for Egyptian tombs of the fourth to late fifth dynasty.
The Great Pyramid was likely to have been looted as early as the First Intermediate Period and may have been reused. It is believed that the pyramid was built by 100,000 men employed for three months a year over twenty years, although modern estimates of the number of labourers are much smaller.
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The Great Pyramid is believed to have been plundered in ancient and medieval times, with mummies and treasures reported inside
The Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest Egyptian pyramid, was commissioned by Snefru's son, Pharaoh Khufu, and served as his tomb. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. The pyramid was constructed around 2600 BC, over a period of about 26 years. It initially stood at 481 feet, with a base covering over 13 acres, and was the world's tallest human-made structure for over 3,800 years.
The Great Pyramid's internal chambers lack inscriptions and decorations, apart from work-gang graffiti that includes Khufu's names. This is unusual for Egyptian tombs of the fourth to late fifth dynasty. The pyramid complex of Khufu included two temples that were lavishly decorated and inscribed. The mortuary cult of Khufu that operated in these temples for hundreds of years indicates that Khufu was successfully interred in the Great Pyramid.
The Great Pyramid is the most famous monument of the Giza pyramid complex, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Memphis and its Necropolis". It is situated at the northeastern end of the line of the three main pyramids at Giza. The pyramid's core is made of yellowish limestone blocks, and the outside layers were bound together by mortar. The majority of the stones are not uniform in size or shape and are only roughly dressed. Most of the stone for the pyramid was quarried on the Giza plateau itself, with some limestone casing brought from Tura across the Nile, and a few rooms cased with granite from Aswan.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest of the three pyramids of Giza, located on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in northern Egypt.
The Great Pyramid was commissioned by Snefru's son, Khufu, also known as Cheops.
The Great Pyramid was built around 2550 B.C. or c. 2543–c. 2436 B.C.
The Great Pyramid's core is made of yellowish limestone blocks, and the inner passages are of finer light-colored limestone. The interior burial chamber is built of huge blocks of granite.
The Great Pyramid's internal chambers lack inscriptions and decorations, which is unusual for Egyptian tombs of the fourth to late fifth dynasty. There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid: the unfinished lowest chamber, the Queen's Chamber, and the King's Chamber, which contains a granite sarcophagus.
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