The mind-boggling fact about the pyramid is that it is complex and designed with straightforward tools, the naked eye, and a piece of string. They used a plumb bob, a string with a weight on its end, and they lined it up to the stars to create one and the most accurate buildings of old times. Forty-five centuries later, it is still more precise than many skyscrapers. Obviously, the precision was no accident, but how the ancient builders got it so right without any modern equipment, no one’s worked out until now. So, what are we looking at here? The plan of the pyramid is the pyramid itself because if you want to keep something accurate, the way to do it is to make your plan the same size; they finished things by measuring out the life-size plan with string, and the Egyptians were able to get their ancient calculations cubits perfect now.
Near the upper end of Khufu’s causeway, a pit grave containing the transferred burial equipment of Khufu’s mother, Queen Hetepheres, was discovered in 1925. The queen’s empty sarcophagus was found at the bottom of a deep stone-filled shaft, surrounded by furniture and jewelry, attesting to the 4th-dynasty artisans’ excellent artistic aptitude and technical precision.
Vast fields of mastabas surround the three pyramids, and flat-topped funerary monuments are constructed in a grid pattern to be used for the graves of monarchs’ relatives or officials. Numerous mastabas from the 5th and 6th dynasties (c. 2465–c. 2150 BCE) have been discovered around and among the earlier structures and the main mastabas of the 4th dynasty.
Excavations near the pyramids in the late 1980s and 1990s discovered bakeries, storage facilities, workshops, and modest graves of laborers and artisans, and bakeries, storage rooms, and workshops. The workshop areas appear to date from the late 4th dynasty, based on mud sealings. Simple mud-brick domes to grandiose stone monuments are among the burials. Some of the constructions contained statuettes, and hieroglyphic inscriptions on tomb walls occasionally identified the deceased.
Menkaure, also written Menkure, Greek Mykerinos, Egyptian ruler of the 4th dynasty (c. 2575–c. 2465 BCE), erected the third and smallest of the three Pyramids of Giza (flourished in the 26th century).
According to the Turin papyrus, he was the son and probably the successor of Khafre and reigned for 18 (or 28) years. Menkaure was a pious and just king, according to legend.
Although his pyramid and funeral temple remained unfinished when he died, Shepseskaf finished the stonework of the mortuary temple in brick.
Some of the best sculptures from the Pyramid Age were discovered in the burial complex, including a slate statue group of Menkaure and his sister-wife Khamerernebti II and several lesser slate triads portraying Menkaure, the goddess Hathor, and numerous nome (region) deities.
Seven Wonders of the World, according to many commentators, are the most significant architectural and sculptural achievements of the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East. The best-known are Antipater of Sidon, a 2nd-century BCE writer, and a later but unknown 2nd-century BCE observer who claimed to be the mathematician Philon of Byzantium. The following items were eventually included on the list:
The Giza Pyramids are the oldest of the seven wonders and the only ones still standing today.
As one of the most iconic yet mysterious wonders of the world, Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza are an incredible sight to behold. But how much do you know about this world-famous site? Take a read of these top ten interesting facts – some you might already know, some you might not – though these only scratch the surface!
Here you can find 13 amazing facts about The Great Giza Pyramids of Egypt:
- Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus
The three Pyramids, Giza Plateau, known as the Cheops, Chephren, and Mycerinus, are most famous in Egypt and worldwide, more than other 130 pyramids discovered in Egypt.
- Undamaged Wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The pyramids of Giza are the oldest and only intact wonders of the seven wonders of the Ancient world. This list also included once the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Colossus of Rhodes, the statue of Zeus in Olympia – which no longer exist today and the scattered remains of the Temple of Artemis in Turkey.
- Built From 2.3 Million Blocks
The Great Pyramid is thought to have been built from over two million stone blocks, some of which weigh over fifty tons. It is still unclear how they were transported to the site. Historians believe that over 100,000 people were involved in the construction of the Pyramids of Giza and that they may not have been enslaved as once thought. Instead, they may have been paid workers.
- Complex Egyptian Mythology
All the pyramids in Egypt are located on the west bank of the River Nile because that is where the sunsets every evening, representing the realm of the dead. This is only one aspect of the complex Egyptian mythology, a dominant part of the ancient civilization.
- Once Polished to Reflect the Sun Rays
The Giza Pyramid was once covered with a white casing made of shimmering limestone, polished to reflect the sun’s rays. Unfortunately, the case slowly disappeared over time after being loosened by the earthquake, crumbled into rubble, and cut to build other structures.
- Temperature Inside Pyramids
Despite the often-noticeable scorching heat in Egypt, the temperature within the pyramids remains a constant 20 C – the average temperature on earth.
- Egypt and Pyramids are Synonymous
Although Egypt and the pyramids are synonymous with hieroglyphics, surprisingly, no writing or hieroglyphics have been found within the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- Main Chamber of the Great Pyramid is Granite
In the main chamber of the Great Pyramid is a granite chest, which appears perfectly normal until you realize it’s made out of a solid chunk of granite that’s far too big to fit in the passageway you just squeezed through. This realization has led historians and archaeologists to believe that the Great Pyramid was built around the coffer rather than it being brought inside.
- Sphere and Plug-In Structure
A perfect example of how the Egyptians were leading the era was building the foundation of the pyramid fund. In the event of earthquakes or heat inflation, these were found to have been constructed in a sphere and a plug-in structure.
- Visiting The Great Pyramid is Easy
You’ll visit the top sites, skip the queues, and have an Egyptologist share their knowledge with you along the way on a guided tour. Our Egypt & the Nile tour is a hit with our visitors. “This tour was one of the best I’ve ever had,” stated Frances, a traveler. “It was entertaining, instructive, and a wonderful deal.” Both onshore and on the trip, the rooms and meals were excellent. The Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, temples, museums, and everything else I saw/visited left me speechless. Every turn brought a new experience.”
- The Egyptian Peoples Built the Pyramid of Giza
Egyptologists are still unsure how the pyramids were constructed. However, the most widely held belief is that the Egyptian people all assisted in the construction as a form of public duty. These were expert laborers who were compensated for their efforts. Archaeologists and Egyptologists believe that roughly 20,000 Egyptians worked on the pyramids during their heyday, based on finding a town near the pyramids.
One of the most astonishing statistics about the Great Pyramid of Giza is that each of the limestone slabs used to construct the pyramid weighs two tons, nearly the same as a midsize SUV. It’s unclear how the villagers managed to hoist those stones and build the flawless pyramid.
- The Great Giza Pyramid is 481-Feet Tall
For 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the world’s highest structure! The Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln, England, was the first structure to surpass the Great Pyramid in height, having been finished in 1311.
Giza’s Great Pyramid stands 481 feet tall.
Khafre’s Pyramid is 448 feet in height
Menkaure’s Pyramid is 213 feet tall.
- The Pyramids of Giza were built more than 1,200 years before the rule of King Tut
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and last of the original seven global marvels is one of the fascinating fun facts about it. This pyramid is the oldest and largest of the Giza Necropolis’ nine pyramids, and it houses the tomb of King Khufu. The pyramid was completed in 2560 BC after a 20-year construction period.
The Pyramid of Khafre, the second-tallest pyramid, was built for King Khufu’s son in 2570 BC. Menkaure’s Pyramid is the smallest of the three pyramids. It is King Khufu’s grandson’s ultimate resting place.
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