Credits: This scan was created by Doctor Wael Fathy and Inspector Ezzat Salama from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt, Luke Hollis from the Giza Project, and Mused
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.
The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC for the Pharaoh Khufu and was originally 146.5 meters (481 feet) tall. It is thought to have taken 20 years to build and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost 4,000 years.
The Great Pyramid is made of over 2.3 million limestone blocks, weighing an average of 2.5 tonnes each. It is believed that the pyramid was built by Egyptians using simple tools and technologies, although there is no definitive evidence.
The Great Pyramid has three main chambers: the King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, and the Grand Gallery. The Chambers were probably used for burial and ritual purposes.
The exterior of the pyramid is covered in a layer of limestone, which has been weathered and eroded over time. The top of the pyramid is now only 138.8 meters (455 feet) tall.
Despite its age and the fact that it is no longer the tallest man-made structure in the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza is still an amazing feat of engineering and a popular tourist attraction.
