老鼠记者第二本历史知识Ancient Egypt Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu (胡夫金字塔) or Cheops Pyramid. It is the largest of all the Egyptian pyramids and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is located around 5 miles to the west of the Nile River near the city of Cairo, Egypt.

Giza Necropolis

The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of a larger complex called the Giza Necropolis. There are two other major pyramids in the complex including the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. It also includes the Great Sphinx and several cemeteries.

Why was the Great Pyramid built?

The Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid once held all the treasures that Khufu would take with him to the afterlife.

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?

It took 20,000 workers around 20 years to build the Great Pyramid. Its construction began around 2580 BC, shortly after Khufu became pharaoh, and was completed around 2560 BC.

How did they build it?

No one is quite sure how the pyramids were built. There are a lot of different theories as to how the Egyptians were able to lift such large stone blocks all the way up to the top of the pyramids. It is likely that they used ramps to move the stones up the sides of the pyramid. They may have used wooden sleds or water to help the stones slide better and reduce friction.

Inside the Great Pyramid

Inside of the Great Pyramid are three major rooms: the King's Chamber, the Queen's Chamber, and the Grand Gallery. Small tunnels and air shafts lead to the chambers from the outside. The King's Chamber is at the highest point in the pyramid of all the chambers. It contains a large granite sarcophagus. The Grand Gallery is a large passageway around 153 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 29 feet high.

Other Pyramids

The two other major pyramids at Giza are the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The Pyramid of Khafre was built by Khufu's son, Pharaoh Khafre. It originally stood 471 feet tall, just 10 feet shorter than the Great Pyramid. The Pyramid of Menkaure was built for Khufu's grandson, Pharaoh Menkaure. It originally was 215 feet tall.

Interesting Facts about the Great Pyramid of Giza

1. It is thought that the architect of the pyramid was Khufu's vizier (his second in command) named Hemiunu.

2. There were three small pyramids next to the Great Pyramid built for Khufu's wives.

3. 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.

4. Recent evidence suggests that paid skilled workers built the Giza Pyramids, not slaves.

5. Despite its name, archeologists do not think that the Queen's Chamber is where the queen was buried.

6. No treasure was found inside the pyramid. It was likely looted by grave robbers over a thousand years ago.

7. 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.

source: https://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_egypt/great_pyramid_of_giza.php