One of the seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day is the Pyramid of Cheops, or as the Egyptians call it, the Pyramid of Khufu. The name differs from the Greek pronunciation used by the rest of the world. In order to understand how ancient this pyramid is, just think that for contemporaries of the other six wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza was so old that they no longer knew how it was built.
Although the Great Pyramid is one of the oldest structures in the world, its condition has been preserved quite well to this day. Today, a visit to the Egyptian pyramids can be booked through a tour desk located in almost any hotel in Cairo.
History and construction of the Cheops pyramid
The construction of the Great Pyramid of Cheops is historically associated with Pharaoh Hemion, who was his nephew, vizier and chief architect at court. Work on the pyramid began around 2560 BC, and its construction took about 20 years, resulting in the pyramid being completed in 2540 BC.
The construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza required the use of more than two million huge stones, including blocks weighing several tens of tons. To avoid the risk of collapse, construction was carried out on strong rocky soil capable of supporting the weight of the structure, which eventually reached a weight of 6.4 million tons. The granite blocks for the pyramid were delivered from a quarry that was located 1000 km away. How these stones were transported and used in the construction of the Cheops pyramid remains a mystery to which scientists are still trying to find the answer.
The purpose of the tallest pyramid in Ancient Egypt is controversial. According to the most common opinion, it is the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops (ruler of the IV dynasty) and members of his family. However, discussions about the mystery of the pyramid do not stop. Some astronomers believe that the pyramid had the properties of an observatory, since the ventilation ducts and corridors were designed with precision, pointing to the stars Sirius, Thuban and Alnitak. In addition, during its construction the coordinates of the Earth's magnetic poles were taken into account, which is also of interest.
Geometry and description of the pyramid of Khufu
The characteristics of Khufu's pyramid remain impressive to people to this day. For example, its base occupies a huge area of 53 thousand square meters, which is approximately equal to ten football fields. The length of the base is 230 meters, and the length of each side of the base is the same. In addition, the side surface area is 85.5 thousand square meters. These values continue to amaze people to this day.
The height of the Cheops pyramid is currently 138 meters, but initially it was higher - reaching 147 meters, which can be compared with the height of a fifty-story skyscraper. The safety of the pyramid has suffered over the years. Numerous earthquakes over the millennia have thrown off the stone top of the structure, and the smooth stone with which the outer walls were lined has crumbled. However, the interior of the attraction has remained virtually unchanged, despite many robberies and vandals.
Initially, the entrance to the pyramid was at a height of more than 16 meters and was blocked by a granite plug. However, now tourists get inside through a huge gap made in the wall at a height of ten meters, which was made by the Arabs in 1820, led by Caliph Abdullah al-Mamun. They made attempts to find the treasures that were believed to be hidden inside.
Inside the Cheops pyramid there are three levels of tombs, placed one above the other. On the lowest tier there is an unfinished underground chamber, which is located at the base of the rock. Above it are the burial halls of the queen and pharaoh, connected to them by the Great Gallery, which goes up. The pyramid's designers created a unique system of corridors and shafts; the plan is still being studied by scientists. Egyptologists have proposed a theory to explain the understanding of the afterlife of people of those times. It is with the help of this version that secret doors and other design features can be explained.
Interesting facts about the Cheops pyramid
There are many points of view regarding the age and builders of the Cheops pyramid. Some researchers suggest that the pyramid was built before the Great Flood, which several civilizations survived, and there are even hypotheses about the participation of alien civilizations in its construction. However, despite the fact that the exact date of construction of the pyramid is unknown, officially in Egypt the day its construction began is celebrated - August 23, 2560 BC.
The latest archaeological excavations, carried out at the beginning of the 21st century, showed that the builders of the pyramids worked hard, but they were provided with comfortable conditions. They received a diet rich in calories, including meat and fish, and also had comfortable places to rest and sleep. Many Egyptologists believe that they were not slaves.
Based on studying the ideal proportions of the Great Pyramid of Giza, scientists concluded that the ancient Egyptians already at that time knew very well about the golden ratio and actively used its principle when creating a drawing. There are no decorative paintings or historical inscriptions inside the Cheops pyramid, except for a small portrait in the passage to the queen's chamber. There is no evidence that the pyramid belonged to Pharaoh Khufu. For three millennia before 1300, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure on the planet until Lincoln Cathedral was built to surpass it. The heaviest stone block used in the construction of the pyramid weighs 35 tons and is located above the entrance to the pharaoh's burial chamber.
Before the Arab invasion of Egypt, the outer slabs of the Cairo pyramid were so carefully polished that in the light of the moon they emitted a mysterious shimmer, and in the sun they sparkled with a soft peach light. To explore hard-to-reach spaces, scientists use a special robot. Every day, the pyramids are visited by 6 to 10 thousand tourists, and annually their number reaches about 3 million. On the southern side of the pyramid in the museum you can see exhibits found during excavations and inside the pyramid, as well as see a restored unique cedar boat, which The ancient Egyptians built the Solar Boat. You can also buy souvenirs here. The next attraction on the territory will be the Great Sphinx.
Visiting Features
Some helpful tips for visiting the pyramids include arriving in the morning to purchase tickets and avoid the midday heat. The entrance to the pyramid is at a low level, so you will have to bend over 100 meters. In addition, the inside of the pyramid is very dry, hot and a little dusty, so people with claustrophobia, respiratory or heart problems are not recommended to visit it. Photography and video shooting inside the pyramid is prohibited. If you want to take a photo with the Great Pyramid in the background, it is best not to give your camera to anyone else to avoid theft. To get a high-quality image of the Cheops Pyramid (and other pyramids), it is better to take photographs in the morning or evening, when the sun is not shining too brightly and the image turns out three-dimensional.
Climbing the pyramid is absolutely prohibited. For locals, tourists are the main or even the only source of income, so they will constantly offer you to buy something. Therefore, think carefully about whether you need the goods offered, and in any case, always bargain. Give tips only to those who truly deserve them. Be careful: there are a lot of pickpockets around.
