Wonder of the world - the pyramids of ancient Egypt

The only wonder of the world that has survived to this day is the pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops. Another name based on the Greek pronunciation of the name of the ruler is the pyramid of Khufu. This, without exaggeration, one of the main attractions of Egypt, was built so long ago that even for contemporaries, relative to the rest of the wonders of the world that did not survive, it was considered very old. Even then, in those ancient hours, the Egyptians could not find the key to unraveling it.

The age of the greatest pyramid of Giza is over four thousand years. To date, an excursion to it can be booked from any Cairo hotel. There are excellent offers in the travel company TurPoisk.

The famous pyramid: an epic of construction and greatness

According to legend, his nephew and part-time adviser Hemion undertook to bring to life the unusually daring fantasy of the pharaoh at that time. The foundation of the building dates back to about 2560 BC. e., completion - 2540 BC. e. It took more than two million stones to build the greatest pyramid. The weight of the largest blocks was a couple of tens of tons. The place for construction was chosen for a long time and carefully, because it was necessary to find a foundation that would withstand such a huge structure. In the end, the Egyptians stopped at a place with solid rocky soil. There is no better foundation, but there was one caveat - the quarry from which the granite blocks were taken was located 1000 km away. How the builders moved the stones is still unknown. This is another one of the many mysteries of the pyramids of Giza.

The question of the direct purpose of this ancient Egyptian monument remains open. According to the official and most widespread version, Cheops and his family are indeed buried in it. But many scientists do not agree with this. Too many inconsistencies. Many are sure that in fact the pyramid was an ancient observatory, because its ventilation channels with amazing accuracy point to important celestial bodies - Tuban, Sirius and Alnitak. It is also proven that the builders took into account the location of the Earth's magnetic poles.

Cheops Pyramid: appearance and geometric parameters

The Pyramid of Khufu is a truly majestic structure. Even for modern people, it is amazing, and what can we say about the ancient inhabitants. The base of the pyramid covers an area equal to 10 football fields (53 thousand m2). The area of the side planes collects 85.5 thousand m2. The length of the base and the side rib is 230 m. The height is 138 m (originally it was 147 m). Translated into modern parameters, this is the height of a fifty-story building. Millenniums left their mark on the pyramid. The forces of nature, repeated visits by robbers, vandals and simply adventurers contributed, but could not only destroy, but also significantly affect its appearance. The only significant changes are the collapsed stone top and the crumbling of the original smooth cladding.

The access to the pyramid is from the northern edge. The Egyptians equipped it at a height of about 16 m and sealed it with a granite plug. But in 1820, Abdullah al-Mamun, one of the Arab caliphs, relying on finding wealth in the depths, made a large breach at a height of 6 m. It is he who today serves as the main entrance to the pyramid.

The Cheops pyramid is exceptionally interesting from the inside. It is difficult for uninformed tourists to figure out where everything is, you can easily get lost here, because the ancient builders created a complex, intricate organization of mines and corridors. At the very bottom in the rock formation is an unfinished room. From it, along the ascending Great Gallery, you can get to the tombs of the pharaoh and queen located above. This is what has been explored. And how much is left undiscovered. After all, all the secrets and corners of the pyramid have not yet been studied, and it is not known whether they will ever be explored. Until today, it has not been possible to count all the secret doors and go through all the corridors. Egyptologists explain such a complex construction of the pyramid by the peculiarities of the ancient Egyptians' idea of life after death.

The numerous mysteries of the tomb of the majestic Cheops have been attracting tourists for many centuries. And today it remains the most unique attraction in Egypt. This creation of a brilliant designer never goes unnoticed by tourists, fascinated by the beauty and mystery of the structure.

The Pyramid of Cheops: it is interesting to know what...

Despite its name, there is no direct evidence that the pyramid really belonged to Khufu. In general, there is practically nothing in the pyramid that would help to draw conclusions about belonging to a historical era and culture - neither the usual rock paintings, nor inscriptions, nor decorative images. The only decoration is a small portrait in the corridor leading to the queen's tomb.

Also, no one knows when the pyramid was actually completed. It is officially believed that the construction of the pyramid was started on August 23, 2560 BC. e. This date is marked by a celebration at the state level, but no one knows how it really was.

It is not known who will build it. In addition to the well-known version of the Egyptians, there are well-reasoned theories about a civilization that did not survive the flood, and even about aliens from outer space. The latest research has shown that builders, whoever they were, worked very hard, but did not feel bad. The workers had comfortable equipped sleeping places, they ate deliciously and fully, mainly fish and meat. Some scientists even hypothesize that free people were involved in construction work, and not slaves, as was previously thought.

For many centuries, the pyramid of Cheops bore the title of the tallest structure in the world built by man. But in 1300, when the cathedral was erected in the city of Lincoln, this status was lost.

The weight of the heaviest block is calculated and is 35 tons. It is installed above the very entrance to the pharaoh's tomb.
Initially, during construction, the pyramid was lined with smooth slabs. They were so high-quality and delicately polished that they radiated a pastel peach color in the sunlight, and when the moon came out, a mysterious shimmer emanated from the pyramid.
Scientists used the latest achievements of engineering and robotics to study the most inaccessible places. Almost 3 million travelers visit the pyramid of Khufu every year. Daily - from 3 to 10 thousand people.

And one more, very important nuance - the locals. Remember that tourists are an important and sometimes the only way to earn money for them. Tune in to the fact that during the rest you will be constantly asked to buy something. It's annoying, learn to ignore such appeals. And if you still decide to buy the proposed product, be sure to bargain. And watch your wallet. There are a lot of pickpockets in Egypt.