The three Pyramids of Giza

What are the pyramids of Giza:

• The pyramids of Giza are the most important tourist attractions in Egypt, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The pyramids were built by the ancient Egyptians to use as tombs for the burial of kings and queens.
• The three pyramids are (Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure).
• The three pyramids are located in Giza Governorate on the west bank of the Nile River.
• The pyramids were built between 2480 – 2550 BC.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu:

• The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the last remaining of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and one of the world’s most controversial monuments.
• A lot of myths have emerged about the construction of the Great Pyramid; the most famous of which is that the pyramid of Khufu was built by the inhabitants of the lost continent of Atlantis, another myth say that it was built by magic, giants who rose from under the ground, or aliens.
• According to the Greek historian Herodotus, when he visited Egypt about 2000 years after building the pyramid, the construction of the pyramid took approximately 10 to 20 years.
• The architect, “Ham Ayunu, or Hemiuno,” who is the engineer of King Khufu, built this controversial pyramid with a genius ability that amazed the world since its construction until present.
• This pyramid was built on an area of about 13 acres. Its original height was about 148 meters long, but currently it is 137 meters.
• It was built between (2589 – 2566 BC).
• The pyramid of Khufu was built of limestone and its exterior was covered by high-quality limestone that they brought from Mount Tora, while the inner chambers were built of granite stone brought from Aswan via boats that reach the pyramid building area via the Nile River.
• The Great Pyramid was built with coordinates and engineering capabilities that surpassed the human mind, the most important of which are:
• The result of multiplying the height of the pyramid by one billion is equal to the same distance between the sun and planet Earth.
• The result of dividing the base of the pyramid (its perimeter) by twice its height is equal to the mathematical constant “(pi) or (pi) or (π)” which is equal to 3.14.
• The pyramid is located at the center the world’s continents.
• The four sides of the pyramid point precisely to the four directions (north, east, south, and west) as if it were an accurate compass.
• The entrance passage to the pyramid points to a star known as the polar star, while the inner vestibule points to another star known as Sirius, and this coincidence raises questions.
• The great pyramid Khufu stands out among the rest by its three burial chambers, the first one is under the ground while the other two are inside the pyramid itself. It is also possible to access to the king’s room (the upper room), through a corridor, to see the sarcophagus in which King Khufu was lying.

Pyramid of Khafre:

• The pyramid of Khafre is the second largest of the three pyramids of Giza. It was built by King Khafre, the son of King Khufu, the owner of the Great Pyramid. King Khafre was the fourth king of the Fourth Dynasty, who ruled Egypt in the twenty-sixth century BC.
• The pyramid of Khafre was built between (2532 – 2558 BC).
• The pyramid was built on an area of 215 square meters, its original height was estimated at 143.5 meters, but now it is 136 meters long, the length of each side is 215.5 meters, and the angle of inclination of the pyramid is 53.10°.
• Although the length of the pyramid of Khafre is less than the pyramid of Khufu, it appears that the first is higher than the last because Khafre built his on a hill higher than that of his father.
• The pyramid of Khafra is located southwest of the pyramid of Khufu, at the northern side of the pyramid, there are two entrances to the burial chamber. The burial chamber contains the coffin of the king’s mummy which is made of black granite, and as we know the room has been stolen.
• The Pyramid of Khafre is made of local limestone, previously, the pyramid was covered with a layer of high-quality limestone, but the top of the pyramid is the only part that still retains that layer.
• One of the most important buildings that are connected to the pyramid of Khafre is (The Valley Temple of Khafre), as it is connected to the pyramid through a bridge. The Valley Temple of Khafre was built of granite but its floors were covered with alabaster, in which there are several statues of King Khafre and the god Horus, “the Falcon Horus,” which were built from diorite stone brought from the Nubia desert through the Nile River; the diorite stone was a symbol of perpetuity, which means the eternity of king Khafra’s kingdom.
• The Mortuary Temple is located just below the pyramid, where the king’s body was transferred to conduct religious rituals before transferring it to the sarcophagus room, this was done after preparing and embalming the king’s mummy inside the Valley Temple.
• The Khafre pyramid stands out among the rest by locating the Sphinx statue in opposition to the pyramid, which gives it a majestic sight when viewed from a distance.

Pyramid of Menkaure:

• The pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three pyramids of Giza, located at a distance of a few hundred meters from the pyramid of his father Khafra and his grandfather Khufu, specifically in the southwestern side.
• It is believed that the pyramid of Menkaure was built in the twenty-sixth century BC during the rule of Menkaure of Egypt between (2515-2532 BC).
• The original height of the pyramid was 65.5 meters, but now it is 62 meters long after the fall of the outer cladding, and the base of the pyramid is 108.5 meters, with an inclination angle of 51° and 20 25 inches.
• The pyramid has an entrance from the northern side, about 4 meters above the ground, which leads to a downward corridor about 31 meters long.
• At the end of the downward corridor there is a vestibule leading to a horizontal corridor with three barricades, after which there is the burial room of the mummy’s sarcophagus.
• The pyramid was built of limestone, but the lower part was built of granite stone brought from the quarries in Aswan through the Nile River.
• The mummy of King Menkaure is currently in the British Museum.