The Great Pyramid of Giza: History and Myths About Egypt's Greatest Wonder
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World, and perhaps the most famous. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. But what really is the Great Pyramid, and why is it considered a wonder of the world? Let's take a look at the history and myths behind this enigmatic structure.
Biggest and oldest of the Seven Wonders
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that still stands. It is also the oldest of the Seven. Construction began on the Great Pyramid in 2513 BCE, and it was completed around 2080 BCE, making it more than 4,500 years old at the time of its completion. In terms of size, the Great Pyramid is by far the largest of the Seven Wonders. Its height is 621 feet, and its base covers 13.5 acres. The Pyramid was built as a tomb for pharaoh Khufu, and it is thought to have been completed around 2550 BCE, just 14 years after construction began.
A tomb for pharaoh Khufu
The Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for pharaoh Khufu, or Cheops, who lived around 2,500 years ago. Khufu is believed to have been the owner of the largest pyramid in Giza, which was never finished. So, it is believed that building the Great Pyramid was a way to assert his power and claim the throne of Egypt as his own.
A sign of the Pharaoh Khufu's power
Despite being the largest and oldest of the Seven Wonders, there are few historical records that talk about the Great Pyramid or Khufu. What we do know is that Khufu's power was at its peak around the time of its construction. He ruled over an empire that stretched from Nubia in the south to Syria in the north, and from Libya in the west to Sudan in the east. It was during this time that he started constructing his funerary monument.
The Pyramid was built by slaves
The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed almost completely by hand, using only manual tools. Although there are no records that talk about how the Egyptians built the Great Pyramid, there are some clues in the structure that suggest that most of it was built by slaves. For example, the lowest parts of the Pyramid were built upon sand, silt, and bluestone pilings driven into the ground. The bluestones used in the construction of the Great Pyramid come from the nearby quarry of Tura. The sand used to build the Great Pyramid was most likely brought in from as far as 100 miles away.
The Pyramid was built without the use of modern materials or construction techniques
There are many claims and theories surrounding the construction of the Great Pyramid, but almost no concrete facts. Theories about how it was built range from the absurd (the Great Pyramid was built by aliens) to the possible (the Great Pyramid was built as a tomb for pharaoh Khufu). While it is true that the Great Pyramid was built almost entirely without the use of modern materials or construction techniques, this doesn't mean that it was built in the same way that, say, a modern skyscraper would be built. The design of the Great Pyramid was based on ancient Egyptian architecture, which was based on the designs of pyramids constructed during the Age of Pyramids (3,000 BCE to 1,000 BCE).
The Great Pyramid of Giza today: A popular tourist destination
The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing. Even today, its true purpose is unknown. Theories about its origins and construction have run the gamut, from claims that it was built as a tomb for Alexander the Great to the more outlandish idea that it was built as some kind of radio antenna. Regardless of its original purpose, the Egyptians have been credited with the impressive feat of constructing such a giant structure without the use of modern materials or construction techniques. Today, the Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Egypt. Millions of people visit the site every year to explore its enormous chambers, climb its grand stairway, and marvel at its incredible architecture and positioning. It is also one of the most puzzling. The structure was built almost 4,500 years ago to house the body of a pharaoh and is the only one of the Seven Wonders still standing.