The Pyramids of Giza

Located on the Giza plateau 18 kilometers from Cairo are the Pyramids, the most famous monuments of Egypt and one of the oldest in the world. The construction of the great pyramids began about 2500 B.C.

There are 3 main pyramids in Giza: Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. In addition to these there are many other smaller pyramids.

The largest and most famous pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), with its 140 meters high and 230 meters base (about 1 kilometer perimeter), also called the Great Pyramid of Giza.

At first the pyramids had a coating of white limestone, but after an earthquake began to use these stones for the construction of buildings in Cairo. Today we can see part of the coating on the top of the pyramid of Khafre.

During the visit to the pyramids you can use to take a camel ride, with the advantage that they have currently set prices and evitaréis haggling.

Construction of the pyramid

It was built by Pharaoh Khufu the (Greek Cheops) of the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, the architect in charge of the work was Hemiunu (cousin of Pharaoh). It is estimated that the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza was made between the years 2545 to 2575 B.C., the first and largest of the three great pyramids of Giza Necropolis. According to the Turin Papyrus, the entire structure was built in about 23 years. Although other sources indicate that it was built in 30 years.

It was built with 2.3 million stone blocks, weighing about 2.5 tons, although there are blocks weighing up to up to 24 times more. The amount of labor that was used in the pyramid was approximately 4,000 men between manufacturers, carriers and quarry.

Dimensions of the Pyramid

More detailed measures have today is thanks to the British Archaeological Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie.

When it was built Height: 146.61 m

Current Height: 136,86m

Volume: 2,592,968 m3

The length of the sides of the base

North Side: 230.364 meters

East Side: 230.319 meters

South Side 230.365 meters

West Side: 230.342 meters



Inside the pyramid

Inside the pyramid is divided into three main chambers, The Grand Gallery, and ventilation channels.

King's Chamber

It was built by Aswan granite slabs. and only contains a red granite sarcophagus without a lid., It has access Wing House by a horizontal passage called antechamber of the upper end of the Grand Gallery.

It has a rectangular shape with dimensions of 10.481 meters. long, 5.235 meters wide and 5.858 meters high. The walls are built by five rows of stone and the roof for 9 huge granite slabs weighing about 400 tons.

The House Queen

The Arabs named after Queen's Chamber, although studies show that Egyptologists was not used for the King's wife, but for the Statue Ka (Place intended for spiritual representation of the deceased).

The dimensions of the camera are 5.65 meters long, 5.23 meters. wide and a height of 4.17 and 6.30 meters., is located in the central north-south axis of the pyramid.

The Manhole

It is a rectangular plan with an uneven floor, walls and flat roofs; It contains two compartments sarcophagi mode ,. It is accessed by a descending passage of the first hall of the pyramid. Wing also has access Grand Gallery by a small semi-vertical shaft in the blocks.