- one of the most ancient "seven wonders of the world", which has survived to this day. She inherited her name from the creator - Pharaoh Cheops and is the largest in the group of Egyptian pyramids.
It is believed that it serves as a tomb for his dynasty. The Pyramid of Cheops is located on the Giza plateau.
Dimensions of the pyramid of Cheops
The height of the Pyramid of Cheops initially reached 146.6 meters, but time inexorably and gradually destroys this impressive structure. Today it has decreased to 137.2 meters.
The pyramid is composed, in general, of 2.3 million cubes of stone. The weight of one stone is on average 2.5 tons, but there are even those whose mass reaches 15 tons.
The most interesting thing is that these blocks fit so perfectly that even the blade of a thin knife cannot pass through them. They were glued together with white cement, as a protection against the penetration of water inside. It has survived to this day.
One side of the pyramid is 230 meters long. The base area is 53,000 square meters, which can be equated to ten football fields.
This huge building impresses with its grandeur and breathes with antiquity. According to scientists, the total weight of the pyramid is 6.25 million tons. Previously, its surface was perfectly smooth. Now, unfortunately, there is no trace of this smoothness.
Inside the pyramid of Cheops there is one entrance, located at a height of 15.5 meters above the ground. It contains the tombs in which the pharaohs were buried. These so-called burial chambers are made of durable granite and are located at a depth of 28 meters.
The pyramid consists of incoming and descending passages, which were not used in any other similar building. One of the features is a large descent leading to the tomb of the pharaoh.
The Pyramid of Cheops is located directly in the place that points to all four cardinal points. She is the one and only ancient structures, has this accuracy. 
History of the Pyramid of Cheops
How the ancient Egyptians were able to build this Pyramid and when, no one can say for sure. But in Egypt, the official date when construction began is August 23, 2480 BC.
It was then that Pharaoh Snofu died and his son Khufu (Cheops) gave the order to build the pyramid. He wanted to build such a pyramid that it would not only become one of the greatest structures, but also glorify his name through the ages.
It is known that about 100,000 people simultaneously participated in its construction. For 10 years, they only built a road along which it was necessary to deliver stones, and the construction itself continued for another 20-25 years.
According to scientists, it is known that workers cut down huge blocks in quarries on the banks of the Nile. On boats they went to the other side and dragged a block along the road with felt to the construction site itself.
Then came the turn of hard and very dangerous work. The blocks were stacked to each other with extraordinary accuracy with the help of ropes and levers.
Secrets of the Pyramid of Cheops
For almost 3,500 years, no one has disturbed the peace of the Pyramid of Cheops. It was covered with legends about the punishment of anyone who enters the chambers of the pharaoh. 
However, there was such a daredevil caliph Abdullah al-Mamun, he laid a tunnel inside the pyramid in order to profit. But what was his surprise when he found absolutely no treasures. Indeed, this is one of the many secrets of this majestic structure.
No one knows whether the pharaoh Cheops was really buried in it or his tomb was plundered by the ancient Egyptians. Scientists emphasize that the pharaoh's chamber does not have decorations, which at that time it was customary to decorate the tombs. There is no lid on the sarcophagus, and it is not completely hewn. It is clear that the work has not been completed.
After an unsuccessful attempt by Abdullah al-Mamun, having come into a frenzy, he ordered the pyramids to be dismantled. But naturally this goal was not achieved. And the robbers lost all interest in her and her non-existent treasures.
In 1168, the Arabs burned part of Cairo, and when the Egyptians began to rebuild their houses, they removed the white slabs from the pyramid.
And from that pyramid that shone like a precious stone, only a stepped body remained. This is how it appears today, before enthusiastic tourists.
The Pyramid of Cheops has been constantly explored, since the time of Napoleon. And some researchers are more inclined to believe the theory about the construction of the pyramid by aliens or Atlanteans.
Because to this day it is not clear how the builders could achieve such excellent stone processing and precise laying, which have not been affected by external factors for centuries. And the pyramid measurements themselves are striking in their results.
The pyramid was surrounded by other interesting buildings, mostly temples. But today, almost nothing has survived.
Their purpose is not completely clear, but in 1954, archaeologists found the most ancient ship at this place. It was the “Solnechnaya” boat, which was made without a single nail, with traces of silt preserved, and most likely floated in the time of Cheops.
The Pyramid of Cheops is located on the Giza plateau. Giza is a settlement northwest of Cairo. You can get there by taxi, naming the Mena House Hotel as the final stop. Or take a bus from the stops of Tahrir Square, in Cairo, or sit at the Ramesses station.
Pyramid of Cheops on the map
Attraction opening hours and price
You can see the majestic Pyramid of Cheops every day from 8.00 to 17.00. in winter, the visit is limited to 16.30. It is advisable to visit the pyramid in the early morning or late afternoon. In the rest of the hours it is quite hot, and you can’t break through the crowds of tourists. Although at this hour they are not so few.
Passing to the ticket office, which is not far from the hotel, you should not pay attention to barkers offering a ride on camels or calling themselves controllers. Most likely they are scammers.
The cost of entering the territory will cost $ 8, the entrance to the Pyramid of Cheops itself will cost $ 16. And of course, it is worth visiting the two pyramids of Khafre and Mykerin standing next to each other, each will cost $ 4. And to see the Solar Boat - $ 7.
It is impossible to appreciate the full power and grandeur of the Pyramid of Cheops shrouded in many secrets from photographs or words.
You just need to see it with your own eyes and touch this ancient, truly impressive structure.
The most ancient wonder of the world that we can admire even now is the pyramid of Cheops. Shrouded in myths and legends Egyptian pyramid was the largest and tallest building for many millennia. Khufu (another name for the pyramid) is located in Giza - the popular place crowds of tourists.
History of the pyramids
The pyramids in Egypt are practically the main attraction of the country. There are many hypotheses related to their origin and construction. But they all agree on one important conclusion of the pyramids in Egypt - these are impressive tombs for the great inhabitants of the country (in those days they were pharaohs). The Egyptians believed in the afterlife and life after death. It was believed that only a few were worthy of continuing their life path after death - these are the pharaohs themselves of their families and the slaves who were constantly next to the lords. The images of slaves and servants were painted on the walls of the tombs so that after their death they could continue to serve their king. According to the ancient religion of the Egyptians, a person had two inner souls Ba and Ka. Ba - left the Egyptian after his death, and Ka always acted as a virtual double and waited for him in the world of the dead.
So that the pharaoh did not need anything in the afterlife, food, weapons, kitchen utensils, gold and much more were left in the tomb of the pyramid. In order for the body to remain unchanged and wait for the second soul of Ba, it was necessary to preserve it. This is how the birth of embalming the body and the need to create pyramids arose.
The emergence of the pyramids in Egypt originates from the construction of the pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser 5 thousand years ago. The outer walls of the first pyramid were in the form of steps, which symbolized the ascent to heaven. The height of the structure was 60 meters with many corridors and several tombs. Djoser's chamber was located in the underground part of the pyramid. Several more passages leading to small chambers were made from the royal tomb. They contained all the accessories for the further afterlife of the Egyptians. Closer to the east, chambers for the entire family of the pharaoh were found. The building itself was not so huge compared to the pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops, whose height is almost 3 times greater. But it is with the pyramid of Djoser that the history of the emergence of all Egyptian pyramids begins.
Very often in the photo of the pyramid of Cheops you can see two more adjacent pyramids. it famous pyramids Herfen and Mekerin. It is these three pyramids that are considered the most important assets of the country. The height of the pyramid of Cheops significantly distinguishes it from the rest of the standing and other pyramids of Egypt. Initially, the walls of the structure were smooth, but after a long period of years they began to crumble. If you look at modern photos of the Cheops pyramid, you can see the relief of the facade and its unevenness, formed over millennia.
The birth of the pyramid of Cheops
Pyramid of Cheops official version was erected in the autumn of 2480 BC. The date of the first ancient wonder of the world, many historians and researchers dispute, arguing in favor of their arguments. The construction of the Great Pyramid lasted about 2-3 decades. More than one hundred thousand inhabitants of ancient Egypt and the best masters of that time participated in it. First of all, a large road was built for the delivery of building materials, then underground passages and mine. Most of the time was spent on the construction of the upper part of the pyramid - the walls and internal passages and tombs.
There is a very interesting feature of the building: the height of the pyramid of Cheops in its original form and the width was 147 meters each. Due to the sands that covered the base of the structure and the shedding of the facing part, it decreased by 10 meters and now it is now 137 meters in height. A giant tomb was built mainly from huge blocks of limestone and granite weighing about 2.5 tons, which were carefully polished so as not to lose the ideal shape of the structure. And in the tomb of the most ancient pharaoh, granite blocks were found, the weight of which reached almost 80 tons. According to Egyptologists' calculations, it took about 2,300,000 huge stones, which cannot but impress us all.
The doubts associated with the construction of the pyramid were that in those dark times there were no special machines and devices at all capable of lifting and ideally folding heavy blocks under a certain slope. Some believed that more than a million people took part in the construction, others that the blocks were lifted by a lifting mechanism. Everything was so thought out and as perfect as possible that without the use of concrete mortar and cement, the stones were laid in such a way that it was completely impossible to insert even thin paper between them! There is an assumption that the pyramid was created not at all by people, but by aliens or another force unknown to man.
We are based specifically on the fact that the pyramids are still the creation of people. In order to quickly extract a stone of the required size and shape from the rock, its outlines were made. The conditional form was carved, and a dry tree was inserted there. It was regularly watered with water, the tree grew from moisture, and under its pressure a crack formed in the rock. Now a large block was removed and betrayed to her the required shape and size. Stones for construction were redirected along the river by huge boats.
Massive wooden sleds were used to lift the heavy boulders up. On a gentle slope, the stones were lifted one by one by teams of their hundreds of slaves.
Pyramid device
The entrance to the pyramid was originally not where it is now. It had the shape of an arch and was located on the northern side of the building with a height of more than 15 meters. In an attempt to rob the great tomb in 820, a new entrance was made, already at a height of 17 meters. But Caliph Abu Jafar, who wanted to enrich himself with the loot, did not find any jewels and valuables and left with nothing. This passage is now open to tourists.
The pyramid consists of several long corridors leading to the tombs. Immediately after the entrance there is a common corridor that diverges into 2 tunnels leading to the central and lower parts of the pyramid. For some reason, the chamber below was not completed. There is also a narrow loophole, behind which there is only a dead end and a three-meter well. Climbing up the corridor, you will find yourself in the Great Gallery. If you turn left at the first turn and walk a little, you will see the chamber of the bishop's wife. And along the corridor above there is the largest one - the tomb of the pharaoh himself.
The beginning of the gallery is interesting in that a long and narrow almost vertical Grotto was built there. There is an assumption that he was there even before the foundation of the pyramid itself. From both tombs of the pharaoh and his wife, narrow passages about 20 centimeters wide were made. Presumably they were made to ventilate the wards. There is another version that these passages and corridors are pointers to the stars: Sirius, Alnitaki and Tuban, and that the pyramid served as a place for astronomical research. But there is another opinion - according to the belief in the afterlife, the Egyptians believed that the soul returns from heaven through the channels.
There is one important and interesting fact - the construction of the pyramid was carried out strictly at one angle of 26.5 degrees. There is every reason to believe that the inhabitants of antiquity were very well versed in geometry and the exact sciences. What are the proportional smooth corridors and ventilation ducts.
Not far from the pyramid itself, during the excavations, Egyptian, cedar boats were found. They were made of pure wood without a single nail. One of the boats of the ball is divided into 1224 parts. The restorer Ahamed Yussouf Mustafa managed to assemble it. For this, the architect had to spend as much as 14 years, such a high patience in the name of science can only be envied. The assembled boat can be admired today in the museum of a bizarre shape. It is located on the south side of the Great Pyramid.
Unfortunately, inside the pyramid itself, you cannot shoot videos and take pictures. But on the other hand, you can take many incredible pictures against the background of this creation. Various souvenirs are also sold here, so that an excursion to these enchanting places can remind you of yourself for a long time.
Photos of the Cheops pyramid, of course, do not reflect all the greatness and uniqueness of this building.. With us you will plunge into history and look at the world with different eyes.!
Therefore, in this article only the main general facts and figures relating to the Great Pyramid as a whole.
Date of construction and geometric dimensions
According to the generally accepted opinion, the Great Pyramid was built in the 2560-2580s BC as a tomb for the reigning pharaoh of the IV dynasty Cheops (Khufu). Despite some difficulties in explaining the possibility of building it within the required timeframe using the technology available at that time, this version is nevertheless considered the main one and has quite numerous confirmations in the form of inscriptions found inside the Pyramid and the Pit of the Solar Boat with it.
The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of the Egyptian pyramids.
- Altitude (today): ≈ 138.75 m
- Height (originally): ≈ 146.5 m
- Angle: 51° 50"
- Side face length (original): 230.33 m (calculated) or about 440 King's cubits
- Side face length (now): about 225 m
- The length of the sides of the base of the pyramid: south - 230.454 m; north - 230.253 m; west - 230.357 m; east - 230.394 m.
- Base area (originally): ≈ 53,000 m² (5.3 ha)
- Area of the pyramid: (originally) ≈ 85,500 m²
- Perimeter: 922 m.
- The total volume of the pyramid without deducting the cavities inside the pyramid (initially): ≈ 2.58 million m³
- Total volume of the pyramid, after subtracting all known cavities (initially): 2.50 million m³
- The average size of the observed stone blocks of the rough masonry: 1.27 m in width and depth, 71 cm in height (according to Petrie)
- Average weight of rough masonry stone blocks: 2.5 t
- Heaviest rough stone block: 15 t
- The heaviest stone block (known; granite; above the entrance to the King's Chamber): 90 tons
- Number of blocks: about 2.5 million (provided that the pyramid is not of the infill type)
- Estimated total weight of the pyramid: about 6.25 million tons (possibly about 6 million tons according to microgravimetry)
- The base of the pyramid rests on a natural rocky elevation in the center (in the area of the Grotto) more than 9 m high.
- Materials used in the construction (from known ones): limestone from the Giza Plateau - rough masonry, Tursky white limestone - interior walls, ventilation shafts and exterior cladding, Aswan granite - Anterior chamber, King's Chamber, unloading chambers (partially), plugs; Sinai - sarcophagus. Also found inside and quartz sand.
- the pyramidion of the pyramid was not found, the stones of its fastening, too.
- The True Entrance is located traditionally, i.e., on the northern side. He is the only known one.
The difference in the thicknesses of the layers of the pyramid masonry
Despite the fact that the pyramid was built in layers, the thickness of the layers is different and varies from 60 cm to one and a half meters.
The reasons for this are not exactly known, there are several hypotheses, the simplest one says that large blocks were laid in eras when an excess amount of labor appeared on the laying of layers of rough masonry. What can be connected, for example, with the release of it after the completion of a certain laborious stage of building some complex internal infrastructures or the season for harvesting blocks, etc. The scheme requires careful analysis.
The current state of affairs and appearance after the disappearance of the cladding
The Great Pyramid now has faces concave inward. This often gives rise to various theories and speculations, but it should be remembered that the structure lost several meters of facing on each side, and the nature of its looting into stone does not give reason to believe that the faces were not originally flat.
Perhaps the observed picture is simply a consequence of the most profitable stone extraction.
The question of using the pyramid for its intended purpose
Since the most ancient times, the question has been sharply raised - was the pyramid of Cheops used for its intended purpose? There is still no single answer to this question. On the one hand, there is almost complete certainty that the pyramid was completely finished by the builders. On the other hand, what we see inside it, for example, the obviously not the best quality sarcophagus in the King's Chamber, the unfinished floor in the Queen's Chamber, or the picture of continuous incompleteness in the Underground Chamber - everything suggests that the pharaoh in these famous the premises could hardly be buried at all. Herodotus also claimed that Cheops was buried elsewhere, on an island surrounded on all sides by water. On the third hand, traces of a clear breaking of traffic jams and dampers of the Antechamber indicate that the pyramid was carefully sealed for some reason. The official point of view of science on this matter suggests that crackers visited the pyramid no later than the first 500-600 years from the moment it was built. But what they found, who they were, and whether they found anything at all is completely unknown. In the volume of the Great Pyramid, the volume of all known and explored rooms is less than 1 percent, and it is already known that in addition to the explored ones, there are several unknown sealed rooms in it.
Blocks and Careers
Egyptologists believe that the pyramids of Giza were built from natural stone, which was mined in three quarries. The actual construction of the pyramids is made of nummulite limestone of the Mokattam formation. The quarries were located in close proximity to the pyramids. The lower parts of the pyramids of Khafre and Mykerin were faced with granite from the Aswan quarry, which is located in southern Egypt at a distance of 934 kilometers along the Nile (700 kilometers in a straight line). Several rows of granite cladding have been preserved at the pyramid of Menkaure. The middle and upper parts of the two large pyramids were lined with limestone from the Tours quarry, which is located on the east bank of the Nile south of Cairo at a distance of 13-17 kilometers from the pyramids. The number of pyramid facing blocks (granite and limestone) that have come down to us is relatively small. Therefore, we can simply agree that stone from the Tur and Aswan quarries was used in the construction of the pyramids. The opinion that the pyramids were built of nummulite limestone is not fully true. The lower rows of the pyramids are composed of solid limestone from the Moqattam Formation. Higher up, blocks of soft limestone dominate, in which there are no nummulites. It is fundamentally. That is, when describing blocks of pyramids in the specialized literature, it seems to remain “behind the scenes” that most of them are carved from soft limestone.
The lower rows of the pyramids (approximately 1-7/10 rows) are built from blocks carved from hard limestone. The first row of the Cheops pyramid (1.5 m thick) is carved from a layer of strong limestone, which has the greatest thickness - 1.5 m. In the upper rows of the pyramids, blocks carved from soft limestone predominate (or cast blocks indistinguishable from them. - the statement requires proof, Supervisor 03:05, May 22, 2011 (UTC)). When developing a quarry, it was necessary to fulfill one condition: the time elapsed from the moment of opening soft limestones to cutting building blocks from them should be minimal. That is, soft limestones had to be cut into blocks before they hardened from contact with air. In addition, after cutting blocks of soft limestone, it took some time for them to harden and not crumble during transportation. These requirements correspond to the cyclic nature of quarrying. Its section was being developed, the area of which was approximately 1.5 times larger than the area of a number of blocks, on which the construction of the pyramid was stopped. Blocks were cut from layers of hard and soft limestone and stored "by layer", that is, according to their vertical dimensions. After removing all the limestone from the area of the site, it began to be laid into the body of the pyramid. The sequence of laying blocks of different thicknesses (and, accordingly, different weights) was determined by the ratio of labor costs for their lifting. This ensured the ranking of rows of blocks according to their thickness.
base of the pyramid
The rocky base of the pyramid of Cheops, according to modern calculations, occupies from 23% of the volume of the pyramid, or about 600,000 cubic meters. The minimum figures were obtained when determining the height of the rock in terms of an average level of 12.5 meters. new exploration work is required to clarify these data. A revision of most of the old works with calculations of the stone used during construction is also required. In addition, there are estimates of 10-12% of the volume of the pyramid, which is occupied by a solution that holds the blocks together.
The directions to the north of the side faces were drawn out so precisely that due to the sphericity of the Earth and the colossal size of the Pyramid, its northern side turned out to be 20 cm shorter than the southern one. (the exact dimensions of the pyramid are known from the preserved pits of the supporting corner stones)
Sources
[http://supernovum.ru/public/index.php?doc=171 | Mining and Geological Aspect of Giza Pyramid Construction Technology]
[http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/31/95/86/PDF/PyramidsSR.pdf Geological and Geomorphological study of the original hill at the base of Fourth Dynasty Egyptian monuments.]
One of the greatest buildings ancient world located in Egypt. This building, since the completion of the construction, strikes with its grandeur and impeccable geometry. No wonder the ancient Greeks included the pyramid of Cheops in their list of the seven wonders of the world. This is the only miracle that has survived to this day.
The Pyramid of Cheops has become a real masterpiece. Modern researchers are amazed at the severity of proportions and the accuracy of geometric dimensions, with which the ancient Egyptians coped brilliantly. Some Egyptologists seriously believe that the builders of the 26th century BC could not have built such a structure in 22 years. They adhere to the theory of extraterrestrial origin of the pyramids.
The point of view of these researchers has the right to exist, especially since the arguments they present sometimes baffle opponents. The location of the pyramid and its proportions are so precise that in order to arrange them in accordance with the cardinal points, modern builders would require the use of the most accurate geodetic instruments. If the exact location of the pyramid of Cheops along the cardinal points is an accident, then the accident is very happy.
The current proportions of the pyramid of Cheops, or Khufu, are not what they were originally. Scientists were able to determine that the maximum height of the pyramid in 2568 BC was 146.6 meters. The ratio of height and base, therefore, is 3.14 ...., that is, the number "Pi" from geometry. The point is the accuracy in which the ratio repeats the number "Pi". This precision is six decimal places. Archimedes did not know this meaning, he would have envied such accuracy, no doubt.
On the day the construction was completed, the pyramid of Cheops was 146.6 meters high. However, now, its height is much less than the original. There are two reasons for this decrease. One natural character is erosion. The second reason is artificial. Her name is man...
In 1301, Cairo experienced an earthquake. Most of the houses turned into piles of garbage. The same fate befell the mosques with skillful minarets. After the first shock, the Cairo authorities turned to a real storehouse of building materials - the pyramids of the pagans. They were seduced by the polished limestone slabs with which the pyramids were laid out. Following the path of least resistance, by reducing overhead costs, the Arabs began to remove the outer lining of the pyramids. Now only part of the facing on the upper tiers of the Khafre pyramid has been preserved. On the pyramid of Cheops, there is no outer lining left.
As a result of the barbaric dismantling, the height of the tallest pyramid in Egypt decreased by more than eight meters. Today's sources, speaking about the height of the pyramid of Cheops, do not shine with uniformity. The difference is 10-20 centimeters. On the one hand, such a discrepancy in data outrages pedants, lovers of accuracy. On the other hand, 10-20 centimeters now do not determine anything. After all, the original proportions are violated irrevocably and forever.
The Arabs who dismantled the pyramids did not ask subtle scientific questions. They were not interested in the theories put forward by modern scientists. They were interested in the momentary solution of domestic problems. They did not hesitate to cause damage to one of the seven wonders of the world. We can complain for a long time about the Arabs of the early 14th century. We can complain about inaccuracies in determining the true height of the pyramid. We can hypothesize about the creators of the pyramids. But the pyramids don't care. They continue to exist and outlive us with our emotions. They will continue to delight and thrill visitors who will disturb their centuries-old peace.
Of course, everyone knows where the Cheops pyramid is located. After all, this is one of the most outstanding monuments not only of Egypt, but of the entire planet. And despite the achievements of modern science, the secrets of the pyramid of Cheops are still unsolved. This is one of the reasons why this huge building attracts many tourists, as well as the fact that this is the only wonder of the world that has survived to our times.
This place really has some special magnetism. And even numerous souvenir sellers and camel drivers who want to make money on curious tourists do not spoil general impression. Looking ahead, I will say that the Cheops pyramid inside is not as amazing as the outside. And if you decide to save on the "internal" tour, you will not lose much. Moreover, I would not recommend going inside for people with claustrophobia, breathing problems or heart problems. The corridors here are quite narrow, and the air is heavy and stuffy, despite the presence of ventilation ducts. By the way, excursion tours are often very rich and do not provide time to get acquainted with the pyramidal structures inside. Therefore, be sure to clarify this point in advance if you still decide to get in touch with the secret from the insideJ
Construction history
The most famous pyramidal structure owes its “birth” to Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled Egypt for at least 27 years. According to legend, a huge amount of money was spent on the creation of this great monument, which led to the weakening of the state. Scientists do not yet have a consensus on how this is true. But it is clear that a lot of resources have been expended. After all, the original height of the pyramid of Cheops is 146.6 meters. But what is remarkable, it looks somewhat lower than the neighboring building. And not only because she "lost" the top. The son of Cheops, building his pyramid, cheated a little by choosing a place 10 meters higher.
There are many versions of how the Cheops pyramid was built, consisting of 2.3 million stone blocks. Their total weight is approximately 6.5 million tons. Stone blocks are carefully fitted to each other and fastened with a special composition - pink gypsum "milk". The walls are sloped at 52 degrees and embody the number pi. This giant is located on an area of 5 hectares. The scheme of the Cheops pyramid clearly demonstrates that inside it is practically a monolith, in which there are only a few corridors, halls and ventilation ducts. To avoid plunder, the ancient Egyptians placed special mechanisms inside. But the traps of the Cheops pyramid, religious prohibitions and other tricks did not save the building from robbers.
There is also no exact information about how old the pyramid of Cheops is. Its age is estimated at only approximately 4.5 thousand years. But some researchers believe that the monument could have been erected much earlier - as early as the 11th millennium BC, and that representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations were involved in the construction.
There are many legends about this building. But I also picked Interesting Facts about the pyramid of Cheops, confirmed by scientific research. Among them are those that are still little known. And if you have never been here on an excursion, then you are unlikely to be aware that:
- For almost three thousand years, the Cheops pyramid was the tallest structure in the world. She gave the “palm” only in 1311 - at that time construction was completed in Lincoln Cathedral. Sometimes the Eiffel Tower, built in the late 19th century, is mistakenly called the new record holder. In fact, even before it there were structures higher than the pyramid of Cheops. These are mainly temple buildings, as well as the Washington Memorial.
- Many consider the pyramid to be the tomb of the pharaoh. But this is a delusion, since the Egyptian ruler was buried in the Valley of the Kings, and his body was never inside the structure. But still there is a direct connection with the pharaoh. The pyramid functionally played the role of a kind of "suitcase". Within its walls are many things that, according to the ancient Egyptians, are necessary for a royal person in the afterlife.
- For a long time it was believed that the pyramids were built by slaves. But as modern researchers have proven, free residents were employed in the construction ancient egypt and with high professional qualifications. The dimensions and proportions of the Cheops pyramid are perfectly calculated, and the construction is built with impeccable accuracy.
- For the first time in writing, the Cheops pyramid in Egypt is mentioned in the works of Herodotus. The author describes his own impressions of visiting this religious building and shares the information he received from local priests. This work is dated 440 BC. However, Herodotus failed to obtain any valuable information, except for some geometric data.
- The Pyramid of Cheops has its own "birthday" The Egyptians celebrate it on August 23, and this day is a national holiday. However, this holiday appeared in Egypt quite recently - only in 2009, and has only a presumptive relation to the exact date of the start of construction. This hypothesis was put forward by scientists from Cambridge.
But, nevertheless, on this day too many tourists gather here, and if you want to see the main Egyptian attraction in a relaxed atmosphere, do not plan an excursion for this day. There are also other nuances that are useful to know if you are going to get acquainted with this wonder of the world with your own eyes.
Useful information
The Pyramid of Cheops on the map is located on the left and slightly south of Cairo, in Giza. It is from the Egyptian capital that it is most convenient to get to this pyramidal complex, where, in addition to the famous tomb of Khufu, you will also see the pyramids of the son and grandson of the pharaoh (Khephren and Mikerin), which are somewhat lower. It is the best preserved pyramid complex in the entire country. The journey from Cairo takes about 20 minutes. excursion tour can be purchased both directly in the capital and in any of the resorts. The road from Hugarda is about 5-6 hours by bus, from Sherm al-Sheikh - from 7 to 8 hours.
- When buying excursions from these cities, do not focus on the cheapest offers - there is a risk of being in an uncomfortable bus without air conditioning, which, at high Egyptian temperatures, can spoil the whole impression of the excursion.
- Entrance to the territory is paid (80 and 40 EGP for adults and children, respectively). Entrance inside is paid separately - (200 EGP for adults and half the children's ticket). You will also have to pay extra for photography inside.
- Be sure to check the weather forecast. If there is a strong wind in the future, it is better to postpone the trip, as everything will be in the sand. And do not forget to take a hat - this is protection from both the heat and annoying sellers.
The number of internal visits is limited (300 people per day), so the chances of getting inside the pyramidal complex on your own, not as part of an excursion group, are not too high. But you can take magnificent photos against the background of the most famous Egyptian monument in any case, and they will remind you of this fascinating journey for a long time.
