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Unknown
It is the one and only Wonder which does not require a
description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only
Wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance,
size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving
of the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Location:
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.
History
Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or "platform" covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrate this connection.
Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or "platform" covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrate this connection.
The great pyramid is believed to have been
built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of
stone were
transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the
years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it
is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have
been proposed. One theory involves the construction of
a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction
proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the
displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A
second theory suggests that the blocks were placed
using long levers with a short angled foot.
Throughout their history, the pyramids of Giza
have stimulated human imagination. They were referred to as "The
Granaries
of Joseph" and "The Mountains of Pharaoh". When Napoleon invaded Egypt
in 1798, his pride was expressed through his
famous quote: "Soldats! Du haute de ces Pyramides, 40 siècles nous
contemplent". (Soldiers! From the top of these
Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us)
Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, together
with the other pyramids and the Sphinx, in the touristic region of the
Giza
Plateau. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun
Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the
pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of
Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried
inside the pyramid. It may also serve him as a means of transportation
in his afterlife journey according to Ancient Egyptian
beliefs.
Description
When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid). The sloping angle of its sides is 54 degrees 54 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%.
When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid). The sloping angle of its sides is 54 degrees 54 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%.
The structure consists of approximately 2
million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It has been
suggested
that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3 m (10
ft) high, 0.3 m (1 ft) thick wall around France. The area
covered by the Great pyramid can accommodate St Peter's in Rome, the
cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster
and St Paul's in London combined.
On the north face, is the pyramid's entrance. A
number of corridors, galleries, and escape shafts either lead to the
King's
burial chamber, or were intended to serve other functions. The King's
chamber is located at the heart of the pyramid, only
accessible through the Great Gallery and an ascending corridor. The
King's sarcophagus is made of red granite, as are the
interior walls of the King's Chamber. Most impressive is the
sharp-edged stone over the doorway which is over 3 m (10 ft)
long, 2.4 m (8 feet) high and 1.3 m (4 ft) thick. All of the interior
stones fit so well, a card won't fit between them. The
sarcophagus is oriented in accordance with the compass directions, and
is only about 1 cm smaller in dimensions than the
chamber entrance. It might have been introduced as the structure was
progressing.
New theories concerning the origin and purpose
of the Pyramids of Giza have been proposed... Astronomic
observatories...
Places of cult worship... Geometric structures constructed by a
long-gone civilization... Even extraterrestrial-related theories
have been proposed with little evidence in support... The overwhelming
scientific and historic evidence still supports the
conclusion that, like many smaller pyramids in the region, the Great
Pyramids were built by the great Ancient Egyptian
civilization off the West bank of the Nile as tombs for their
magnificent Kings... Tombs where Khufu, Khefre, and Menkaure
could start their mystic journey to the afterlife.
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