Mark Rezkalla

Great Pyramids of Giza – The Ultimate Guide to Ancient World Wonders

• • When were the Pyramids of Giza built?

• • Who built the Great Pyramids of Giza?

• • Who built the Great Pyramids of Giza?

• • Why were the Great Pyramids of Giza built?

• • Inside the Great Pyramids of Giza

• • Pyramids of Giza tour 

• • Conclusion

Behold to the royal time machines, the Egyptian pyramids of Giza which endured thousands of ages and showcasing the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian engineers.

And to get prepared for the afterlife most suitably, ancient Egyptians chose the pyramid shape and building techniques some of which remain secrets until this very day making some believe any form of alien force did it!    

The Story Behind the Great Pyramids of Giza 

When were the pyramids of Giza built?

Over 4500 years ago, the sun of the Great Pyramids began to rise during the age of the fourth dynasty from the Old Kingdom period (approx. 2613 BCE – 2494 BCE), when ancient Egyptians went on building colossal constructions and technology of their time, as they had mostly prosperous times.

Who built the great pyramids of Giza?

When we mention the great names that built the pyramids, we focus on the main 3 great pyramids that contributed to this enigmatic world wonder, even though there are more than 3 pyramids in Giza and their final pyramid shape was determined after several attempts in Dahshur and Saqqara. 

Read More: Evolution of Pyramids: Main Pyramids Styles In Egypt

But on this page, we’ll give you a deeper look at the 3 great pyramids of Giza you must visit at least once in your lifetime.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops Pyramid) 

The first and most iconic pyramid to be erected in the Giza complex area was the Great Pyramid of King Khufu (aka. Cheops in Greek) who once sat on the Egyptian throne for 23 years (2589 BC – 2566 BC).

And to give you, dear reader, an idea of its size, it is 481 feet in height, with a huge base of almost 756 feet, which took engineers and builders almost 20 years to build from 2.3 million blocks of white limestone casing each weighing about 2.5 tons. And for the brilliance and ingenuity of its constructors, the Cheops Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the ancient world wonders that still exists.

The Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren Pyramid)

In second place in terms of history and size comes the Pyramid of King Khafre (2472 BCE – 2448 BCE) son of King Khufu, and even though it’s smaller than the Great Pyramid, it seems a bit larger for its covering of limestone casing that adds a bit to its height. 

It’s 471 feet in height, 706 feet in base length, and took almost 30 years to be built.

What specializes Khafre’s pyramid from the Cheops Pyramid is that it’s a part of a subsidiary complex consisting of other 2 landmarks of the Giza complex which are: 

• • The Great Sphinx of Giza: Gazing its eyes and guarding the Giza complex from the enemies, the Great Sphinx of Giza was crafted at a height of 66 feet, 240 feet long from a white limestone casing. 

Even though it combines symbols of Egypt’s ingenuity and strength, unfortunately, some of its features were damaged as it suffered human and weather damage in the areas of the Great Sphinx’s beard and nose.

• • The Valley Temple: Near the Great Sphinx, The Valley Temple was used for mummification and other ritual processes to honor the dead king.

The Pyramid of Menkaure (Mykerinos Pyramid)

Attributed to King Menkaure, son of Khafre, who ruled Egypt for 18 years, and even though it’s the smallest of the 3 Giza pyramids, it’s not less than any of them in terms of integrity and architectural precision.

Speaking in numbers, the Pyramid of Menkaure is 213 feet in height with a base of 335 feet and stands out from other Giza pyramids in the usage of granite coming from the quarries in Aswan at its lower part (unlike Khufu’s and Khafre’s that depends only on white limestone) 

Near the pyramid reside 3 much smaller pyramids that are of Menkaure’s royal family members and an unfinished mortuary temple of mudbrick that differs from Khafre’s mortuary temple.

Why were the Great Pyramids of Giza built?

It’s a pretty naive idea to think that the ancient Egyptians designed the great pyramids of Giza only as the tombs of the pharaohs who built them! 

And even though it served this purpose perfectly by providing a dignified and safe transfer of the pharaoh’s soul to the afterlife, ancient Egyptians managed to fulfill other purposes through the construction of the Giza pyramids such as:   

1- Saving the king’s treasures for the afterlife

The afterlife is a profound belief in the ancient Egypt religions and one’s life was directed toward it to continue living, but his mummified body needs to be saved intact, along with his belongings and treasures.

2. Religious and Spiritual Importance

A pharaoh was seen as an intermediary between the gods and the people and a divine one who was meant to rule Egypt as being chosen by the gods and after his death, his soul joins the heavens to become a god himself. 

Just as we mentioned earlier, there are mortuary temples and smaller pyramids associated with the Giza pyramids, and there were daily rituals and prayers that were held out there     

Thus, the Giza pyramids hold a spiritual significance. 

3- Display of Power and Authority

A king’s prosperous era can be seen in the great projects that were created in it. And the amount of paid workforce that these national projects required to be established brilliantly showcases the level of artistry that was a vital attribute for such projects to live all these years, without the need for some slaves to get the job done! 

Thus, the great pyramids of Giza impose the era of both rulers and workforce.

Inside the Great Pyramids of Giza

The architectural brilliance of the great pyramids of Giza from the inside is a whole different story that will definitely grab your attention and among the things you should try when visiting the Giza plateau.

Read More: 7 MUST try things to do at the Great Pyramids of Giza   

1. The Great Pyramid of Khufu 

Behind the beautiful outer casing stones of the Great Pyramid lies a whole different realm of complex passages that goes up to the upper third of the pyramid and down below its huge base as follows: 

• • Moving Downwards:

As you venture the pyramid, you’ll be met by a passage that goes down as far as 345 feet taking you to the heart of Cheops Pyramid which was thought to house the burial chamber, but later it was found that it isn’t. 

By continuing downwards, you’ll be met by a rough room styled differently than the other chambers of the biggest pyramid. 

• • Moving Upwards:

• • When ascending, things are wholly different for the many things you’ll see! You’ll be met by some really small chambers (1 meter in width!) but the fun hasn’t started yet, as you’ll meet the splendid Grand Gallery that shows the brilliantly and precision in crafting the inner corridors during the ancient world days. 

• • Midway in the Grand Gallery, a passage will take you to the Queen’s Chamber, not regarding some queen and its purpose remains a mystery.

• • Next, you’ll meet at the end of the Grand Gallery the King’s Chamber, which differs entirely from the white limestone of the pyramid and is made up of red granite with a colossal sarcophagus.

• • From all the chambers there are Air Shafts whose purpose is still argued today whether for ventilation, communication, or some religious purpose.

2. The Pyramid of Khafre 

Similar to the Cheops Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre consists of upward and downward passages. Khafre’s descending passage leads to the burial chamber with a passage that differs in size and is more straightforward until below the pyramid’s base level where the burial chamber houses a granite sarcophagus where Khafre’s body was kept.

Khafre’s Pyramid is less complex than the Great Pyramid in terms of air shafts and other chambers’ designs that reflect either an engineering advancement or a religious purpose.

3. The Pyramid of Menkaure 

Even though it is the smallest of the three great pyramids of Giza, Menkaure’s Pyramid has an internal structure that’s more complicated than the Khafre’s Pyramid itself!

As you hit the entrance passage, you’ll find yourself in a small antechamber that takes you right to the main burial chamber at the base and is characterized by beautifully crafted panels than other pyramids.

Later, you’ll meet the pyramid’s Sarcophagus Chamber, which was unfortunately lost in the sea while the British attempted to transport it to Britain. You’ll see how the chamber is ornate with beautiful decorations, unlike the other pyramids.

Pyramids of Giza tour 

Finding the best Pyramids of Giza tour can be challenging with the existence of many online offers from which only a few are realistic and worth trying. 

Thus, as a certified company, we are here to bring you our special tour of the Pyramids of Giza to assure you the best experience.

Conclusion

For Egyptian deities, the trip to the afterlife begins here on Earth by doing good deeds and hard work. And to ensure a majestic path to the afterlife, they constructed towering pyramids that still express their brilliance and artistry in such national projects and amaze their visitors until today.

With Magic Carpet Travel, you ensure a trip to Egypt that suits and fulfills your needs in the most suitable way  

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