| The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of | | | | robber who managed to get in would never get out |
| the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering | | | | alive. |
| what is now Cairo, Egypt in Africa, and is the only | | | | It measures 454.7 ft in height. The bas is 717.5 ft - 11 |
| remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the | | | | acres the date of construction was the 4th dynasty |
| World. The great pyramid was created to honor the | | | | 2570 BC and the average weight of individual blocks |
| pharaoh Khufu, and many of the smaller pyramids, | | | | of Stone was 2.5 tons. There is no evidence that |
| tombs, and temples were built to honor Khufu's wives | | | | anyone was ever buried in the main chamber. It is the |
| and family members. Khufu was the son of King | | | | one and only Wonder which does not require a |
| Sneferu, and Queen Hetepheres. Khufu is | | | | description by early historians and poets. It is the one |
| remembered as a cruel and ruthless pharaoh in later | | | | and only Wonder that does not need speculations |
| folklore. Khufu had nine sons, one of whom, Djedefra, | | | | concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the |
| was his immediate successor. The pyramids of Giza | | | | oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient |
| are perhaps the only true rival to the Great Sphinx, | | | | Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is located |
| when one thinks about Ancient Egypt and its | | | | at the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, |
| architecture. For centuries the Great Pyramid was | | | | and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt. The great |
| completely sealed - its secrets to be revealed when | | | | pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year |
| the time was right. In the beginning of the 17th century | | | | period. |
| an intrepid explorer entered the pyramid to measure its | | | | When Khufu, also known as Cheops, became pharaoh |
| passages and chambers. The original name Khafre is | | | | one of his first acts was to curtail the growing power |
| the greatest of the three. | | | | of the priesthood. He "shut up all the temples and |
| During the Arabs' excavation of the Pyramid of Khufu, | | | | forbade sacrifices". As a priest's living came from |
| they encountered various boulders and slabs that | | | | performing these rituals it is not surprising that Khufu |
| were used to seal the passages and chambers within | | | | was unpopular with the religious orders. |
| the pyramid. They also found hidden doors. This | | | | Man fears Time, yet Time fears the Pyramids Arab |
| probably fueled the many myths about the Egyptian | | | | proverb. |
| pyramids being booby-trapped, and where a grave | | | | |