The Great Pyramid of Khufu

The Great Pyramid or Tomb of Pharoah Khufu (2,589 – 2,566 BC), with its original height of 146.5m, was tallest structure in the world for 3800 years. It remains the last surviving member of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and took an estimated to 10 to 20 years to build. To this day, it is not entirely certain how this was done.

The Great Pyramid is made of local limestone, but its exterior was once entirely covered with high quality limestone. These casing stones were brought from Tura, south of Maadi, by ship. On inside, pyramid has three chambers, one cut into bedrock underneath and two high up within masonry itself, a feature that no other pyramid possesses.

Sarcophagus in which Khufu was once laid to rest can still be seen in upper of these two rooms, Pharaoh’s Chamber. This room is accessed through Grand Gallery, a majestic corbelled ascending passage, and a masterpiece of ancient engineering and architecture.