The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC. It had been the tallest man made structure in the world for over 4000 years. It was covered by casing stones. These stones formed a smooth outer surface. What is seen now a days is the underlying core structure.

The pyramid of Khufu and the pyramid of Cheops is called the Great Pyramid. It is situated in Giza, Egypt. According to archeologists this is the oldest art of the Seven Wonders and the only one to remain largely intact.

This is 756 feet long on each side, 450 high. The whole structure is perfectly oriented to the points of the compass.

It consists of an estimated 2.3 million limestone blocks. You can still see some of the casing stones around the base that once covered the structure. The blocks were transported from nearby quarries.

The Tura limestone used for the casing in the pyramid was quarried across the river. The largest granite stone is weigh 25 to 80 tones.

The stones were transported more than 500 miles away from Aswan. A few of the casing stones can be seen to this day in situ around the base of the pyramid. This displays the same workmanship and precision as has been reported for centuries.

The precision of the casing stones as equal to opticians work of the present day. On a scale of acres and to place such stones in exact contact with cement in the joints seems almost impossible in the modern ages.

Above the roof, which is formed of nine slabs of stone weighing in about 400 tons. The pyramid is surrounded by the usual complex of different buildings. The Giza pyramid complex that includes the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, is surrounded by a cyclopaean stone wall.

About the construction techniques of the great pyramid, there have been varying scientific and alternative theories.

From ancient Egypt, there are about 80 pyramids known today. The 3 largest and best preserved of these are situated in Giza. The pyramid was built by the orders of pharaoh Khufu. His architects were wise, genius and experienced ones. They faced its sides directly north, south, east and west.

During the Old Kingdom of Egypt, the pharaohs established a stable government in the fertile Nile Valley. It is said the greatest testaments to their power were the pyramids. They used these buildings to strengthen their power over the people of Egypt.

The Ancient Egyptian people and pharaohs believed that when the king pharaoh died, he became Osiris, king of the dead. So, therefore each dead pharaoh was mummified to prevent such a catastrophe.

Source : Ezinearticles