THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

Constructed by the Egyptians over 4,000 years ago!

2554-2531 BCE

THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA IS CONCIDERED ONE OF THE SEVEN

WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD!

Do you know what the figure in the

foreground is called?

SPHINX OF GIZA

Sphinx of Giza is a symbol that has represented the essence of Egypt for a thousand years. It was carved from the Giza plateau bedrock. It features a body of a lion with the head of the king. It is the symbol of the strength and wisdom. The body of The Sphinx has been buried several times over the past several thousand years. The size of the Sphinx is 150 ft long, for the head is 30 ft long and 14 ft wide.The Sphinx was built by the 4th Dynasty King Khafre. At first it was painted colourful. The features of The Sphinx has a striking resemblance to Pharaoh Djedefre, Khafre’s older brother.In between the paws of The Sphinx of Giza there is a stella, on it is inscribed a story about freeing The Sphinx from the sand and as the gratitude The Sphinx promised him (Thutmosis IV) to become a King of Egypt.

SPHINX OF GIZA

The Great Pyramid of Giza has broken lots of records!

You can still visit it on the outskirts of Cairo, the Egyptian capital. How do you think the architects and laborers managed to pile the incredibly heavy stones on top of each other without the help of modern machines or electric power? Most experts on pyramids believe that 20,000 laborers took 20 years to pull the heavy stones into place using sleds on flat ramps. On average, each stone weighs 2.5 tons, while some of the ceiling beams weigh 80 tons!

The King of Egypt named Khufu who ordered to built this construction for a burial place of King and Queen. It was the first pyramid to be built that time. Other pyramids were built too, but this one is the largest among all.

Khufu’s son Khafre, had his own pyramid to be built next to his father’s and Khafre’s son, Menkaure also had his own pyramid too. About 2.5 million stones were used to be built these pyramids, they were made of lime stones.

Together with it’s two sister pyramids, this is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World left today.

Great Pyramid of Giza Facts:

- The Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.

- The Giza complex consists of three large pyramids.

- The Pyramid of Giza was built for The Pharaoh Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.

- The Pyramid of Giza was built between 2589 B.C. to 2504 B.C.

- The oldest and longest pyramid is Khufu’s pyramid.

- The Giza Egyptian pyramids were not built by slaves and prisoners but by Egyptian employees.

- This pyramids was purpose to house The King’s body after death.

- Today there are more than 93 pyramids in Egypt.

- The entrance of the pyramid is located at the northern side.

- To go inside the pyramid visitors have to bend down all the way to reach the burial chamber.

- Because of the sandstone, The Sphinx has been repaired many times, sometimes the repairs causing even more damage.

- It is forbidden for the visitors to climb the pyramids.

- For over than 3800 years The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man made structure in the world.

- Nearly all the Egyptian pyramids are located on the west bank of the Nile.

- Tutankhamen was a Pharaoh from 1332 to 1323 B.C.

Quiz: A pyramid is a geometric form that has a rectangular base and four identical sides. Where– apart from your math books– can you find other pyramids?