How old is the Great Pyramid of Giza and who was buried in it?

THE Great Pyramid of Giza is believed to have been built over 20 years, dating back to 2,560 BC. was completed. Here's everything you need to know about the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Where is the Great Pyramid of Giza and how old is it?

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in Giza, Egypt. As the name suggests, it is located in Giza, a city on the west bank of the Nile near Cairo. It is around 4,500 years old. The Great Sphinx is there too.

The pyramid is part of a complex of three great pyramids in the Giza Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site Experts believe it took 20 years to build the Great Pyramid using 100,000 slaves. Around 2.3 million blocks would have had to be transported from quarries up to 500 miles away. The square sides of the pyramid are 756 feet long and the whole is estimated to weigh 5.8 million tons.

At 481 feet tall including the spire, which no longer exists, it was the tallest man-made structure for more than 3,800 years until Lincoln Cathedral was completed in 1311. Originally it was believed that the pyramid was completely covered with white facing stones, giving a smooth surface.

Who Was Buried in the Great Pyramid of Giza?

It was built as a tomb for the fourth dynasty Pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, and his queen. Khufu is said to have existed in the 26th century B.C. from 2589 BC to 2566 BC have reigned. Few details are known about the ruler, all information coming from inscriptions in his necropolis at Giza and later documents. He is said to have had two wives, Meritites I and later Henutsen.

Inside the pyramid are three chambers - the Queen's Chamber and the King's Chamber, connected by the Great Gallery. Another unfinished chamber is under the pyramid.

It was once thought that shafts leading outside were for ventilation, but some experts believe they are meant to indicate stars in the sky and help the spirit ascend into the heavens. Pyramid building in Egypt reached its peak with the fourth dynasty of pharaohs being built at both Giza and Dashur. Pyramids were not built in isolation, but only formed part of a pyramid complex. Other elements were usually a satellite pyramid, other small pyramids for queens, a mortuary temple, a valley temple, and a causeway between them. There were shrines, pits for burial boats, and tombs for other family members and nobles. The main complex was surrounded by a wall and was often part of a larger necropolis or "city of the dead".

In August 2018, it was discovered that the pyramid can focus electromagnetic energy in its inner chambers and base. Scientists have concluded that the pyramid concentrates this electromagnetic energy in its hidden chambers, which include rooms containing the remains of Pharaoh Khufu and his wife. However, scientists believe it is highly unlikely that the ancient Egyptians knew anything about the science behind it and would not have built it that way on purpose.

Can I visit the Great Pyramid of Giza?

You can take a tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza from Egypt. The tour lasts around eight to ten hours and also includes activities such as camel riding. You'll also walk around some other historical pyramids and the Sphinx while learning about their heritage.

Day trip to Cairo by flight

Two day trip to Cairo by plane

Two day trip to Cairo