The only 7 wonders of the world that have survived to this day is the pyramid of Cheops, or the pyramid of Khufu, as the Egyptians themselves call it, in contrast to the rest of the world, which uses the Greek pronunciation of the name of the pharaoh.
To fully realize how far away from us are those times when the pyramid of Cheops was built, one has only to think that for the contemporaries of the remaining six wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid in Giza was so old that they no longer knew the solution to its secret.
Despite the fact that the largest pyramid in the world is more than four thousand years old, it is quite well preserved to our times. Today, excursions to the Egyptian pyramids can be ordered from almost any hotel in Cairo.
History and construction of the Great Pyramid of Cheops
It is believed that a certain Hemion, the nephew and vizier of the pharaoh, and, by compatibility, also the court architect, was engaged in the embodiment of the royal ambitions. The pyramid of Cheops was built around 2540 BC, and its construction began twenty years earlier - somewhere in 2560 BC.
More than two million huge stones were needed to build the Great Pyramid at Giza. The largest blocks weighed several tens of tons. For the construction weighing 6.4 million tons, so that it does not go underground under its own weight, solid rocky soil was chosen. Granite blocks were delivered from a quarry, which was located at a distance of 1000 km. Scientists still cannot find an answer to the question of how these stones were transferred and how the pyramid of Cheops was built.
The purpose of the tallest pyramid in Ancient Egypt also raises a lot of controversy. According to the most widespread opinion, this is indeed the tomb of Cheops (the second pharaoh of the 4th dynasty of rulers) and his family members. But nevertheless, discussions around the pyramid mystery do not subside. For example, from the point of view of some astronomers, a kind of observatory was equipped here, since ventilation ducts and corridors point with surprising accuracy to the stars Sirius, Tuban, and Alnitak. It is also interesting that during the construction of the Cheops pyramid, the coordinates of the Earth's magnetic poles were also taken into account.
Geometry and description of the Khufu pyramid
The dimensions of the Cheops pyramid amaze even a modern person. Its base covers a huge area of 53 thousand square meters, which is the size of ten football fields. Other parameters are no less striking: the length of the base is 230 m, the length of the lateral rib is the same, and the area of the lateral surface is 85.5 thousand square meters.
Now the height of the Cheops pyramid is 138 meters, but initially it reached 147 meters, which can be compared with a fifty-story skyscraper. The years have left their mark on the safety of the pyramid. Numerous earthquakes over thousands of years have brought down the stone top of the structure, and the smooth stone that was used for the outer walls was crumbling. And nevertheless, the interior of the attraction, despite the many predatory and vandal intrusions, remained practically unchanged.
The entrance to the pyramid, located from the north, was originally at a height of almost 16 meters and was sealed with a granite plug. Now tourists get inside through a huge gap made ten meters below, left in 1820 by the Arabs led by the Caliph Abdullah al-Mamun, who attempted to find the treasures allegedly hidden here.
Inside the pyramid of Cheops there are three tombs, one above the other. The lowest, unfinished underground chamber, is located at the base of the cliff. Above it are the burial chambers of the queen and the pharaoh, to which the Great Gallery rising up leads. Those who built the pyramid created a complex system of corridors and shafts, the plan of which is still being studied by scientists. Egyptologists put forward a whole theory of understanding the afterlife of people of that time. These reasons explain secret doors and other design features.
For how many years the Pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops in Giza, as well as Great Sphinx, is in no hurry to reveal all his secrets. For tourists, it remains the most striking attraction in Egypt. It is impossible to fully comprehend the secrets of its corridors, mines and ventilation ducts. Only one thing is clear: the Great Pyramid is the product of ingenious design ideas.
- There are many opinions about when the pyramid of Cheops was built and who did it. The most original assumptions are various versions of the construction, completed long before the Flood by civilizations that did not survive it, as well as hypotheses about alien creators.
- Despite the fact that no one knows the exact time when the pyramid of Cheops was built, in Egypt, the date for the start of its construction is officially celebrated - August 23, 2560 BC.
- Recent excavations carried out at the beginning of the 21st century indicate that the work of the pyramid builders was hard, but at the same time they were well cared for. They had a high-calorie diet of meat and fish and comfortable sleeping places. Many Egyptologists are of the opinion that they were not even slaves.
- Examining ideal proportions Great pyramid in Giza, scientists came to the conclusion that even at that time the ancient Egyptians knew very well what the golden ratio was, and actively used its principle when creating a drawing.
- There are no decorative paintings and historical inscriptions inside the Cheops pyramid, except for a small portrait in the passage to the queen's chamber. There is not even any evidence that the pyramid at all belonged to Pharaoh Khufu.
- Until 1300, for three millennia, the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure on the planet, until the one that surpassed it was built. Cathedral in Lincoln.
- The heaviest stone block used in the construction of the pyramid weighs 35 tons and is located above the entrance to the burial chamber of the pharaoh.
- Before the Vandal invasion of Egypt by the Arabs, the outer slabs of the Cairo pyramid were so carefully polished that in the light of the moon they emitted a mysterious flicker, and in the sun's rays their facing shone with a soft peach light.
- Scientists used a special robot to explore rooms that are difficult for humans to reach.
- From 6 to 10 thousand tourists visit the pyramids daily, and about 3 million tourists annually.
Useful information for tourists
Currently, in the museum on the southern side of the pyramid, you can get acquainted with the exhibits that were found during excavations and in the pyramid itself. There is an opportunity to see the restored unique cedar boat (Solar Boat), which was built by the ancient Egyptians. You can also buy souvenirs here. And the next point of view on the territory will be the Great Sphinx.
In the evenings, a light and sound show is shown in Giza: alternating floodlights of local attractions are accompanied by a fascinating story, including in Russian and in English.
Opening hours of the museum complex in Giza
- daily from 8.00 to 17.00;
- in winter - until 16.30;
- during Ramadan - until 15.00.
Ticket prices
- entrance ticket to the Giza area for foreigners - $ 8;
- entrance to the Cheops pyramid - $ 16;
- Inspection of the Solar Boat - $ 7.
Prices for children and students are usually half the price.
- To visit the pyramid of Cheops, only 300 tickets are sold per day: 150 at 8.00 and 150 at 13.00.
- It is best to go to the pyramids in the morning in order to grab a ticket and protect yourself from the midday heat.
- The entrance to the pyramid is very low, you have to walk about 100 meters bent over, besides, it is very dry, hot and slightly dusty inside. Water is undesirable for people suffering from claustrophobia, diseases of the respiratory tract and heart.
- Photo and video filming is prohibited inside. As for photographs against the background of the Great Pyramid, it is better not to give your camera into the wrong hands, as there are frequent cases of theft.
- It is better to take a photo of the Cheops pyramid (like other pyramids) in the morning or in the evening, when the sun does not shine too brightly, otherwise the image will turn out to be flat.
- Climbing the pyramid is strictly prohibited.
- For local residents, tourists are the main and often the only source of earnings, so you will be constantly offered to buy something. Therefore, think carefully whether you need any suggestions, and in any case, be sure to bargain. Give tips only to those who really deserve it.
- Be careful: there are a lot of pickpockets around.
How to get to the pyramid of Cheops
The address: Egypt, Cairo, Al-Giza area, Al-Haram street
Drive from Cairo:
- By metro (line 2) - to Giza station. Then change to bus # 900 or # 997 and drive along Al-Haram avenue for 15–20 minutes.
- By bus # 355 and # 357 from the airport and Heliopolis. Runs every 20 minutes.
- Take a taxi to El Haram.
From Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh: on the tourist bus or taxi.
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Books
- , Alan Alford. For more than one hundred years, the pyramid of Cheops has been the subject of endless disputes on three main issues: who built it, how and why. The book by the famous English writer Alan Alford ...
- Oh Osiris, I do not want to die! - Who wants to? Osiris shrugged his shoulders. - But I ... I'm still a Pharaoh! .. Listen, - Cheops whispered, - I will sacrifice you a hundred thousand slaves. Just let me immortalize one of my life! - One hundred thousand? And are you sure they will all die on construction? - Rest assured. Such a pyramid, as I conceived ... - Well, if so ... Perpetuate, I do not mind.
The Pyramid of Cheops
Nobody remembers Cheops alive. Everyone remembers him only when he is dead. He was dead a hundred, and a thousand, and three thousand years ago and always, always will be dead - the pyramid immortalized his death.
1. What is called the first wonder of the world?
Already in antiquity, the pyramids of Giza were considered one of the seven "wonders of the world". The largest of the pyramids was built by the pharaoh Khufu (2590 - 2568 BC), in Greek his name sounded - Cheops. Currently, the height of the pyramid is 138 m, although initially it was 147 m: the top stones fell during earthquakes. The pyramid is composed of 2.5 million limestone blocks of various sizes, weighing an average of 2.5 tons. Initially, it was faced with white sandstone, which is harder than the main blocks, but the facing has not survived. At the base of the pyramid lies a square with a side of 230 m and is oriented to the cardinal points. According to some legends, the corners of the square symbolize Truth, Reason, Silence and Depth, according to others, the pyramid is based on four material substances from which the human body is created.
The greatest creations of antiquity among the pyramids include only the pyramid of Cheops, also called the Great Pyramid.
At a distance of about 160 meters from the Cheops pyramid, the Khafre pyramid rises, the height of which is 136.6 meters, and the length of the sides is 210.5 meters. At its top, part of the original cladding is still visible. 
The Pyramid of Mikerin, which is even smaller, is located 200 meters from the Pyramid of Khafre. Its height is 62 meters, and the length of the sides is 108 meters. But the most famous Egyptian monument in the world after the pyramid of Cheops is the figure of the Sphinx, vigilantly guarding the city of the dead.
The three pyramids are part of a complex that also consists of several temples, small pyramids, tombs of priests and officials.
Smaller and located south of the pyramid were probably intended for the wives of rulers and remained unfinished.
2. How was the pyramid of Cheops built?
Its height is 146.6 m, which roughly corresponds to a fifty-story skyscraper. The base area is 230x230 m.In such a space, the five largest cathedrals in the world could freely fit at the same time: St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, St. Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, as well as the Florentine and Milan cathedrals. All churches in Germany created in our millennium could have been built from the building stone that went into the construction of the Cheops pyramid. The young pharaoh Cheops gave the order to build the pyramid immediately after the death of his father Sneferu. Like all previous pharaohs from the time of Djoser (about 2609 -2590 BC), Cheops wanted to be buried after his death in a pyramid.
The ivory statue of Pharaoh Cheops is the only surviving image of the pharaoh. On the head of Cheops is the crown of the Ancient Egyptian kingdom, in his hand is a ceremonial fan.
Like his predecessors, he believed that his pyramid should surpass in size, splendor and luxury all other pyramids. But before the first of the more than two million blocks that make up the pyramid was hewn in a quarry on east coast Nile, complex preparatory work was carried out. First, it was necessary to find a suitable site for the construction of the pyramid. The weight of the huge structure is 6,400,000 tons, so the soil had to be strong enough so that the pyramid would not sink into the ground under its own weight. The construction site was chosen south of the modern Egyptian capital Cairo, on the ledge of a plateau in the desert seven kilometers west of the village of Giza. This solid rocky area was able to support the weight of the pyramid.
First, the surface of the site was leveled. For this, a waterproof shaft of sand and stones was built around it. In the resulting square, a dense network of small channels intersecting at right angles was cut down, so that the site looked like a huge chessboard. The canals were filled with water, the height of the water level was marked on the side walls, then the water was drained. The stonecutters cut down everything that protruded above the surface of the water, and the canals were again filled with stones. The base of the pyramid was ready. 
Over 4,000 people - artists, architects, stonecutters and other artisans - have been doing this preparatory work for about ten years. Only then could the construction of the pyramid itself begin. According to the Greek historian Herodotus (490 - 425 BC), the construction continued for another twenty years, about 100,000 people worked on the construction of the huge tomb of Cheops. Only on the radishes, onions and garlic, which were added to the food of the construction workers, 1,600 talents were spent, i.e. approximately $ 20 million. Data on the number of workers are being questioned by many modern researchers. In their opinion, there would simply not be enough space for such a number of people on the construction site: more than 8,000 people would not be able to work productively without interfering with each other.
Herodotus, who visited Egypt in 425 BC, wrote: "The method used was to build in steps, or, as some call, rows or terraces. When the construction of the base was completed, the blocks for the next row above the base were raised from the main level by means of devices made of short wooden levers; on this first row there was another one that lifted the blocks one level higher, thus, step by step, the blocks were lifted 
Higher and higher. Each row or level had its own set of mechanisms of the same type, which easily moved loads from level to level. The completion of the construction of the pyramid began at the top from the highest level, continued downward, and ended with the lowest levels, which are closer to the ground. "
During the construction of the pyramid, Egypt was a wealthy country. Every year from the end of June to November, the Nile overflowed its banks and flooded the adjacent fields with its waters, leaving a thick layer of silt on them, which turned the dry sand of the desert into fertile soil. Therefore, in favorable years, it was possible to take up to three harvests a year - grain, fruits and vegetables. So, from June to November, the peasants could not work in their fields. And they were glad when every year in mid-June in their village the scribe of the pharaoh appeared, making lists of those wishing to work on the construction of the pyramid.
3. Who worked on the construction of the pyramid?
Almost everyone wanted this work, which means that it was not bonded, but voluntary labor. This was due to two reasons: each participant in the construction during the work received housing, clothing, food and a modest salary. Four months later, when the waters of the Nile left the fields, the peasants returned to their villages. 
In addition, each Egyptian considered it his natural duty and a matter of honor to participate in the construction of the pyramid for the pharaoh. After all, everyone who contributed to the fulfillment of this grandiose task hoped that a particle of the immortality of the god-like Pharaoh would touch him. Therefore, at the end of June, endless streams of peasants rushed to Giza. There they were housed in temporary barracks and united in groups of eight. Work could begin. Having sailed on boats to the other side of the Nile, the men went to the quarry. There they cut down a block of stone, hewed it out using sledgehammers, wedges, saws and drills and received a block of the required dimensions - with sides from 80 cm to 1.45 m.Using ropes and levers, each group installed its block on wooden runners and on them she dragged him along the log deck to the bank of the Nile. The sailboat ferried workers and a block weighing up to 7.5 tons to the other side.
4. What was the most dangerous job?
On the roads lined with logs, the stone was transported by drag to the construction site. This was the turn of the hardest work, since cranes and other lifting devices had not yet been invented. Along an inclined entrance 20 m wide, built of bricks from Nile silt, runners with a stone block were pulled to the upper platform of the pyramid under construction with the help of ropes and levers. There, the workers laid the block in the place indicated by the architect with millimeter precision. The higher the pyramid rose, the longer and steeper the entrance became, and the more the upper working platform became smaller. Therefore, it was getting harder and harder to work.
Then came the turn of the most dangerous work: laying the "pyramidon" - the upper block nine meters high, dragged upward along the inclined entrance. How many people died doing this job alone, we do not know. So twenty years later, the construction of the pyramid body was completed, which consists of 128 layers of stone and four meters higher than the Strasbourg Cathedral. By this time, the pyramid looked about the same as it looks now: it was a stepped mountain. However, the work did not end there: the steps were laid with stones, so that the surface of the pyramid, although not quite smooth, was already without protrusions. At the end of the work, the four triangular outer faces of the pyramid were faced with slabs of dazzling white limestone. The edges of the slabs were fitted so precisely that it was impossible to insert even a knife blade between them. Even from a distance of several meters, the pyramid gave the impression of a giant monolith. The outer slabs have been polished to a mirror finish using the hardest grinding stones. According to eyewitnesses, in the sun or in the moonlight, the tomb of Cheops mysteriously sparkled like a huge crystal glowing from within.
5. What's inside the pyramid of Cheops?
The Cheops pyramid does not consist entirely of stone. Inside it is a branched system of passages, which, through a large passage 47 m long, the so-called large gallery, leads to the pharaoh's chamber - a room 10.5 m long, 5.3 m wide and 5.8 m high.It is entirely faced with granite, but not decorated with any ornament. There is a large empty granite sarcophagus without a lid. The sarcophagus was brought here during construction, as it does not pass through any of the pyramid's passages. There are such chambers of the pharaohs in almost all Egyptian pyramids, they served as the last refuge of the pharaoh.
There are no inscriptions or decorations inside the Cheops pyramid, with the exception of a small portrait in the passage leading to the Queen's chamber. This image resembles a photograph in stone. On the outer walls of the pyramid there are numerous curvilinear grooves of large and small sizes, in which, at a certain angle of illumination, one can discern an image 150 meters high - a portrait of a man, apparently one of the deities of Ancient Egypt. This image is surrounded by other images (a trident of the Atlanteans and Scythians, an airplane bird, plans of stone buildings, pyramid rooms), texts, individual letters, large signs resembling a flower bud, etc. On the north side of the pyramid is a portrait of a man and a woman with their heads bowed to each other. These huge images were painted just a few years before the main pyramid was completed and installed in 2630 BC. top stone.
Inside the Cheops pyramid there are three burial chambers, one above the other. The construction of the first chamber was not completed. It was carved into the rocky base. To get into it, you need to overcome 120 m of a narrow descending corridor. The first burial chamber is connected with the second horizontal corridor 35 m long and 1.75 m high. The second chamber is called the "queen's chamber", although according to the rite of the wives of the pharaohs, they were buried in separate small pyramids.
The queen's chamber was overgrown with legends. A legend is associated with it, according to which the pyramid was the main temple of a certain Supreme Deity, a place where ancient secret religious rituals were held. Somewhere in the depths of the pyramid lives an unknown creature with the face of a lion, who holds in his hands the seven keys of Eternity. No one can see it, except for those who have undergone special rites of preparation and purification. Only to them did the Great Priest reveal the secret Divine Name. The person who owns the secret name became equal in its magical power to the pyramid itself. The main sacrament of initiation took place in the royal chamber. There the candidate, tied to a special cross, was placed in a huge sarcophagus. The person taking initiation was, as it were, in an interval between the material world and the divine world, inaccessible to human consciousness. 
From the beginning of the horizontal corridor another one, about 50 m long and more than 8 high, goes upward. At the end of it there is a horizontal passage leading to the burial chamber of the pharaoh, trimmed with granite, in which the sarcophagus is located. In addition to burial chambers, voids and ventilation shafts were found in the pyramid. However, the purpose of many rooms and various hollow channels is not fully understood. One of these rooms is the room where on the table there is an open book about the history and achievements of the country during the period of completion of the pyramid construction.
The purpose of the underground structures at the foot of the Cheops pyramid is also unclear. Some of them were opened in different time... In one of the underground structures in 1954, archaeologists found the oldest ship on Earth - a wooden boat, called solar, 43.6 m long, disassembled into 1224 parts. It was built of cedar without a single nail and, as evidenced by the traces of silt preserved on it, before the death of Cheops, it was still floating on the Nile.
6. How was the burial of Pharaoh?
After death, the carefully embalmed body of the ruler was placed in the burial chamber of the pyramid. The internal organs of the deceased were placed in special hermetic vessels, the so-called canopic tubes, which were placed next to the sarcophagus in the burial chamber. So, the mortal remains of the pharaoh found their last earthly refuge in the pyramid, and the "ka" of the deceased left the tomb. "Ka", according to Egyptian ideas, was considered something like a double of man, his "second self", which left the body at the time of death and could freely move between the earthly and the afterlife. Leaving the burial chamber, "ka" rushed to the top of the pyramid along its outer facing, so smooth that none of the mortals could move on it. There was already the father of the pharaohs - the sun god Ra in his solar boat, in which the deceased pharaoh began his journey into immortality.
Recently, some scholars have expressed doubts that Great pyramid really was the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops. They put forward three arguments in favor of this assumption:
The burial chamber, contrary to the customs of that time, has no decorations.
The sarcophagus, in which the body of the deceased pharaoh was supposed to rest, was only roughly hewn, i.e. not completely ready; the cover is missing.
And, finally, there are two narrow passages along which air from outside enters the burial chamber through small holes in the pyramid's body. But the dead do not need air - this is another weighty argument in favor of the fact that the Cheops pyramid was not a burial place.
7. Who was the first to enter the Cheops pyramid?
The entrance to the Cheops pyramid was originally located on the north side, at the level of the 13th row of granite slabs. It is now closed. You can get inside the pyramid through a manhole left by ancient robbers.
Over 3500 years old inside Great pyramid was not disturbed by anyone: all the entrances to it were carefully walled up, and the tomb itself, according to the Egyptians, was guarded by spirits, ready to kill everyone who tried to penetrate it. 
This is why the robbers appeared here much later. The first who entered the pyramid of Cheops was the Caliph Abdullah al-Mamun (813-833 after R. Chr.), The son of Harun al-Rashid. He made a tunnel to the burial chamber in the hope of finding treasures there, as in other tombs of the pharaohs. But he did not find anything except the droppings of the bats that lived there, the layer of which on the floor and on the walls reached 28 cm. After that, the interest of robbers and seekers of jewelry in the Cheops pyramid disappeared. But they were replaced by other robbers. In 1168 after R. Chr. part of Cairo was burned and completely destroyed by the Arabs, who did not want it to fall into the hands of the crusaders. When the Egyptians later set about rebuilding their city, they removed the shiny white slabs that covered the outside of the pyramid and used them to build new houses. Even now, these plates can be seen in many mosques in the old part of the city. From the former pyramid, only a stepped building remained - this is how it appears now before the enthusiastic gaze of tourists. Together with the facing, the pyramid also lost its top, the pyramidon, and the upper layers of the masonry. Therefore, now its height is no longer 144.6 m, but 137.2 m. Today the top of the pyramid is a square with sides of about 10 m. In 1842, this site became a place for unusual festivities. The Prussian king Frederick William IV, known for his love of art, sent an expedition to the Nile Valley led by archaeologist Richard Lepsius in order to acquire ancient Egyptian art objects and other exhibits for the Egyptian Museum, which is being created in Berlin (it was opened in 1855).
Powerful, surrounded by mystery .. - such a pyramid of Cheops stood for 4500 years
Daria Nessel | Dec 21, 2016
The pyramid of Cheops (pyramid of Khufu) is one of the most famous and the only ones that have survived to this day, which anyone who comes to Cairo can contemplate. Its age dates back to about 2500 BC. For about fifty hundred years it has been rising, surprising and striking in its size, in the burning Egyptian desert. Studying this unique complex have been engaged for more than one century. More than one generation of Egyptologists and archaeologists "broke many copies" by disputes about its purpose and methods of construction. Thanks to the pyramid of Khufu (whom the Greeks called Cheops), the science of pyramidology appeared. Adepts of unconventional teachings, magicians of all times also put forward their conjectures describing the genesis of this grandiose creation.
Versions about the methods of building the Cheops pyramid
The pyramid of Cheops was built by the architect and chief Hemiun, a cousin or nephew of the supreme ruler himself. The methods used by the Egyptians in its construction were forgotten and lost due to wars, civil strife, unfavorable weather conditions that fell on Ancient Egypt when there were no memories of the former wealth and power.
There are many interpretations explaining how the pyramid of Cheops was built. The first was suggested by Herodotus, who visited Egypt in the 5th century BC. and left detailed description seen. More than 100,000 slaves were involved in the construction site, he said, many of whom died in the hard work. Using levers made of wood, they raised the huge basalt billets to the desired level. This option does not stand up to criticism, since it is problematic to imagine such levers capable of withstanding an almost three-ton stone and lifting it to a height of more than 140 meters (the inhabitants of the Nile Valley at that time did not know what a wheel and a block were).
Another version is the use of an embankment erected around the building as it grows. If we adhere to this point of view, then the volume of excavation work performed will also require a huge number of hands.
Meanwhile, the most modern archaeological finds testify that there was a settlement near the construction site, where about 4500 people permanently lived in the construction of the tomb. These people were not slaves, they ate well and had good homes. It is estimated that up to 20,000 Egyptians were involved in temporary work at the end of agricultural work.
The third is the use of a spiral outer ramp around the perimeter. But its application did not explain how the inner chamber was made, where the pharaoh's sarcophagus is located, located 50 m above the base, and where one relatively narrow corridor leads.
Pyramid of Khufu - a sparkling crystal of Egypt
The pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is a geometric body with a square base and a perimeter of 922 m, with a height of 146 m from the base (the original, now 138 m). The angle of inclination of its geometrically ideal faces was 51 degrees. It is laid out with limestone blocks of 2.5 tons.
In the center there are three rooms of five-ton polished granite blocks, one of which is the sarcophagus of the pharaoh. The purpose of the two smaller chambers above it is unknown. According to the latest assumptions, they serve as a shock absorber that does not allow crushing the "king's chambers". Everything in the cavity of the building, except for the tunnel leading to the rooms and down below the base, as well as two ventilation drifts, is completely filled with monoliths.
Until 1168, Khufu's tomb was faced with polished elements of a soft material, which made it look like a crystal sparkling under the rays of the sun. Later, the cladding was used by the Cairo people to restore their city after the invasion of the Arabs. The total weight of the monument, resting on the carved rock base, is over 5 million tons. Even with today's advanced technologies and techniques, it is difficult to imagine a way to firmly construct this miracle of architecture.
Theories of the creation of the Cheops pyramid
French architect Jean Pierre Ruden became interested in the Khufu pyramid in 1999 and devoted 10 years of his hard work to it. As a professional designer, he wanted to understand what techniques people used to build it almost 5,000 years ago. The result of his examination was the conclusion: the ancient Egyptians used an internal ramp during construction, which grew along with the pyramid and repeated its perimeter, with an angle of inclination not higher than 7 degrees (the rise steeper makes it impossible to move stone parallelepipeds on wooden rolls and runners).
Jean Pierre explained the impeccable fulfillment of geometric proportions by the fact that at first they laid the front polished blocks along the outlined lines, then two more inner rows of already unpolished but correctly marked slabs were aligned along them, and then the empty space was filled with roughly sawn limestone. His theory explained how the granite parallelepipeds of the burial chamber of the pharaoh were raised and installed at a height of 50 meters.
This theory would be recognized as reliable and final if there were voids in the thickness of the Cheops pyramid, which remained after the cessation of construction and indicated the presence of internal ramps. But so far there is no such confirmation.
All experts agree that some parts of the Khufu pyramid are made at a high technological level that could not be realized 4000 years ago. So, for example, the granite pieces of the structure are carved out of the rock with such precision that it is not possible to insert even a knife blade into the gap between them.
The very fact of Khufu's burial raises many questions: the granite sarcophagus for his mummy was unfinished, made without proper care, and no traces of burial were found. The presence of 15 and 35 tons of granite stones in the masonry also cannot be explained. Such inconsistencies gave rise to theories about the divine origin of the pyramid at Giza. WITH late XIX century the pyramid of Cheops became a place of pilgrimage for followers of various esoteric currents and those who are fond of magic, who proclaimed it the habitat of spirits and demons.
Edgar Cayce, the most famous of all the occultists (1877-1945), proclaimed that it was created by the Atlanteans 10,000 BC in order to escape from a global flood, and that it contains the lost wisdom of a highly developed civilization.
The beginning of the space age gave birth to the invention of the involvement of aliens in its construction. The most popular author of one of these conclusions, the Swiss Erich von Daniken, hypothesized that the Cheops pyramid was constructed by aliens to store the bodies of representatives of foreign civilizations who died on Earth; and the god Ra, who was worshiped by the local population, is an alien, and all the myths and religion of this period are just a distorted reflection of reality. Thorough geometric and astronomical research has led to unexpected discoveries that can be attributed either to coincidences or to patterns:
- the ratio of the base to the height is approximately 3.14 (pi number);
- the direction of the corridor and ventilation shafts coincides with the location in the sky Pole star, the stars Sirius and Alnitak.
The latter led to the emergence of the theory that the Cheops pyramid was nothing more than an astronomical observatory.
In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century. A new surge of interest in this object was due to the experiment of the Czech Karel Dribal, who placed a blunt razor inside a cardboard copy (15 cm) of the pyramid, and after a few days it returned to its initial sharpness.
When removing the fragments of stones near the Khufu pyramid, they noticed a closed triangular chamber, consisting of heavy limestone slabs. It was in 1955. Having lifted the slab with the image of Gephedr, they found a huge boat, which consisted of 1224 parts. It was a large Lebanese cedar boat. She consisted of 2 cabins, could float on water while driving 10 oars. Fragments of acacia needed repair. The rook was assembled for 10 years. In 1971 it was exhibited at the Sun Boat Museum.
There was also a second cell, it was not opened for a long time. But in 1987, another smaller boat was found by radar. It is poorly preserved. In 2008, money was allocated for the excavation, in 2011, its parts were raised up.
By eastern edges tourists cannot ignore one of the greatest mysteries of history - the Cheops pyramid. The only surviving miracle of the Ancient World, of the seven existing ones, arouses the interest of scientists, archaeologists, historians, astrologers and simply fans of secrets. To the questions of the family: "Where are the pyramids of Cheops?" or “Why is it worth visiting?”, we will be happy to answer in our article.
What are the dimensions of the Cheops pyramid?
To fully understand the greatness of this architectural masterpiece just imagine its dimensions. Just imagine, this is a huge structure weighing about 6.4 million tons, located in Giza, the Republic of Egypt. The height of the Cheops pyramid, even after erosion by the wind, reaches 138 meters, the size of the base reaches 230 meters, and the length of the side rib is 225 meters. And it is with this pyramid that the greatest mysteries of Egyptian history are connected, over which scientists around the world are struggling.
The secret of the Cheops pyramid - who built it and why?
The most widespread theory is that the pyramid was erected as a tomb for Pharaoh Cheops or Khufu (as the Egyptians themselves call him). The adherents of this theory confirm their guesses by the pyramid model itself. Three tombs are located on the 53 thousand square meters base, one of which contains the Great Gallery.
However, opponents of this version emphasize that the tomb intended for Cheops is not decorated in any way. Which is strange, since, as you know, the Egyptians were adherents of pomp and wealth in the design of the tombs of their rulers. And the sarcophagus itself, which was intended for one of the greatest pharaohs in Egyptian history, is not completed. The unfinished edges of the stone box and the missing lid indicate that the craftsmen did not take the burial issue too seriously. In addition, the remains of Cheops himself were not found during any excavations.
Video - How was the Cheops pyramid built?
The version with the tomb is replaced by the version that the pyramid is an astronomical structure. Striking mathematical calculations and the ability to see constellations in the night sky through corridor-type mines provide astronomers with reasons for discussion.
Archaeologists and scientists around the world are trying to unravel the truth of the Khufu pyramid at Giza. However, based on the facts already obtained, it can be said with confidence that the author of the project was Hemion, a close relative and, concurrently, the court architect of Cheops. Under his strict guidance for 20 years, from 2560 BC. and up to 2540 BC, more than three dozens of builders, architects and handymen were building a pyramid from huge granite blocks.
Some Egyptians and lovers of the occult sciences perceive the pyramid as a religious object. They see a mystical pattern in the intersections of corridors and catacombs. But this idea has no sufficient basis, as well as the version of alien intervention. So, a certain circle of researchers-ufologists claims that only with the help of alien creatures it was possible to build such a colossal piece of architectural art.
What should a tourist know?
Tourists and admirers of Arab culture are only amused and inspired by the difference of versions and the general uncertainty that revolves around the pyramid of Cheops. Every year hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the foot of the granite structure to touch the history. And the locals are happy about this - all conditions for educational excursions have been created for visitors.
Twice a day, at 8 and 13 o'clock, a group of up to 150 people comes to the pyramid. Inside, they enter through a passage located on the north side. But, having finally arrived at the place of a kind of pilgrimage, not all visitors are ready for what the Cheops pyramid is inside. The long, low, laterally compressed passage in some foreigners causes a fit of claustrophobia. Sand, dust and stale air can cause asthma.
But for those who conquered themselves and withstood the passage inside the pyramid, all the architectural greatness of Egyptian culture is revealed. The massive walls, the Great Gallery, the overall sense of antiquity and authenticity are what captivates guests.
On the south side, at the exit, tourists are invited to get acquainted with the exhibits, which are the fruits of many years of excavation. Here you can also look at the Solnechnaya Ladya - one of the largest floating vehicles discovered in the entire history of archaeological activity of mankind. Here you can also buy souvenirs and memorable figures, T-shirts and so on.
Those staying late into the evening will be lucky enough to see the light show. Under the spotlights, the organizers create a unique, slightly mystical atmosphere, and tell mysterious stories about the pyramid and Egyptian culture.
Another point worth paying attention to visitors to the Cheops pyramid is the issue of photography and video filming. Inside the building itself, there is a ban on any shooting, as well as on the desire of some people to climb the pyramid itself. But, leaving the tomb and buying a souvenir, you can take countless pictures from any angle. In the photo, the pyramid of Cheops will sparkle with new colors and amaze with its geometric shapes.
However, you should be as vigilant as possible and not give away your gadgets. to strangers, other tourists and, in particular, local residents... Otherwise, you risk either never seeing your camera at all, or parting with an impressive amount in order to get it back.
From a purely practical point of view, there is nothing strange about this. As you know, in any tourist center the world, the local population prefers to make a profit at any cost. Hence the inflated prices, and the tendency to fraud, and a large number of pickpockets. Therefore, you should be as vigilant as possible.
Pyramid of Cheops: interesting facts
The pyramid of Cheops is a wonderful and amazing creation. She is an object of admiration for scientists, artists, writers, filmmakers and many other people who are not afraid to solve mysteries. And before heading to Giza to the granite massif, you should familiarize yourself with the stories about it. There are dozens of movies for this on the web. Such as, for example, the documentary "The Solution to the Mystery of the Pyramid of Cheops" directed by Florence Tran. In it, the author tries to consider as broadly the idea of construction, the riddle of creation and the true purpose of the pyramid of the great pharaoh.
Interestingly, despite the unfinished sarcophagi and the lack of unambiguous information about the architect of the Cheops pyramid, the inner mines are the biggest mystery. According to experts, reaching a width of 13 to 20 centimeters, the shafts run along the sides of the main rooms and have a diagonal exit to the surface. What is the specific purpose of these mines is still not known. Either it is ventilation, or secret passages, or a kind of air gap. Until now, science has no specific information on this matter.
Video - Facts about the Cheops pyramid
As well as about the process of building the pyramid. Materials for one of the Seven Wonders of the World were delivered from a nearby quarry. But it is still not known how large boulders weighing up to 80 tons were delivered to the construction site. Here again a lot of questions arise about the level of technological progress of the Egyptians. Or to the question of magic or higher intelligence.
What is the Cheops pyramid in reality? Tomb? Observatory? An occult object? Message from alien civilizations? This we, perhaps, will never know. But each of us has a chance to go to Giza and, having touched the history, put forward our hypothesis.
