Facts you didn't know about the Great Pyramids of Giza
Here are a few fun and interesting facts about the great pyramids of ancient Egypt.
The Great Pyramids of Giza are an architectural wonder that captures the attention of millions of visitors every year. The last remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the complex of massive pyramids is a gleaming spectacle amid the arid Egyptian desert.
Much of the pyramids remain a mystery but there are many discoveries made since the modern laid eyes on the structure.
Here are some facts you probably didn’t know about the Great Pyramids of Giza.
It took many people to build the monument
Historians estimate that it took about 100,000 people to construct all of the pyramids. However, there is still a debate on how it was built since the two million stone blocks would have to be transported. It wouldn’t have been an easy task, as the stone blocks range between two tons and more than fifty tons.
It was the tallest structure made by humans for centuries
The iconic great pyramids stand 481 feet tall and for many years was the tallest structure in the world. But it lost its status when the Lincoln Cathedral was built in 1311 and became the tallest manmade structure.
Largest tomb in the ancient world
The Great Pyramids of Giza is the largest tomb to be built in the ancient world. Inside the structure, there were tombs of the Pharaoh himself and wives of Khufu in addition to boat pits, valley temple, causeway, and mortuary temple.
The pyramid housed the world’s oldest intact ship
Over the years, many of the treasures inside the Great Pyramid have been looted. But the Khufu ship remained. Measuring 153 feet long, it is the oldest intact ship that was found inside an enclosed pit in the pyramid. The ship is now displayed at the Giza Solar boat museum.
The hieroglyphics inside the pyramid
Hieroglyphics were discovered on the floor of the once hidden chamber within the pyramid. Researches believe that these hieroglyphics are some kind of mathematics and engineering blueprints.
They used to the glitter in sunlight
The pyramids were originally covered in polished limestone that reflected light like a mirror and made them extremely visible and glitter in the sunlight. But many of the stones were destroyed after the earthquake in the fourteenth century.
