The Pyramid of Cheops, also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza, is arguably one of the most iconic and impressive monuments of ancient Egypt. Built for the pharaoh Cheops, 4th dynasty, around 2580 BC. AD, it is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids on the plateau of Giza.
The Great Pyramid: A Wonder of the Ancient World
This masterpiece of architecture and engineering, which culminates at about 146 meters in height, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one to have survived until our days. The Cheops pyramid embodies the grandeur and complexity of Egyptian civilization.
The architecture and internal features of the pyramid
The pyramid of Cheops is made up of more than 2 million blocks of limestone weighing an average of 2,5 tons each. Inside the pyramid, visitors can explore:
- The descending corridor : A long inclined passage that leads to an unfinished underground chamber.
- The Queen's bedroom : A room located in the center of the pyramid, although archaeologists believe that it was not used as a burial place for the queen.
- The great hallway : A rising passage that connects the Queen's bedroom to the King's bedroom.
- The King's bedroom : The main room where the sarcophagus of Cheops would have been placed.
Construction techniques of the pyramid of Cheops
The construction of the Great Pyramid remains to be a mystery, despite the many theories that exist. Egyptian builders used copper tools, stone hammers and wooden levers to carve and move limestone blocks. It is believed that the blocks were transported on wooden sleds and the construction of the pyramid required a labor force of 20 to 000 workers for about 30 years.
Astronomical alignment and geometric precision
The pyramid of Cheops is aligned with impressive precision at the cardinal points, with a margin of error of less than 0,05 degrees. Egyptian architects probably used astronomical observation techniques to achieve this degree of precision. Additionally, the base of the pyramid is almost perfectly square, with only a few centimeters difference between the sides.
Pyramid Texts and Unsolved Mysteries
Although the pyramid of Cheops does not contain funerary texts or wall decorations inside, inscriptions have been discovered in the relief chambers located above the King's chamber. These inscriptions, known as "quarry marks", provide information about the teams of workers who built the pyramid.
There are still many unresolved mysteries concerning the Cheops pyramid, such as the exact function of the air ducts, which extend from the King's and Queen's chambers to the outside of the pyramid, or the possible presence secret chambers still unexplored.
The sphinx and the Cheops pyramid
Located near the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx is another major attraction of the Giza Plateau. Although Egyptologists are unsure of the exact relationship between the Sphinx and the Pyramid of Cheops, some believe that the Sphinx could have been a symbolic guardian of the royal necropolis.
Conservation and restoration
Over the centuries, the pyramid of Cheops has undergone many alterations, mainly due to natural erosion and looting. The outer fine limestone cladding that once covered the pyramid has been largely removed, exposing the less refined limestone block core. Conservation and restoration efforts are regularly undertaken to preserve this unique and irreplaceable monument for future generations.
Average temperatures and climate
Month | (° C) | (° F) | Weather | Climate |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 14 | 57 | ☀️ | Sec |
February | 15 | 59 | ☀️ | Sec |
Mars | 19 | 66 | ☀️ | Sec |
April | 23 | 73 | ☀️ | Sec |
May | 27 | 81 | ☀️ | Sec |
June | 30 | 86 | ☀️ | Sec |
July | 32 | 90 | ☀️ | Sec |
August | 32 | 90 | ☀️ | Sec |
September | 29 | 84 | ☀️ | Sec |
October | 25 | 77 | ☀️ | Sec |
November | 20 | 68 | ☀️ | Sec |
December | 16 | 61 | ☀️ | Sec |
Schedules and info
- Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. (times may vary depending on the season)
- Entrance fee: EGP 200 (Cheops pyramid only) or EGP 400 (the entire Giza Plateau, including the three pyramids)
- Average price for a guide: 300-500 EGP
Other pyramids
List of Egyptian Pyramids |
Lower Egypt |
Upper Egypt |