Today we will take a trip back several thousand years, to the time of the ancient pharaohs and the majestic pyramids. To do this, we will go to the Giza Plateau, a suburb with a population of more than 3 million inhabitants, which is visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year. After all, this is where the Great Pyramids of Egypt are located, and not in Cairo itself, as many are accustomed to believe. And it is this place that provides us with an amazing opportunity to see with our own eyes the only one of the 7 wonders of the world that has survived to this day - the Pyramid of Cheops, as well as one of the largest statues in the world - the famous Great Sphinx. Just think, the complex has existed for more than 4,500 years! These numbers make my head spin.
What is Giza, a suburb of Cairo, like today?
The modern district of Giza looks poor and unattractive. Nothing special - a lot of cars, people, shops, signs...
...sometimes not entirely clear.
Smiling residents of modern Giza.
Ironically, the inconspicuous town is adjacent to one of the most famous ancient architectural complexes peace. What immediately catches your eye is the unusual combination of city buildings and the tops of the pyramids hanging over them. The majestic pyramids seem to beckon you, inviting you to come closer to lift the veil of their secrets and legends.
GIZA PYRAMID COMPLEX
Information:
Giza pyramid complex
Location: Pyramids Road, Giza
How to get there: by bus: stop next to the Ramses Hilton hotel - bus 357, or minibuses towards Giza; by metro: The Giza station, then by minibus or taxi to the pyramids; by taxi (20-30 pounds)
Cost: 80 LE, students – 40 LE
Opening hours: summer – 7:00-19:00, winter – 8:00-17:00
The ticket includes entrance to the Giza Plateau (external viewing of the pyramids), a visit to the Valley Temple of Khafre, the satellite pyramids of Cheops, and some free-standing small pyramids
Individual tickets:
Pyramid of Khufu – 200 LE, students – 100 LE; summer – 8:00-11:00, 13:00-18:00, winter – 8:00-11:00, 13:00-17:00; Only 150 tickets are sold before the break and 150 after.
Pyramid of Khafre – 40 LE, students – 20 LE; Pyramid of Menkaure - temporarily closed;
Museum of the Solar Boat – 60 LE;
ISIC card discounts available for students
Sound and Light Show– daily at 19:00 – in English, 20:00 – German, Italian, Spanish, French (depending on the day of the week), 21:00 – in Arabic. Duration - about an hour. It is possible to translate into Russian, Japanese, Polish, Chinese and other languages (via headphones, included in the price).
Phones: (+202) 338-57320, (+202) 338-47823, (+202) 338-67374
Photography is prohibited inside the pyramids. Shooting on a plateau with a tripod - 20 LE. Tickets for the plateau and separate tickets for entry to the pyramids of Cheops and Khafre, as well as the light show, are sold near different entrances.
Briefly about the main thing. The Giza Plateau lies in the Libyan Desert. Here are buildings from the times of the Old Kingdom (XXVI-XXIII centuries BC). The basis of the complex is made up of 3 Great Pyramids along with their satellite pyramids. Also on the plan of Giza you can see the tombs of members of the families of the pharaohs and nobility, the Great Sphinx statue, 4 cemeteries, several temples, a modern center for the study of the pyramids and a museum. To look at all these buildings in detail, you will most likely need a whole day. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that much time, so only the most important objects are included in my article.
Complex plan:
And this is what the Great Pyramids look like from a bird's eye view. You can even see them from an airplane window if you fly over Cairo. So, during my first flight to Egypt, a good half of the passengers gathered at the windows when the captain announced that if we all moved together to the right side of the cabin, the plane would tilt from such a weight, and we would be able to see the pyramids. It worked :)
In the evenings the Sphinx hosts light shows on the theme of Ancient Egypt and the pyramids (Sound and Light Show) in several languages (for an additional fee).
I want to warn you - be careful with such touts. One friend told me the story of how her son was almost forcibly put on a camel and began to take photographs “absolutely free of charge.” But in order to remove the frightened guy from the hump of the proud ship of the desert, and return the camera to the owner, they began to demand baksheesh. I had to threaten with guides and police. The moral of this story is this: you can go for a ride, but be careful. If something happens, immediately boldly declare that you will call a guide now, even if you came here alone. This, oddly enough, works. Just don’t think that I’m dissuading you from the opportunity to take beautiful photos on a camel. In my opinion, the idea is wonderful, the main thing is to agree on the price in advance :)
The Great Pyramids of Giza: the main decoration of the complex.
What kind of pyramids were not built in Ancient Egypt - stepped, broken, pink, huge or very tiny... The most famous of them - the Great Pyramids - are located in the central part of the Giza complex, where they are located on the same line - from the largest to the smallest. This pyramids of Cheops (Khufu), Khafre (Khafre) and Mikerin (Menkaure).
!!Fact: As you know, these 3 pharaohs were related. Khafre was the brother or son of Cheops, and Mikerin was the son of Khafre.
Each of the pyramids has its own “satellite pyramids”, where members of the families of the pharaohs are buried, and its own mortuary temple (see complex plan). Here they are, beauties, towering against the backdrop of Cairo.
From this angle, it seems that the pyramid with the “tip” is the largest in size, but in fact, it is the middle of the three - the Pyramid of Khafre.
The next photo shows the smallest pyramid of Mikerin with its tiny companions. Mikerin and Cheops each got 3 “satellite pyramids,” but Khafre got only one.
Until now, scientists are arguing whether these pyramids were built by people or alien beings, whether they were intended only for burials or had other secret meanings. If only I could go back in time for real, take at least one glance at the life of Giza several thousand years ago... Oh, dreams...
Pyramid of Cheops: along the corridors of one of the Wonders of the World.
After clicking a few “postcards”, I went inside the Cheops pyramid. The only one from our group. What kind of incurious people are these? So, gentlemen, this is the largest and most famous of the Egyptian pyramids, the only one of the Seven Wonders of the World that has managed to survive to this day. Hurray, and I saw it with my own eyes! Another name for the Cheops pyramid is Great Pyramid(Great pyramid). It was intended, in fact, for the burial of Pharaoh Cheops (or Khufu).
Its 3 companions - small pyramids standing nearby - are the pyramid of Queen Hetepheres (GIa) - the mother of Khufu, the pyramid of Queen Meritit I (GIb) - the 1st wife of Khufu, and the pyramid of Henutsen (GIc) - the 2nd wife of Khufu. One of them is visible in the photograph.
!!Fact: Initially, the top of the Cheops pyramid was gilded.
She probably has the most crowds of people than the other points of the complex combined. Everyone wants to touch her, smell her, lean against her, take a picture...
Here are the main parameters of the Cheops pyramid:
- The height of the pyramid is 139 meters.
- The 4 sides of its base are 230 meters long each, with a slight difference.
- Materials for construction - limestone, basalt, granite.
- The total weight of the pyramid is more than 6 million tons. It consists of about 2.5 million stone blocks. The average size of each block is 1 m³, the average weight is 2.5 tons. The heaviest of them weighs as much as 35 tons.
You can climb onto the blocks, which is what I did. True, not too high, otherwise the guards will start swearing. An excellent chance to “touch the antiquity” yourself.
As for the entrance, there are as many as 2 of them. Previously, one entered through the old entrance. The current one is located a little lower, and tourists pass through it these days. It was once broken into the wall of a pyramid, hoping to find treasure there. Not found.
So, let's go inside, passing through the open gate in the background. Unfortunately, this photograph was the only “legal” one inside the Cheops pyramid: for some reason, photography is prohibited here. You must leave your camera at the entrance at your own risk. I resisted for a long time; I was simply scared for the fate of my camera. True, in the end he was returned safe and sound. Further photographs will be taken using the phone, which I carefully hid so that it would not fall into the hands of security :)
The first impression of the pyramid is dim light and silence inside, long and very narrow corridors. There are no statues or wall paintings inside, such as are found, for example, in later tombs in. It has its own special atmosphere.
But imagine my disappointment when I discovered that you could only walk along a few corridors and enter only a few rooms. I compared what was open to tourists with what was on the pyramid plan, and realized that only a third was open to inspection. As a result, the entire hike down to the final point and back, if you don’t look at every corner, took only a few minutes. That's the whole Great Pyramid. I read the comments on the Internet, and came to the conclusion that either I somehow missed the passages to the top, or at that time they were simply closed. I'll explain what we're talking about. Look at Cheops pyramid plan.
As we can see, inside it there are 3 burial chambers, one of which for some reason was not completed. Also, the pyramid has a system of corridors with a large gallery. This is what I expected to see in theory. In fact, what I managed to get through - this is the path from the entrance (2) along the descending corridor (4) to the unfinished underground chamber (5). That's it, comrades! It's a shame.
Descending corridor (4).
The length of the corridor is 105 m. The descent occurs at a large slope. If for some reason you want to stop in the middle, it is unlikely that you will be able to do so unless you want to delay others: the passage is really narrow and does not even accommodate two people wide. Next comes short tunnel, leading to an unfinished underground chamber (5). I saw another passage, closed with bars. Apparently, behind it lies the missing part on the pyramid plan.
Camera (5) is a small, nondescript room. That's all, actually. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place?
Finally, one more fact. In the 20th century, a large wooden rook (boat), disassembled into parts, was found in one of the rooms. Now it is in the Solar Boat Museum, located next to the pyramid. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to visit the museum.
We move on to another one of the most beloved tourist spots in the Giza complex - the Great Sphinx statue, the oldest surviving monumental statue in the world. Let me remind you that in Ancient Egypt the sphinx was a stone figure of a lion with the head of a man. For several millennia it has been basking in the Egyptian sun, carefully guarding the plateau and its buildings.
The height of the Sphinx is 20 m, its width is 73 m. For its age, the statue has been perfectly preserved to this day, although it has lost its nose in the fight against sandy winds. The face of the mythical animal is turned towards the Nile, from where the sun rises. Scientists believe that it bears portrait resemblance to Pharaoh Mikerin, the “master” of one of the three Great Pyramids.
What kind of photographs do travelers who come here take with the Sphinx... Some jump in front of him, others try to hug him, and still others even give him a kiss as hot as the Libyan desert. I was no exception. The Sphinx impressed me almost more than the pyramids themselves, and I think he deserved this kiss.
Next to the statue there is an extension - Temple of the Sphinx. Together they form a single complex. You don’t need separate tickets to visit the temple, no matter how one of the barkers tried to convince me otherwise. He, of course, tried to act as an usher himself.
I end my story with this romantic kiss shot. See you again with the heat of Egypt!
Even in ancient times, the Egyptians themselves called Pharaoh Cheops Khnum-Khufu. The ruler himself called himself “the second sun.” Europeans learned about it thanks to Herodotus. The ancient historian dedicated several stories to life. His entire work is called “History”. It was Herodotus who approved the Greek reading of the name of the pharaoh - Cheops. The scientist believed that the ruler was known as a tyrant and despot. But there are a number of lifetime sources that speak of Cheops as a far-sighted and wise ruler.
The Rise of Ancient Egypt
The reign date of Pharaoh Cheops is supposedly 2589-2566 BC. e. or 2551-2528 BC. e. He was the second representative of the fourth royal dynasty. The reign of Pharaoh Cheops was the heyday of the country. By this time, Lower and Upper Egypt had already united into one strong state. The king was considered a living god. That is why his power seemed absolutely limitless. The power of the Egyptian pharaohs directly influenced the development of the economy. Economic growth contributed to the progress of political and cultural life.
Despite this, there is not much information about the pharaoh. The main sources are the works of the ancient historian Herodotus. However, this work is most likely based on legends rather than on historical facts. And therefore this work, in fact, has nothing to do with reality. However, several sources about the life of Cheops are quite reliable.
Photos of Pharaoh Cheops, unfortunately, could not be preserved. In the article you have the opportunity to see images of his tomb and sculptural creations.
Activities of the ruler
The reign of Pharaoh Cheops lasted more than two decades. He was considered the second sun and had a rather stern character. He had several wives and, accordingly, many children.
He was also known for the fact that during his reign new cities and settlements were constantly built on the banks of the Nile. Thus, the pharaoh founded a famous fortress in Buhen.
In addition, many religious objects appeared, including, of course, the Pyramid of Cheops. But we will return to this issue a little later.
By the way, according to Herodotus, the ruler closed the temples. He saved, and all resources went to the construction of his pyramid. However, judging by Egyptian sources, the pharaoh donated to religious objects with enviable generosity and was still an active temple builder. In many ancient drawings, the pharaoh was depicted precisely as the creator of villages and cities.
As a statesman, Pharaoh Cheops was periodically forced to send his army to Sinai peninsula. His goal is the destruction of nomadic tribes who were robbing local traders.
Also in this territory, the ruler tried to control deposits of copper and turquoise. It was he who first began to develop the deposits of alabaster, which are located in Hatnub.
In the south of the country, the pharaoh carefully monitored the extraction of Aswan pink granite, which was used for construction.
Architect of the tomb
In history, the name of this ruler is primarily associated with his pyramid. It is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world. The tomb is located in Giza. It is near modern Cairo.
It is worth noting that Cheops was not the first pharaoh for whom a pyramid was built. The founder of such constructions was, after all, the ruler Djoser. Khnum-Khufu built the largest tomb.
The pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops was built around the year 2540 BC. e. The head of the construction work and the architect was one of the ruler’s relatives. His name was Hemiun. He served as vizier. Another Egyptian official who participated in the construction of the pyramid is also known - Merrer. He kept diary entries, with the help of which modern scientists learned that this figure often came to one of the limestone quarries. It was there that the blocks for the construction of the tomb were produced.
Construction progress
Preparatory work took several years, as the workers first had to build the road. Material for the construction was dragged along it. The construction of the pyramid lasted almost two decades. According to some sources, about one hundred thousand workers were involved in the construction process. But only 8,000 people could build the facility at the same time. Every 3 months the workers replaced each other.
Peasants also took part in the construction of the monumental structure. True, they could only do this when the Nile was flooding. During this period, all agricultural work was curtailed.
The Egyptians who built the pyramid were given not only food and clothing, but also a salary.
Exterior of the tomb
Initially, the height of the tomb was almost 147 meters. However, due to a series of earthquakes and the advance of sand, several blocks collapsed. Thus, today the height of the pyramid is 137.5 m. The length of one side of the tomb is 230 m.
The tomb is made of 2.3 million stone blocks. In this case, no binding solution was provided at all. The weight of each block varies from 2.5 to 15 tons.
There are burial chambers inside the tomb. One of them is called the “queen’s chamber.” At the same time, representatives of the weaker sex were traditionally buried in separate small tombs. In any case, at the foot of the pyramid there are tombs of Cheops women and nobles.
Solar boats
Near the tomb, archaeologists discovered the so-called “solar boats” - these are ceremonial boats. According to legend, on them the ruler makes his voyage to the afterlife.
In 1954, scientists found the first ship. The material used was construction without nails at all. The length of the structure is almost 40 m, and the width is 6 m.
Surprisingly, the researchers were able to identify that there were traces of silt on the boat. Perhaps during his lifetime the ruler moved along it along the Nile and the coastal waters of the Mediterranean. Steering and rowing oars were found on the boat, and superstructures with cabins were placed on the deck.
The second Cheops vessel was discovered relatively recently. It was located in the hiding place of the pyramid.
Empty sarcophagus
However, the body of the legendary pharaoh was not found. In the ninth century, one of the caliphs was able to enter the tomb. He was surprised that there were no signs of looting or break-in. But there was no mummy of Cheops; instead, only an empty sarcophagus remained.
At the same time, the structure was interpreted precisely as a tomb. Perhaps the ancient Egyptians deliberately built a false tomb to deceive potential robbers. The fact is that at one time the burial place of Cheops’ mother was robbed, and her mummy was stolen. The thieves took the body so that they could then remove the jewelry in a calm atmosphere.
At first, Cheops was not informed about the disappearance of the mummy. They only told him about the fact of the looting. After this, the pharaoh was forced to order the reburying of her mother’s body, but in fact they had to perform the ritual with an empty sarcophagus.
There is a version that the ruler’s mummy was buried in another, modest tomb. And the pyramid itself was the posthumous abode of the spirit of a powerful king.
Descendants of the Pharaoh
When Pharaoh Cheops (ruled 2589-2566 BC or 2551-2528 BC) passed away, the son of the great ruler became the ruler of the state. His name was Djedefra. There are very few facts about his reign. It is known that he reigned for only eight years. During this time, he managed to build the second tallest tomb in this area. Unfortunately, back in those ancient times, the Djedefre pyramid was also not only plundered, but also partially destroyed.
In addition, a number of historians believe that it was this offspring of Cheops who was able to build the Great Sphinx in his time. This statue was erected in memory of his father. Egyptologists believe that the body of the mythical creature was made of solid limestone. However, his head was made later. Note that many scientists claim that the face of the Sphinx is very similar in appearance to the appearance of Cheops.
Subsequent rulers of the dynasty also continued to build pyramids. But the last king of the fourth dynasty, named Shepeskaf, no longer built monumental tombs, since the heyday of Ancient Egypt came to naught. The state found itself in a state of decline. The descendants of Cheops no longer allowed themselves to waste resources on colossal structures. Thus, the time of the great pyramids remains in the distant past. But the great tomb of Cheops, which is considered one of the surviving to this day.
- one of the most ancient “seven wonders of the world” that has survived to this day. It inherited its name from its creator, Pharaoh Cheops, and is the largest in the group of Egyptian pyramids.
It is believed that it serves as a tomb for his dynasty. The Pyramid of Cheops is located on the Giza Plateau.
Dimensions of the Cheops pyramid
The height of the Cheops Pyramid initially reached 146.6 meters, but time is inexorably and gradually destroying this impressive structure. Today it has decreased to 137.2 meters.
The pyramid is made up of a total of 2.3 million cubic meters of stone. The average weight of one stone is 2.5 tons, but there are even some whose weight reaches 15 tons.
The most interesting thing is that these blocks are so perfectly fitted that even the blade of a thin knife cannot pass through them. They were glued together with white cement as protection against water penetration inside. It has still been preserved.
One side of the pyramid is 230 meters long. The base area is 53,000 square meters, which can be equated to ten football fields.
This huge structure amazes with its grandeur and emanates antiquity. According to scientists, the total weight of the pyramid is 6.25 million tons. Previously, its surface was perfectly smooth. Now, unfortunately, there is no trace of this smoothness.
There is one entrance leading inside the Cheops pyramid, located at a height of 15.5 meters above the ground. It contains tombs in which the pharaohs were buried. These so-called burial chambers are made of durable granite and are located at a depth of 28 meters.
The pyramid consists of ascending and descending passages that were not used in any other similar structure. One of the features is a large descent leading to the tomb of the pharaoh.
The Pyramid of Cheops is located directly in the place that points to all four cardinal directions. She is the only one of all ancient buildings, has such accuracy. 
History of the Pyramid of Cheops
How the ancient Egyptians were able to build this Pyramid and when, probably no one can say with exact data. But in Egypt, the official date when construction began is August 23, 2480 BC.
It was then that Pharaoh Snofu died and his son Khufu (Cheops) gave the order to build the pyramid. He wanted to build such a pyramid so that it would become not only one of the greatest structures, but also glorify his name for centuries.
It is known that about 100,000 people simultaneously participated in its construction. For 10 years they only built a road along which it was necessary to deliver stones, and the construction itself continued for another 20-25 years.
According to the research of scientists, it is known that workers cut down huge blocks in quarries on the banks of the Nile. They went on boats to the other side and dragged the block with felt along the road to the construction site itself.
Then came the turn of hard and very dangerous work. The blocks were placed next to each other with extraordinary precision using ropes and levers.
Secrets of the Pyramid of Cheops
For almost 3,500 years, no one disturbed the peace of the Cheops Pyramid. It was covered with legends about the punishment of anyone who entered the chambers of the pharaoh. 
However, there was such a daredevil caliph Abdullah al-Mamun, he built a tunnel inside the pyramid in order to profit. But imagine his surprise when he found absolutely no treasures. Indeed, this is one of the many secrets of this majestic structure.
No one knows whether Pharaoh Cheops was really buried in it or whether his tomb was plundered by the ancient Egyptians. Scientists emphasize that the pharaoh's chamber does not have decorations, which were customary at that time to decorate tombs. The sarcophagus has no lid and is not completely hewn. It is obvious that the work was not completed.
After unsuccessful attempt Abdullah al-Mamun, becoming furious, ordered the pyramids to be dismantled. But naturally I did not achieve this goal. And the robbers lost all interest in her and her non-existent treasures.
In 1168, the Arabs burned down part of Cairo and when the Egyptians began to rebuild their homes, they removed the white slabs from the pyramid.
And from that pyramid, which shone like a precious stone, only the stepped body remained. This is how it appears today, before enthusiastic tourists.
The Cheops Pyramid has been constantly explored since the time of Napoleon. And some researchers are more inclined to believe the theory that the pyramid was built by aliens or Atlanteans.
Because to this day it is not clear how builders could achieve such excellent stone processing and precise laying, which has not been affected by external factors for centuries. And the measurements of the pyramid themselves are amazing in their results.
The pyramid was surrounded by other interesting buildings, mainly temples. But today almost nothing has survived.
Their purpose is not completely clear, but in 1954 archaeologists found the oldest ship at this site. It was the Solnechnaya boat, which was made without a single nail, with preserved traces of silt, and most likely sailed during the time of Cheops.
The Pyramid of Cheops is located on the Giza plateau. Giza is a settlement northwest of Cairo. You can get there by taxi, calling the Mena House Hotel as your final stop. Either take a bus from the Tahrir Square stops in Cairo or take the bus at Ramses Station.
Pyramid of Cheops on the map
Opening hours, attractions and prices
You can see the majestic Pyramid of Cheops every day from 8.00 to 17.00. in winter, visiting is limited to 16.30. It is advisable to visit the pyramid in the early morning or late afternoon. At other times it is quite hot, and you can’t get through the crowds of tourists. Although even at this hour there are not so few of them.
When walking to the ticket office, which is not far from the hotel, you should not pay attention to the barkers offering camel rides or calling themselves inspectors. Most likely, these are scammers.
The cost of entry to the territory will cost $8, entrance to the Pyramid of Cheops itself will cost $16. And of course it’s worth visiting the two nearby pyramids of Khafre and Mikerinus, each costing $4. And to see the Solar Boat - $7.
It is impossible to appreciate the full power and grandeur of the Cheops Pyramid, shrouded in many secrets, from photographs or words.
You just need to see it with your own eyes and touch this ancient, truly impressive structure.
The Pyramid of Cheops is a legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization; all tourists coming to Egypt try to see it. It amazes the imagination with its grandiose size. The weight of the pyramid is about 4 million tons, its height is 139 meters, and its age is 4.5 thousand years. It still remains a mystery how people built the pyramids in those ancient times. It is not known for certain why these majestic structures were erected.
Legends of the Cheops Pyramid
Shrouded in mystery Ancient Egypt was once the most powerful country on Earth. Perhaps his people knew secrets that are still inaccessible to modern humanity. Looking at the huge stone blocks of the pyramid, which are laid with perfect precision, you begin to believe in miracles. 
According to one legend, the pyramid served as a grain storage facility during the great famine. These events are described in the Bible (Book of Exodus). Pharaoh had a prophetic dream, warning of a series of lean years. Joseph, the son of Jacob, sold into slavery by his brothers, managed to unravel Pharaoh's dream. The ruler of Egypt instructed Joseph to organize the procurement of grain, appointing him as his first adviser. The storage facilities must have been huge, given that they fed many nations for seven years when there was famine on Earth. The slight discrepancy in dates - about 1 thousand years old - is explained by adherents of this theory by the inaccuracy of carbon analysis, through which archaeologists determine the age of ancient buildings. 
According to another legend, the pyramid served to transfer the material body of the pharaoh into upper world Gods. Amazing fact is that inside the pyramid where the sarcophagus for the body is located, the mummy of the pharaoh was not found, which the robbers could not take. Why did the rulers of Egypt build such huge tombs for themselves? Was their goal really to build a beautiful mausoleum that testified to greatness and power? If the construction process took several decades and required enormous amounts of labor, it means that the final goal of constructing the pyramid was vitally important to the pharaoh. Some researchers believe that we know very little about the level of development ancient civilization, the mysteries of which are yet to be discovered. The Egyptians knew the secret of eternal life. It was acquired by the pharaohs after death, thanks to technology that was hidden inside the pyramids. 
Some researchers believe that the Cheops pyramid was built by a great civilization even more ancient than the Egyptian one, about which we know nothing. And the Egyptians only restored existing ancient buildings and used them at their own discretion. They themselves did not know the intention of the forerunners who built the pyramids. The Forerunners could be giants of the Antediluvian civilization or inhabitants of other planets who flew to Earth in search of a new homeland. The gigantic size of the blocks from which the pyramid is built is easier to imagine as a convenient building material for ten-meter giants than for ordinary people. 
One more interesting legend I would like to mention the Cheops pyramid. They say that inside the monolithic structure there is a secret room in which there is a portal that opens paths to other dimensions. Thanks to the portal, you can instantly find yourself at a selected point in time or on another inhabited planet of the Universe. It was carefully hidden by the builders for the benefit of people, but will soon be found. The question remains whether modern scientists will understand the ancient technologies to take advantage of the discovery. In the meantime, archaeological research in the pyramid continues. 
In the era of antiquity, when the Greco-Roman civilization began to flourish, ancient philosophers compiled a description of the most outstanding architectural monuments on Earth. They were called the "Seven Wonders of the World." They included Hanging Gardens Babylon, Colossus of Rhodes and others majestic buildings, built before our era. The Pyramid of Cheops, as the oldest, is in first place on this list. This wonder of the world is the only one that has survived to this day; all the others were destroyed many centuries ago. 
According to the descriptions of ancient Greek historians great pyramid shone in the rays of the sun, shimmering with a warm golden shine. It was lined with meter-thick limestone slabs. The smooth white limestone, decorated with hieroglyphs and designs, reflected the sands of the surrounding desert. Later local residents dismantled the cladding for their homes, which they lost as a result of devastating fires. Perhaps the top of the pyramid was decorated with a special triangular block made of precious material. 
Around the Cheops pyramid in the valley there is a whole City of dead. Dilapidated buildings of mortuary temples, two other large pyramids and several smaller tombs. A huge statue of a sphinx with a broken nose, which was recently restored, is carved from a monolithic block of gigantic proportions. It was taken from the same quarry as the stones used to build the tombs. Once upon a time, ten meters from the pyramid there was a three-meter thick wall. Perhaps it was intended to protect the royal treasures, but it could not stop the robbers. 
History of construction
Scientists still cannot come to a consensus on how ancient people built the Cheops pyramid from huge blocks of stone. Based on the drawings found on the walls of others, it was assumed that workers cut each block into the rocks and then dragged it to the construction site along a ramp made of cedar. History does not have a consensus on who was involved in the work - peasants for whom there was no other work during the Nile flood, slaves of the pharaoh or hired workers. 
The difficulty is that the blocks had to not only be delivered to the construction site, but also raised to a great height. Before its construction, the Cheops Pyramid was the tallest structure on Earth. Modern architects see the solution to this problem differently. By official version Primitive mechanical blocks were used for lifting. It’s scary to imagine how many people died during construction using this method. When the ropes and straps holding the block broke, it could crush dozens of people with its weight. It was especially difficult to install the upper block of the building at a height of 140 meters above the ground. 
Some scientists suggest that ancient people had the technology to control Earth's gravity. The blocks weighing more than 2 tons, from which the Cheops pyramid was built, could be moved with ease using this method. The construction was carried out by hired workers who knew all the secrets of the craft, under the leadership of the nephew of Pharaoh Cheops. Did not have human casualties, backbreaking labor of slaves, only the art of construction, which has reached the highest technologies that are inaccessible to our civilization. 
The pyramid has the same base on each side. Its length is 230 meters and 40 centimeters. Amazing accuracy for ancient uneducated builders. The density of the stones is so great that it is impossible to insert a razor blade between them. An area of five hectares is occupied by one monolithic structure, the blocks of which are connected with a special solution. There are several passages and chambers inside the pyramid. There are ventilation holes facing different directions of the world. The purpose of many interior spaces remains a mystery. The robbers took away everything valuable long before the first archaeologists entered the tomb. 
The pyramid is currently listed cultural heritage UNESCO. Her photo adorns many Egyptian tourist brochures. In the 19th century, Egyptian authorities wanted to dismantle the huge monolithic blocks of ancient structures to build dams on the Nile River. But labor costs far outweighed the benefits of work, so monuments ancient architecture stand to this day, delighting pilgrims in the Giza Valley.
Continuing the series of stories about the wonders of antiquity on LifeGlobe, I will tell you about the largest of Egyptian pyramids- Pyramid of Cheops, located in Giza. It is also called the Pyramid of Khufu, or simply the Great Pyramid.
This is the oldest of the seven wonders of the world, moreover, perfectly preserved to our times, unlike the Colossus of Rhodes or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Egyptologists believe the pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Cheops. Construction of the pyramid lasted about 20 years and was completed in 2560 BC. The giant pyramid, 146.5 meters high, has been the largest structure in the world for more than 4 millennia, which is an absolute record that is unlikely to ever be broken. Initially, it was completely covered with smooth stone, which crumbled over time. There are many scientific and alternative theories about construction methods great pyramid, from alien intervention, to generally accepted ones, based on the fact that huge blocks of stone were moved from quarries by special mechanisms 
Inside the Cheops pyramid there are three chambers - tombs. The lowest one is carved into the base of the rock on which the pyramid is built. For unknown reasons, its construction was not completed. Above it are the Queen's chamber and the Pharaoh's chamber. The Great Pyramid is the only one in Egypt that has both ascending and descending corridors. It is the central key element of the Giza complex, around which several more pyramids were built for the pharaoh's wives, as well as other temples and tombs 
The Great Pyramid consists of approximately 2.3 million stone blocks. The largest stones were found in the Pharaoh's chamber, and weigh 25-80 tons each. These granite blocks were delivered from a quarry almost 1000 kilometers away. According to general estimates, 5.5 million tons of limestone and 8,000 tons of granite were spent on the construction of the pyramid.
Let us turn to the theories of pyramid construction, many of which often contradict each other. Scientists cannot agree on whether the blocks were pulled, rolled, or even transported. The Greeks believed that the slave labor of millions of Egyptians was used, while modern research has proven that the construction employed several tens of thousands of skilled workers, divided into teams according to their qualifications and skills. 
Initially, the entrance to the pyramid was at a height of 15.63 meters (#1 in the diagram below), on the north side, assembled from stone slabs in the form of arches. Later it was sealed with granite blocks, making a new passage 17 meters high (#2 on the diagram). This passage was carved out in 820 by Caliph Abu Ja'far in an attempt to plunder the pyramid (it is worth noting that he never found any treasure). Currently, it is through it that tourists get inside the pyramid.
Below is a cross-sectional diagram of the pyramid, where all the corridors and chambers are marked: 
Immediately after entering the pyramid, a descending corridor 105 meters long begins (No. 4 on the diagram above), flowing into a small horizontal corridor leading to the lower chamber (No. 5 on the map). A narrow passage leading from the chamber ends in a dead end. as well as a small well 3 meters deep. As mentioned above, for some reason this chamber was abandoned unfinished, and the main chambers were later built higher, in the very center of the pyramid 
From the descending corridor there is an ascending passage, at the same angle of 26.5°. Its length is 40 meters and it leads to the Great Gallery (No. 9 on the diagram), from where there are passages to the Pharaoh's chamber (No. 10) and the Queen's chamber (No. 7).
At the very beginning of the large gallery, a narrow, almost vertical chamber is hollowed out, with a small extension in the middle, which is called the Grotto (No. 12). Presumably, the grotto already existed before the construction of the pyramid, as a separate structure 
From the Chamber of the Pharaoh and the Chamber of the Queen, ventilation ducts 20 centimeters wide diverge evenly, in the direction of north and south. The purpose of these channels is unknown - either they were used specifically for ventilation, or the traditional Egyptian ideas about the afterlife
There is an opinion that the ancient Egyptians were fluent in geometry, and knew about the “number Pi” and the “Golden Ratio”, which was reflected in the proportions of the Cheops pyramid and the angle of inclination. The same angle of inclination was used for the pyramid at Meidum. But it is possible that this is a simple accident, since this angle was not repeated anywhere else; all subsequent pyramids had different angles of inclination. Particularly fanatical supporters of mystical theories suggest that this particular pyramid was built by representatives of alien civilizations, and the rest were actually built by the Egyptians, trying to copy it 
According to some astronomers, the Great Pyramid is astronomical observatory ancient Egyptians, since the corridors and ventilation ducts accurately point to the stars Thuban, Sirius and Alnitak. Opponents of this theory claim that this is a mere coincidence. During excavations near the pyramid, pits were discovered with ancient Egyptian boats made of cedar without the use of nails or fasteners. This boat was dismantled into 1,224 parts, which were assembled by restorer Ahmed Yussuf Mustafa, which took him 14 years. Currently, a museum is open on the southern side of the pyramid, where you can see this boat (the museum building itself in the photo below looks quite original, it’s worth noting), as well as buy a lot of souvenirs 
Currently, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Egypt. You can read more about other ancient wonders in the article "Seven Ancient Wonders of the World" 
