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Five things you may not know about the Great Pyramid of Giza
The Pyramid of Cheops, also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Pyramid of Khufu, is the oldest and largest of the three main pyramids of the Giza necropolis. It is the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the only one that has survived to the present day.
It took 15 to 30 years to build the pyramid, and Egyptologists believe it was built to house the remains of Pharaoh Cheops. The slaves used in ancient times to build these mega tombs used at least, if not more, than 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing on average about 2.5 tonnes.
The Pyramids are the place of mystery par excellence, so it is very interesting to go and discover some curiosities that may be little known to the general public.
Di Nina - Opera propria, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=282496
Five curiosities about the pyramid of Giza
The Pyramid of Cheops, also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Pyramid of Khufu, is the oldest and largest of the three main pyramids in the necropolis of Giza. It is the oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the only one that has survived to the present day. It took 15 to 30 years to build the pyramid, and Egyptologists believe it was built to house the remains of Pharaoh Cheops. The slaves used in ancient times to build these mega tombs used at least, if not more, than 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing on average about 2.5 tonnes. The pyramids are the place of mystery par excellence, so it is very interesting to go and discover some curiosities that may be little known to the general public.
Di Alex lbh - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132080
Originally, the surface of the pyramid was smooth
Originally, the pyramid was completely covered by a white limestone covering with a completely smooth outer surface. However, due to an earthquake in the 14th century, this covering crumbled and was later used for the construction of buildings in Cairo. Only a few stones of the covering are still visible around the base.
Di Berthold Werner - Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12
At one time, the pyramids were taller
Due to both the destruction of their limestone outer covering and thousands of years of weathering erosion, the pyramids today are considerably lower than their original heights. The Great Pyramid of Cheops, which measured about 147 metres at the time of construction, is now only 138 metres high. The Pyramid of Chephren was once 143 metres high, but is now 136 metres. The smallest of the pyramids, the Pyramid of Mycerinus was 66 metres high and now measures 61 metres.
The continued looting by grave robbers
Due to their popularity, their grandeur and also the difficulty in protecting them, especially in earlier centuries, the pyramids of Giza were plundered many times, in the same way as other royal tombs. Since it was known that pharaohs were buried with very precious objects, these types of thieves were quite common in ancient Egypt. So, what is thought is that the pyramids were looted within 500 years of completion and sealing.
Pyramids and constellations
The architectural and astronomical knowledge of the Egyptians still leaves scientists speechless today. In fact, the three pyramids of Giza (Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus) are aligned similarly to the three stars in the belt of the constellation Orion, which is clearly observable with modern instruments, but was a fact known even in more ancient times.
Despite being ancient, the Giza complex is not the oldest
It is known how ancient the pyramids of Giza are, yet they were not the first to be built. Egyptologists think that the step pyramid of Dsojer at Saqqara, which is supposed to date back to around 2630 BC, is the oldest extant pyramid to date. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 2560 BC, 70 years after the pyramid of Dsojer.
Travel without booking
30/09/2023
In the desert of Karakum, in Turkmenistan, there is a huge gaseous crater known as the Gate of Hell, which is presumed to have been burning, without ever stopping, since 1971.
The crater was formed following the collapse of a natural gas cave and the name Gate of Hell was given to it by the local population, who live in the nearby village of Derweze. The name is associated with the fact that inside the crater, with a diameter of about 70 meters and a depth of 20, there is constantly fire, flames and boiling mud. At night, flames are visible even several kilometers away.
According to the local population, the Gate of Hell is a supernatural phenomenon. The explorer George Kourounis managed to take some soil samples inside the crater and from the analysis would have discovered the presence of bacteria that survived despite the high temperatures and present are inside the crater and not in the surrounding terrain.
Villages
28/09/2023
Barcelona is a kaleidoscope of art, culture and natural beauty. Start with the Sagrada Familia, Gaudí's masterpiece, still under construction, and the Parc Güell, with its colourful and imaginative sculptures.
The Barri Gòtic, the historical heart of the city, fascinates with its alleys and squares.
Don't miss La Boqueria market, a gourmet's paradise, and Casa Batlló, another Gaudí jewel. Montjuïc offers breathtaking views and the Parc de la Ciutadella is perfect for a relaxing break.
Luxury shopping and modernist architecture await you at Passeig de Gràcia.
Enjoy the beach at Barceloneta and admire Picasso's art at the museum dedicated to the famous painter.