PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, NEAR CAIRO

The pyramid is located on the border of what is now El Giza, Egypt. Egyptologists believe the pyramid was built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. They believe it was constructed over a fourteen to twenty year period with its completion in 2560 BC. 

They also believe that the original structure of the pyramid stood 480.6 feet tall however with erosion, the current height of the pyramid is 455.4 feet tall. The length of each side of the base is 755.9 feet long and the mass of the pyramid is an estimated 5.9 million tons. 

Photo of Pyramid

One of the original wonders of the world, and with good reason. Stand on the cliff of sand overlooking these three geometric monuments to the dead and see if you can resist the temptation of taking a silly tourist snap with a finger pointing down on top of a pyramid. The camel drivers are infuriating but the rides are fun

Throughout the history of the world, some of the largest and

 most extravagant architectural wonders have been built as homage to the divine. 

This was especially true in ancient Egypt. 

In the dynasties of the Old Kingdom, the ancient 

Egyptian religious beliefs brought together a society to

 build some of the greatest structures on earth, the great pyramids at Giza.

The pyramid shape was significant in that it provided an 

avenue for the buried pharaoh to ascend into the heavens and join the gods. 

Therefore the construction of the pyramid was important to

 both the pharaoh and the common Egyptian.

The Great Pyramid at Giza, which was built for the pharaoh 

King Khufu, was built by several tens of thousands of workers over a 

period of several decades. 

These builders were not slaves. 

They were paid workers, whether conscripted or volunteer; 

they believed in the work that they were doing. 

The sense of community and devotion to the king and the various gods brought the people together to build these wonders, the only of the

 Seven Wonders of the Ancient World to have survived. 

The pyramids were not only a religious monument and 

tomb for their all powerful leader, but a symbol of the 

solidarity and might of Egypt.

In ancient Egypt, the building of the pyramids also brought the country together. 

It was not only a marvel of engineering and building might, 

but also an incredible feat of organization and administration.