The Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) has been known as an immense impressive structure since ancient times and is the only one of the original seven wonders of the world still in existence. Khufu, whose monument 'Akhet Khufu' (Horizon of Khufu), known today as The Great Pyramid, was the son of Snefru and he reigned for about 23 years. He was the first pharaoh to construct a pyramid on the Giza Plateau - his father had built three great burial monuments at Meidum and Dashur to the south - and at the height of Dynasty IV, Giza became the new extension to the Memphite necropolis.
The base of the pyramid measures 230.37m and its height was originally 146.6m, with an angle of slope of 51 - 50' 40''. The structure consists of an enormous quantity of limestone blocks (estimated at around 2,300,000), quarried from an area south-east of the pyramid and transported over a ramp to the construction site. The casing blocks were of fine white limestone, probably from the Tura quarries on the east bank of the river. There are, and probably always will be, many arguments and debates on the subject of the method of pyramid construction, and even whether they were built by human hands at all, but the precision of the design and perfection of its construction has always fascinated scholars and visitors.
- http://www.egyptsites.co.uk/lower/giza/pyramids/khufu.html
Keywords: Egypt, Matruh, Pyramids of Giza. Submitted by Paul Young for ARCH 600.
