This infographic illustrates the Great Pyramid of Giza, the monumental tomb of King Khufu (reigned c. 2589–2566 BCE), known to the Greeks as Cheops. Built around 2560 BCE, it is the largest of the pyramids at Giza and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. Originally rising to 147 meters (481 ft) and clad in gleaming white limestone casing blocks, it dominated the plateau as the centerpiece of Khufu’s mortuary complex and a lasting symbol of royal authority and divine order.
The pyramid’s interior reflects remarkable architectural ingenuity. Its aligned corridors and chambers, including the King’s Chamber with massive granite blocks, the so-called Queen’s Chamber, and the unfinished subterranean chamber, suggest both practical and symbolic purposes. The towering Grand Gallery and narrow “air shafts” may have served ritual as well as structural functions, while recent muon scans have revealed hidden voids, proving the monument still holds secrets. Perfectly oriented to the cardinal points and aligned with stars such as Thuban, the pyramid embodied cosmic as well as royal power. Though stripped of its casing stones and plundered in antiquity, Khufu’s pyramid remains the ultimate expression of Old Kingdom engineering and ambition.
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APA Style
Netchev, S. (2022, April 21). The Great Pyramid (Pyramid of Khufu) c. 2560 BCE. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15685/the-great-pyramid-pyramid-of-khufu-c-2560-bce/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "The Great Pyramid (Pyramid of Khufu) c. 2560 BCE." World History Encyclopedia, April 21, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15685/the-great-pyramid-pyramid-of-khufu-c-2560-bce/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "The Great Pyramid (Pyramid of Khufu) c. 2560 BCE." World History Encyclopedia, 21 Apr 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15685/the-great-pyramid-pyramid-of-khufu-c-2560-bce/.
