Most Famous Egyptian Pyramids
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There were over 100 pyramids discovered in Egypt. The most famous Egyptian pyramids are the three pyramids located just on the outskirts of Cairo on the Giza Plateau. The most famous Egyptian pyramids that most associate Egypt with are the three pyramids - Great Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Kahfre, the Pyramid of Menkaure.
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If you look north towards the pyramids the one furthest to the north is the Pyramid of Khufu. This is the largest of all the pyramids and also the only pyramid to be apart of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was completed in 2551 B.C. and took a total of 20 years and workforce of 20,000 men to complete. This pyramid is the most visited site by tourists in all of Egypt. This is not the oldest pyramid though. However, the image has become iconic in that the Pyramid of Khufu is seen in every textbook on the development of civilization and it is the pyramid that appears behind our U.S. dollar bill.
Pyramid of Khufu Geometric Dimensions:
- Base Length: 230 meters (722 feet)
- Height: 146.5 meters (481 feet)
- Side Slope: 51° 50'
The pyramid in the center is the Pyramid of Khafre. This is the 2nd largest of the ancient pyramids. This pyramid housed Pharaoh Kahfre (Greek is prnounced Chnephren). Khafre ruled in the 4th Dynasty and was the son of Pharaoh Khufu. This pyramid was constructed on top of 10 m (33 feet) of bedrock and it gives the appearance that it is taller than Khufu. The pyramid was first entered by Egyptologist Giovanni Belzoni in 1881. It was Belzoni that uncovered the original entrance to the pyramid. It was not until John Perring would conduct a full exploration of the pyramid in 1837.
Pyramid of Khafre Geometric Dimensions:
- Base Length: 215.5 meters (706 feet)
- Height: 148.5 meters (470.5 feet)
- Side Slope: 53° 10'
The 3rd of the Giza pyramids is the Pyramid of Menkaure. This pyramid was the burial tomb for Pharaoh Menkaure (Greek is pronounced Mycerinus or Mykerinus). Pharaoh Menkaure was the son of Khafre and the pyramid that lies just east of it. This pyramid differed slightly from the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Khufu because it was built with a core of pink granite blocks for about 15 meters (49.2 feet). Then the rest of the pyramid was encased in the Turah limestone like his father's and grand-father's pyramid. Notably to the south of Menkaure are the three queen pyramids that are aligned in a horizontal row. These are believed to be Menkaure''s queens. However, the tombs were victims tomb robbers and there were no signs of mummies and only empty sarcophaguses.
Pyramid of Menkaure Geometric Dimensions:
- Base Length: 104.6 meters (343.18 feet)
- Height: 66.45 meters (218 feet)
- Side Slope: 51° 20'
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Most Famous Egyptian Pyramids
