The Great Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids of Giza is an architectural wonder still visited by many tourists. Located near Egypt’s capital, Cairo, it is the last ancient wonders of the world to be standing. People are often amazed when they hear that it was the tallest manmade structure for 3800 years, surpassed only by the Eiffel Tower in 1889. Though archaeologists have a good guess on how it was built, the truth behind it is still unknown. The pyramids are extremely significant to the world because of their incredible architectural achievements in history, which is due to their mysterious construction, historical purpose, and timeless legacy as an ancient wonder. 

The Great Pyramids of Giza lie on the Giza Plateau along the Nile river near Cairo. They are believed to have been constructed during Egypt’s Old Kingdom age, which is during 2580-2560 BC. Archaeologists believe that the Egyptians spent around 15-30 years building one pyramid and used around 2 million boulders. Many labourers were used in the construction process for jobs such as laying the boulders, cutting the boulders, carrying the boulders, or making mortar. According to one explorer, the building process was that the well cut boulders were placed on the outside, as seen at the top of the pyramid, and the offcuts were placed on the inside. Since the pyramids have been decaying, we can accurately see the difference between the top and the bottom. It was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, who was also commonly known as Cheops. The Great Pyramids of Giza is a complex of three pyramids of varying sizes and a sphinx statue along with some smaller tombs. 

Until the early 1900s, the reason for the pyramids was still unknown, but two explorers discovered that it was indeed a burial ground for a pharaoh. In fact, it was built for Pharaoh Khufu, who oversaw the construction. The purpose was most likely to ensure a safe and quick arrival to the afterlife, as believed in Egyptian mythology. The pharaoh was buried with multiple artifacts and possessions that he could use in the afterlife as well. The Egyptians also believed that using limestone and granite for the exterior walls could result in warding off evil spirits. The reason why they had so many chambers and dead ends was to prevent spirits and people from entering the sacred grounds of the rest of the pharaohs as well. The pyramids’ construction is still marvelled by engineers due being one of the first uses of ramps, pulleys and sleds to build a structure. Even without modern tools, they managed to create an almost perfectly symmetrical building.

The reasons why the Great Pyramids of Giza are considered a wonder of the world are due to their immense size, 147 meters tall, and the marvel of their construction. Out of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the pyramids are the last ones standing, further proving their stability and strength. They also prove the advancement of engineering, astronomy and organization. Furthermore, the Egyptians were one of the most advanced civilizations during that time. Other civilizations such as Greece or Persia have many accounts of the pyramids and how they would want to achieve something like that as well. This further shows that the construction of the pyramids led to other nations focusing on architectural aspects of their civilizations too. The Great Pyramids of Giza still attract many scientists and tourists today. 

In retrospect, the Great Pyramids of Giza remains one of the most extraordinary architectural achievements in human history. Despite being over 4500 years old, they are the last and final standing ancient wonder of the world. Originally built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, the pyramids serve another purpose as the lasting remnant of ancient Egyptian engineering power and unity to achieve something great.

The Great Pyramids of Giza

Science Channel. “How Did Ancient Egyptians Build Pyramids Quickly?” YouTube, 20 July 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mjgyciRxMs. Accessed 19 Mar. 2021.

“How Were the Pyramids Built?” Www.youtube.com, www.youtube.com/watch?v=lotbZQ55SgU&ab_channel=Veritasium.

‌Augustyn, Adam. “Pyramids of Giza | History & Facts.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Britannica, 13 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Pyramids-of-Giza.