09/07/2023
Three facts you might not know about the pyramids
1. The Pyramids of Giza were built more than
1,200 years before the rule of King Tut
The Great Pyramid of Giza is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, the oldest and last remaining of the original Seven Wonders of the World. Additionally, this pyramid is the oldest and largest of all nine pyramids found at the Giza Necropolis, and is the final resting place of King Khufu. The Pyramid was completed in 2560 BC and took around 20 years to build!
2. The Great Pyramid of Giza is 481 feet tall
The Great Pyramid was the tallest building in the world for 3,800 years! In fact, the first building to surpass its height was the Lincoln Cathedral in England, constructed in 1311.
In comparison, the Pyramids of Khafre is 448 feet tall, which is about 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. The third main pyramid, the Pyramid of Menkaure, is much shorter at 213 feet. This is about the same height as the famous sails on Australia’s Sydney Opera House.
3. The Great Pyramid used to have an invisible door
It’s believed that the pyramid once had an invisible swivel door weighing almost twenty tonnes. Interestingly, it could only be identified and opened from the inside.
It’s no surprise, then, that the door was so heavy that the opening mechanism was only discovered when scientists were studying the Great Pyramid. The Egyptians’ ability to create and manage this effective feature has remained a mystery to date!