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Interesting Facts About the Pyramids of Giza

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Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza are an incredible sight to behold as one of the world’s most iconic yet mysterious wonders. But how well do you know this world-famous location? Take a look at these top ten interesting facts – some you may already know, some you may not – but keep in mind that these only scratch the surface!

  1. While the three Giza plateau pyramids – Cheops (The Great Pyramid), Chephren, and Mycerinus – are the most famous in Egypt, more than 130 other pyramids have been discovered throughout Ancient Egypt
  2. The Giza Pyramids are the oldest and only intact wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This list used to include the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, all of which are no longer standing, as well as the scattered remains of the Temple of Artemis in Turkey.
  3. The Great Pyramid is thought to be made of over two million stone blocks weighing between two and fifty tons, though how they were transported is unknown. Historians believe that over 100,000 people were involved in the construction of the Giza Pyramids, and that they were not slaves as previously thought, but rather paid laborers.
  4. All Egyptian pyramids, including those on the Giza plateau, are built on the west bank of the Nile, where the sun sets every evening, symbolizing the realm of the dead. This is only one aspect of the vast Egyptian mythology that dominated the ancient world.
  5. The Pyramids of Giza were once encased in a white casing made of gleaming limestone polished to reflect the sun’s rays. Unfortunately, the casings have gradually vanished over time after being loosened by earthquakes and crumbling to rubble or being cut loose and used to build other structures.
  6. Despite the scorching heat that can often be felt in Egypt, the temperature inside the pyramids remains constant at 20 degrees Celsius – the average global temperature.
  7. Despite the fact that Egypt and the pyramids are synonymous with hieroglyphics, no writing or hieroglyphics of any kind have been discovered within the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  8. Inside the Great Pyramid’s main chamber is a granite coffer, which appears to be normal until you realize it is made of one solid piece of granite that is far too large to fit down the passageway you just squeezed through. Because of this realization, historians and archaeologists believe that the Great Pyramid was built around the coffer rather than bringing it inside.
  9. The construction of the cornerstones of the pyramid’s foundations is a perfect example of how the Egyptians were ahead of their time. These were discovered to be built in a ball and socket design to withstand earthquakes or heat expansion.
  10. According to legend, the Great Pyramid once had a swivel door that, despite weighing up to 20 tons, could be easily pushed open from the inside but was too flush to detect from the outside.
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