The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is a true miracle that more than 4,000 years after it came into existence, it is still standing in the Egyptian sands. This architectural masterpiece was built around 2560 BCE on the Giza Plateau. It is in the suburbs of today's Cairo. It was the first of three pyramids built in the area that constituted the so-called necropolis of the ancient pharaohs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay The Great Pyramid was designed as the tomb of Khufu, who you probably know as Khufu. He was the second monarch of the Fourth Dynasty. He ruled Egypt for a century during the period called the Old Kingdom. Before that, locals already buried their royal family members in special vaults called mastabas. But it wasn't until the 27th century BCE that the concept of a pyramid with smooth, evenly inclined sides that we all know today was introduced. And Khufu is the one who achieved the most in the whole country. Just look at its proportions: it originally stood about 480 feet above the ground, while the sides of its base were over 750 feet long. To be honest, skyscrapers are so common today that even the tallest ones don't seem to impress anyone. The Cheops Pyramid remained the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years! And it wasn't just its size that was striking. This giant monument is the result of literally enormous work which lasted around 20 years. It was made up of approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, and each of them weighed on average more than 2 tons. In fact, these slabs varied in size and material. For example, the key section, the King's Chamber, was built with huge pieces of red granite. And I mean huge, because some of them weighed up to 80 tons. They were so heavy that they could withstand the pressure of the upper compartments. As for the room itself, this is where the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Khufu was located, which incidentally was also made of this remarkably solid rock. But the main materials used during construction were different types of limestone. The exterior cladding you can see today was constructed of dark limestone. It had a rusty brown appearance and was considered of lower quality. Additionally, the bricks chosen for this layer were sturdy and quite irregular in shape. There is no way the burial place of a self-respecting ruler could look like this. These long rows of steep slabs that resemble stepped pyramids rather than the usual pyramids actually made up the inner covering or core. Maybe we weren't even supposed to see it. I know it's hard to believe, but in ancient times the crypt was mesmerizingly white. In fact, it was covered in sparkling white limestone. This is what initially formed the outer layer of the pyramid. These so-called casing stones were precisely cut so that the structure had a flat and inclined surface. Each of them had to be tilted at an angle of about 52 degrees. They have also been polished to give it more smoothness. I can only imagine how much it sparkled in the sun or moon. This way the shrine could be seen from miles away. But what could have happened to him? Well, in 1303 CE, a major earthquake hit Crete. The tremors reached territories far from the Greek island, including Turkeypresent-day Cyprus and Egypt. The shocks were so violent that they seriously damaged another wonder of the world, the Alexandria Lighthouse. Cairo was also hit, and the Great Pyramid suffered the same fate. Fortunately, it didn't completely collapse. But many casing blocks collapsed and ended up on the ground. Half a century later, Sultan an-Nasir Hasan, who then ruled the country, took the stones to Cairo. There they were used to build new forts and temples, apparently including the famous Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan. So, if you have ever been to this city, it is possible that you have seen pieces of the Cheops Pyramid without even knowing it. For hundreds of years, the ancient monument deteriorated under the wind and sun. In the 19th century, the remains of limestone that once covered it were seized again. This time, it was the monarch of the time, Muhammad Ali Pasha, who ordered the construction of the Alabaster Mosque in Cairo. In a way, it was also quite a symbolic thing because, just like the Jewel of Giza, this mosque served, among other things, as the tomb of the Egyptian ruler. So it was a bit like a pyramid of its time. As for the Mausoleum of Khufu, it is difficult to imagine how many different eras and kings it was seen in its time. Many adventurers who explored the site later came across large piles of strange debris at the base of the pyramid. Surprisingly, it was the rocks from the original case that managed to survive all the troubles and remained in Giza. Although the place was carefully cleaned during excavations, you can still find some fragments of these stones near the base of the memorial. Obviously this rock must have been quite a catch since it was popular with local leaders for so long. In fact, one of the mysteries of the Great Pyramid was how the precious materials got to Giza. You see, the dark, yellowish limestone used for the internal structures was quarried on the plateau, a few hundred meters south of the monument itself. But the fine white stones that were really appreciated came from far away. They were extracted at Tura, located on the opposite bank of the Nile, approximately 13 kilometers from the necropolis. And do you remember the granite used for the king's bedroom? It came from a quarry even further from Aswan. That's over 500 miles away. So how were the ancient Egyptians able to transport such bulky goods such long distances? Especially since they had no modern planes, trains, or even proper wheeled vehicles. Of course, there were many theories about this. It is likely that the workers placed the stones on the wooden sleds to bring them closer to the construction site. Scientists from the University of Amsterdam discovered that to make the sled slide across the sand, they poured water in front of it. Wet grain is much harder than dry grain, which significantly reduces friction and helps cut the required pulling force in half. But before they had to transport the cargo, they shipped it down the Nile by boat. Today, the river flows a few kilometers from Giza. American archaeologist Mark Lehner discovered that thanks to a curious technique, ancient barges could approach the pyramids much more easily than today. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Egyptians probably changed the landscape of this place by digging canals that connected the Nile to the plateau. He also found the remains of a centuries-old port near the.