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The largest and the oldest pyramid from
the three Giza Necropolis, the pyramid of Khufu is also known as
the Khufu's Pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza and as the
Pyramid of Cheops, Cheops being the Greek translation of the
Khufu. This pyramid is also the only wonder of the ancient
world's seven wonders that remained. The pyramid was built in
2560 BC by the pharaoh Khufu as his tomb. There is still a
mystery about how this pyramid was made, the most plausible
theory is that the immense stones were moved from stone quarry
and dragged to the place. Inside the tomb are three chambers,
from which one is for the king and one for the queen. A corridor
of 18 meters is placed at the entrance leading down, and in two
directions. One direction leads to a chamber that is unfinished
and which is the lowest one. And the other direction leads to
the place called the Grand Valley. Here the passage splits one
more time in two tunnels, one leading to the chamber of the
queen, which is a misnomer, and the other tunnel intersects a
descending corridor. The pyramid of Khufu is the only pyramid
that has ascending passages and descending passages. Between the
Grand Valley and the chamber of the king is situated an
antechamber. In the king’s chamber is the sarcophagus, which,
unfortunately was broken in one corner by the thieves before the
Old Kingdom's end. In this chamber are also two shafts, which
are small and ascending to the pyramid exterior. These shafts
were made for ventilation or as a way through which the
pharaoh spirit will travel to heaven. The chamber of the queen
is smaller and situated in the middle, it also has two shafts as
the king's chamber. |
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