The Great Pyramid of Giza: The Oldest Wonder of the Ancient World

The Great Pyramid of Giza (هرم خوفو) is the largest of the three pyramids in ancient Egypt and the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as the only one that still exists today. It is located about 18 kilometers southwest of Cairo, west of the Nile River, within the Giza pyramid complex, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Memphis and its Necropolis.” This remarkable structure was built around 2560 B.C.E. by Khufu, also known as Cheops in Greek, the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty.

The original height of the Great Pyramid was 146.6 metres (481 feet), but today it stands at approximately 138.5 metres (454 feet) due to erosion and vandalism, roughly equivalent to a 32-storey building. Each side of the base measures about 230.33 metres (756 feet), or 440 cubits. The pyramid is believed to have been constructed over a period of 20 years by around 100,000 labourers, using approximately 2.3 million large stone blocks.

The Great Pyramid has two entrances: the original entrance on the northern side, located about 17 metres above ground level, and Caliph al-Ma'mun’s entrance, about 7 metres above the base, which is the entrance used by tourists today.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is definitely a must-see landmark, continuing to fascinate historians and archaeologists with how the ancient Egyptians were able to construct the tallest man-made structure in the world for thousands of years. Visitors are also encouraged to see the Grand Egyptian Museum, located on the Cairo–Alexandria desert road about 2 kilometres from the Giza Pyramid Complex. This vast archaeological museum, dedicated to Ancient Egypt, houses an impressive collection of around 100,000 objects and is considered the world’s largest museum devoted to a single civilisation.