The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven most famous wonders of the world. It is a true miracle that more than 4,000 years after seeing the light, it is still found in the sands of Egypt. This architectural masterpiece was built around 2560 BC on the Giza Plateau. It is on the outskirts of modern-day Cairo. It was the first of the three pyramids that were built in the area that constituted the so-called necropolis of the ancient pharaohs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Great Pyramid was designed as a tomb for Cheops, who you probably know as Cheops. He was the second monarch of the 4th Dynasty. He reigned in Egypt for a century during the period called the Old Kingdom. Before that, locals had already buried royals in special crypts called mastabas. But it wasn't until the 27th century BC when the concept of the smooth-sided, evenly sloping pyramid that we all know today was introduced. And Khufu was the one who made the greatest in the whole country. Just look at its proportions: originally it rose about 480 meters from the ground, while the sides of its base were over 750 meters long. In fact, skyscrapers are so common today that even the largest ones don't seem to impress anyone. The Cheops pyramid has remained the tallest human-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years! And it wasn't just its size that was striking. This gigantic monument was the result of literally enormous work that lasted about 20 years. It was composed of approximately 2.3 million stone blocks and each of them had an average weight of over 2 tons. In fact those plates varied both 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, the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Cheops was located there, also made of this extraordinarily solid rock. But the main material used during construction were different types of limestone. The exterior cladding you can see these days was constructed of dark limestone. It looked rusty brown and was considered to be of inferior quality. Furthermore, the bricks chosen for this layer were sturdy and rather irregular in shape. There's no way the burial place of a self-respecting ruler could look like that. These long rows of craggy slabs resembling stepped pyramids rather than the usual pyramids were actually the inner lining 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 clad in gleaming 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, sloped surface. Each of them had to be tilted at an angle of about 52 degrees. They have also been polished to give them more softness. I can only imagine how it shone in the sunlight or under the moon. In this way the sanctuary could be seen from kilometers away. But what could have happened to him? Well, in 1303 AD a strong earthquake hit Crete. The tremors reached territories far from the Greek island, including modern Türkiye, Cyprus and Egypt. The tremors were so strong that they seriously damaged another wonder of the world, the Alexandria lighthouse. Cairo was also affected and the Great Pyramid met a similar fate. Luckily it didn't breakat all. But many of the blocks of the casing collapsed and fell to the ground below. Half a century later, Sultan an-Nasir Hasan, who ruled the country at the time, brought the stones to Cairo. There they were used to build new forts and temples, apparently including the famous Madrasa-Mosque of Sultan Hassan. So, if you've ever been to that city, chances are you've seen pieces of the Cheops Pyramid without even knowing it. For hundreds of years, the ancient monument has worn away in the wind and sun. In the 19th century the limestone remains that once covered it were seized again. This time it was the then monarch Muhammad Ali Pasha who commissioned the construction of the Alabaster Mosque in Cairo. In a way, it was also quite a symbolic thing because, just like the Giza gem, this mosque, among other things, served as a tomb for the ruler of Egypt. So it was a bit like a pyramid of its time. As for the Khufu mausoleum, it is difficult to imagine how many different eras and kings it has seen in its time. Many adventurers who explored the site later came across large piles of strange debris at the foot of the pyramid. Surprisingly, it was the original casing rocks that managed to survive all the troubles and remained in Giza. Although the place was completely cleared during the excavations, it is still possible to find some fragments of those stones near the base of the memorial. Clearly, that rock must have been quite an attraction since it was so popular among local rulers for so long. In fact, one of the mysteries of the Great Pyramid was how the precious materials got to Giza in the first place. You see, the dark, yellowish limestone for the internal structures was quarried right there on the plateau, just hundreds of meters south of the monument itself. But the fine white stones that were truly prized came from far away. They were extracted in Tura which was located on the opposite bank of the Nile, about 8 miles from the necropolis. And remember the granite used for the king's chamber? It was brought from an even further quarry in Aswan. They are more than 500 miles away. So how did the ancient Egyptians transport such bulky goods over such long distances? Especially considering they didn't have modern planes or trains or even proper wheeled vehicles. Of course there were many theories about it. It is likely that the workers placed the stones on wooden sleds to bring them closer to the construction site. Scientists from the University of Amsterdam discovered that to drag the sled across the sand, they poured water in front of it. Wet sand is much harder than dry sand, which significantly reduces friction and allows the required tensile force to be halved. But before they had to transport the cargo, they shipped it across the Nile via boats. Today the river flows a couple of miles from Giza. American archaeologist Mark Lehner discovered that thanks to a curious technique, ancient barges could approach the pyramids much more easily than now. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The Egyptians probably changed the landscape of that place by digging canals that connected the Nile with the plateau. He also found the remains of a centuries-old port near the necropolis. There is evidence that sailors may have stopped there to unload cargo, while the workers who built the pyramids may have lived there. The excavation of this port had also confirmed the idea that the people who worked on the construction of the pyramid were, despite popular belief, skilled and well-paid workers. They enjoyed a good diet with regular portions of beef and received decent healthcare. Not this.