Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops Pyramid)

Standing at the northern end of the Giza plateau, the great pyramid of King Khufu or Cheops; (ca.2585-2560BCE) is the most massive of all the pyramids and also the most famous, overshadowing the reputation of its Fourth-Dynasty builder.

 

 

 

Already in ancient times, those who saw the pyramid were so awestruck by the scale of monument that they assumed Khufu must have employed inhuman methods to build it, and so began his reputation as a tyrant.

 

 

 

Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb over a 10 to 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. Initially at 146.5 meters (481 feet), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

 

 

 

 Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure.