The Great Pyramids

The Great Pyramid is the most substantial ancient structure in the world, and the most mysterious. According to prevailing archaeological theory the three pyramids of Giza were. built for three kings of the fourth dynasty. The Great Pyramids were attributed to Khufu, is the largest. The pyramid attributed to Khafra, is the second largest, and that of Menkaura, is the smallest of the three. The Great Pyramid was originally 481 feet, five inches tall and measured 755 feet along its sides. Covering an area of 13 acres, it is large enough to contain the European cathedrals of Florence, Milan, St. Peters, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's. Constructed from approximately 2.5 million limestone blocks that weighed an average of 2.6 tons each, its total mass is more than 6.3 million tons. The Great Pyramid was originally encased in highly polished, smooth white limestone and capped. Covering an area of 22 acres the white limestone casing was removed by an Arab sultan in 1356 in order to build fortresses in Cairo. …