The construction of the Cheops pyramid
It seems that Cheops reigned from 2589 to 2560 BC, the pyramid dedicated to him as we have seen is the oldest and largest pyramid in the world. It has been estimated that it is made up of 2.5 million blocks of limestone, each weighing 2.3 tons, but it would appear that some stones placed at its base are even around 15 tons.
According to estimates and statistics of Egyptologists who confirmed that the volume of the Cheops pyramid reaches up to 2.5 million cubic meters. The fourth dynasty is considered a golden age for the Old Kingdom, mainly due to the imposing, almost gigantic dimensions and the particular workmanship of the pyramids built in this period.
Starting from the construction of the pyramids of Cheops' father, Snefru, built in Dahshur, the pyramids of the fourth dynasty actually present larger dimensions and a more refined appearance than the others built in an earlier or later period.
The word pyramid comes from the Greek language, "pyramis", for the Egyptians the pyramid was the way to guarantee the immortality of the pharaoh and consequently of their kingdom. To be effective in this, the pyramid necessarily had to be completed before the pharaoh's death.
At a third of the height of the Great Pyramid, about 45 m from the base, is the King's Chamber, it was discovered by the Caliph Ma'mun, around 820 AD.
When it was opened it was thought that a treasure proportionate to the grandeur of the monarch would be found, but with extreme surprise, the pharaoh's chamber (funeral according to Orthodox Egyptology) was found completely empty and bare, not even the decorations or inscriptions remained which originally must have been placed on the walls, the only thing that was found was the granite sarcophagus, which was also empty.
The new tunnel discovery - March 2, 2023
On March 2, 2023, a new discovery was announced in an official conference organized by the Ministry of Tourism in Egypt, in which the new discovery of a new tunnel hidden inside the Pyramid of Cheops with a height of 9 meters and a length of 2 meters was confirmed. meters.
It is expected that this new tunnel discovery will lead to the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. The Pyramid of Cheops: The Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt
Is the king's chamber advisable or not
The King's chamber can be visited, it is accessible thanks to a staircase of a few meters on the external facade of the Great Pyramid of Giza, it is not an experience advisable for everyone, although certainly everyone would like to be able to say they have entered a pyramid.
Before getting inside you have to maneuver with steep inclinations and limited spaces, it is certainly not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia or heart problems, but everything is clean and well lit and you can help yourself in the descent and ascent with handrails and ramps wood. Until the last century it was common to climb the pyramid externally but since the 1980s it has been strictly forbidden to climb the pyramid.
The authorities took this decision to safeguard the monuments, the pyramids were in fact the object of vandalism (countless graffiti and engravings were found) and to protect the safety of the most unconscious or physically limited visitors who could injure themselves or worse still fall fatally.
Egypt
