The Great Pyramid: Largest Pyramid in the World :: Expository Essays

The Great Pyramid Largest Pyramid in the World The great pyramid was create during the reign of Khufu, 2nd king of thefourth dynasty (2,720-2,560 BC). It stands on the Giza plateau nighCairo and is the biggest pyramid in the world. It measures 230 m (756 ft)on each side of its outdoor stage and originally measured 147 m (482 ft) high. Beginning in the 10th century AD the entire Giza complex served as asource of building materials for the complex body part of Cairo as a result,all three pyramids were stripped of their original smooth outer facing oflimestone. The core masonry consists of large blocks of local limestone taken fromthe nearby quarries and built around and over a rocky knoll. The size ofthe knoll cannot be determined, since it is completely covered by thepyramid. The entrance to the pyramid is in the centre of the northern face.It is located in the thirteenth course of masonry from the base. Thisentrance has a pointed roof formed of massive slabs of local limestone andopens into a long steeply locomote musical passage. From there a 36 meters longascending passage leads to a 35 meters long horizontal passage that leadsto the so called Queens chamber. This chamber measures 5.2 by 5.7meters and the upper limit height of its pointed roof is almost 15 meters. Thenorth and south walls each have a small hole a few centimeters squareabout 1 meter from the floor. These lead into narrow channels thatoriginally opened on the exterior of the pyramid. At the juncture of theascending and horizontal passage is an possibleness of a shaft which descendsto a depth of 60 meters. It opens into the lower part of the descendingpassage, close to the unfinished, underground chamber, and is believed tohave been an escape shaft for the workmen who filed the ascending passagewith huge stones after the kings funeral. From the horizontal passage the Grand Gallery, which leads to the kingschamber, starts. It is 47 meters long and 8.5 meters high, and has acorbelled roof. In the center of the floor is a sunken ramp about 60centimeters deep. The Grand Gallery ends in a horizontal granite passagewhich serves as an antechamber. It measures 8.4 meters long and 3.1 metershigh, and has slots for three portcullises. Beyond the antechamber is theso-called Kings Chamber which is lined, roofed and paved with redgranite. It measures 5.2 by 10.8 meters and is 5.8 meters high.