The Great Pyramid is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex, located on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty (c. 2580 BC – c. 2560 BC) to serve as his tomb.
The pyramid was constructed over a 20-year period and completed around 2560 BC. Although it is generally believed that Khufu himself built the Great Pyramid, some Egyptologists have attributed it to Khufu’s son, Prince Kawab.
The Great Pyramid is thought to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it was one of the tallest structures on Earth for over 3,800 years. Khufu’s pyramid complex included several smaller pyramids which were used as temples for his queens and sons; these buildings housed statues and shrines dedicated to some Egyptian gods such as Isis, Hathor, and Hor-Aha.
Khufu’s name means “Protector of Khnum”. It may also have been derived from “Cheb” meaning “to become strong” or “Cheper” meaning “to grow old.”
In fact, there are hieroglyphs inside Khufu’s pyramid that read: “The good god [Khufu] protects me from all evil things”.
Khufu was neither the first nor the last king to build a pyramid; he simply chose one of the best locations for a tomb on earth. However, his pyramid was unique in that it is still standing today. The other pyramids were either destroyed or robbed during antiquity.
