Pyramids of Giza

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The Pyramids of Giza stand on a rocky desert plateau at the edge of the city of Giza, about 13 km southwest of central Cairo, Egypt. The site holds three big pyramids, built for the pharaohs (kings) Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, plus the Great Sphinx, temples, smaller pyramids for queens, cemeteries and the remains of a workers' village. They were built around 4,500 years ago, during Egypt's Old Kingdom.

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At a glance

Country: Egypt
Location: Giza, Egypt
Built: -2560
Height: 139 m
Type: Ancient site

Quick answers

Where is Pyramids of Giza?

Pyramids of Giza is in Giza, Egypt.

When was Pyramids of Giza built?

Pyramids of Giza was built in 2560 BC.

How tall is Pyramids of Giza?

Pyramids of Giza is about 139 m tall.

Monumental royal tombs of Old Kingdom pharaohs; the Great Pyramid is the only Ancient Wonder still standing.

The largest, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still standing. It was first about 147 metres tall; today it is about 139 metres, because its smooth outer stones are gone. The pyramids are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1979.

Why they were built

Ancient Egyptians believed their pharaohs would become gods after death. A pyramid was a giant tomb meant to protect the king's body and help him on his journey to the next world. Each pyramid was only one part of a larger complex that included temples, long walkways called causeways, and pits for boats. The Great Sphinx, a huge limestone figure with a lion's body and a human head, lies on the east side of the site. Most experts think its face shows the pharaoh Khafre.

How they were built

Khufu's Great Pyramid, begun around 2550 BC, contains an estimated 2.3 million stone blocks. Boats on the Nile and on canals brought in granite from Aswan, copper tools from the Sinai and timber from Lebanon. Most experts think workers dragged the blocks up large ramps on sledges, but nobody knows the exact method for sure. Estimates vary, but historians often say a pyramid took 20 to 30 years and tens of thousands of workers, working in shifts. They were paid labourers who lived in a town nearby, not slaves.

What's inside

The tombs around the pyramids are decorated with scenes of everyday life: farmers in their fields, people fishing and hunting birds, carpenters at work and religious ceremonies. Because of these pictures and writings, Giza tells us how ancient Egyptians lived, not only how they were buried. Today many of these records can be explored online through the Giza Project and 3D virtual tours.

Fun facts

The Great Pyramid was the tallest human-made structure in the world for about 3,800 years.
When it was finished, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure humans had ever built.
Each block in the Great Pyramid weighs about 2.5 to 15 tonnes.
For thousands of years the Great Sphinx was buried in sand up to its neck, with only its head showing.
Menkaure's stone coffin was lost at sea near Gibraltar in 1838 while being shipped away from Egypt.