Great Pyramid of Giza: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
In 48 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] travelled to the pyramid in pursuit of [[Khaliset]], a member of the [[Order of the Ancients]] | In 48 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] travelled to the pyramid in pursuit of [[Khaliset]], a member of the [[Order of the Ancients]] who had been abducting people in the region. Following clues found within Khaliset's [[Hyena Lair|lair]], Bayek explored the pyramid and deciphered an {{Wiki|Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom}} [[Ancient tablet|stele]] before discovering the entrance to the ruined Isu complex.<ref name="The Hyena">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' – [[The Hyena (memory)|The Hyena]]</ref> | ||
In 46 BCE, the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]] rushed to the pyramid in order to prevent the "Ibis Reborn" from breaking into the Isu vault beneath the | In 46 BCE, the [[Assassins|Hidden Ones]] rushed to the pyramid in order to prevent the "Ibis Reborn" from breaking into the Isu vault beneath the structure. On the way, they took down several members of his [[Sect of the Ibis Reborn|sect]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]] – [[The Mask of the Ibis]]'' – [[The City of the Dead]]</ref> Entering the pyramid, the Ibis Reborn used several decoys to delay the Hidden Ones. Since he did not know how to activate the vault's [[Vault pedestal|pedestal]], he turned his anger to the Hidden Ones who faced him. Proving no match for his opponents, the Ibis Reborn was ultimately slain and unmasked as [[Menkhtu]], a priest who had served under the original Ibis: [[Medunamun]] of the Order of the Ancients.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]] – [[The Mask of the Ibis]]'' – [[The Bounty of Thoth]]</ref> | ||
In 832 CE, during his military campaigns in Egypt, the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] [[caliph]] [[al-Ma'mun]] ordered his men to breach the pyramid, hoping to find some hidden knowledge or treasure. They entered the pyramid by tunneling into it, unknowingly enlarging what was once an entrance for tomb raiders in antiquity.<ref name="Robber's Entrance">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: The Secrets of the Great Pyramid]]: "Robber's Entrance"</ref> The resulting passage, which was later named the "Robber's Tunnel", is the path along which tourists enter the pyramid today.<ref name="Entrances of the Great Pyramid">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: The Secrets of the Great Pyramid]]: "Entrances of the Great Pyramid"</ref> | In 832 CE, during his military campaigns in Egypt, the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid]] [[caliph]] [[al-Ma'mun]] ordered his men to breach the pyramid, hoping to find some hidden knowledge or treasure. They entered the pyramid by tunneling into it, unknowingly enlarging what was once an entrance for tomb raiders in antiquity.<ref name="Robber's Entrance">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: The Secrets of the Great Pyramid]]: "Robber's Entrance"</ref> The resulting passage, which was later named the "Robber's Tunnel", is the path along which tourists enter the pyramid today.<ref name="Entrances of the Great Pyramid">''[[Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]'' – [[Tours: The Secrets of the Great Pyramid]]: "Entrances of the Great Pyramid"</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 15:58, 21 September 2026
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known the Pyramid of Khufu, is an Egyptian pyramid built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, from circa 2580 to 2560 BCE. Located in Giza, the pyramid was built atop the ancient Isu complex Khesesh Em Sesh Em Eeneb and served as Khufu's tomb.[1]
Description[edit | edit source]
The Great Pyramid was built around 2550 BCE as the final resting place of Pharaoh Khufu, and is considered one of the most iconic structures in Egypt. It is the largest of the pyramids and the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing. It was built by a workforce of over 20,000 people, and took six million tons of stone and twenty years to complete.[2]
The pyramid is part of Khufu's expansive funerary complex, which additionally included two temples, three satellite pyramids, a causeway and a builder's necropolis. It has been theorized that Khufu wished to proclaim himself the most powerful Pharaoh in all of Egypt, even in death.[3]
The pyramid was precisely orientated north-south to the four cardinal points of a compass, the length of each side of the pyramid was 230 meters and its original height was 147 meters. The pyramid is only a small 0.5% error away from being a perfect square.[4]
History[edit | edit source]
In 48 BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa travelled to the pyramid in pursuit of Khaliset, a member of the Order of the Ancients who had been abducting people in the region. Following clues found within Khaliset's lair, Bayek explored the pyramid and deciphered an Old Kingdom stele before discovering the entrance to the ruined Isu complex.[5]
In 46 BCE, the Hidden Ones rushed to the pyramid in order to prevent the "Ibis Reborn" from breaking into the Isu vault beneath the structure. On the way, they took down several members of his sect.[6] Entering the pyramid, the Ibis Reborn used several decoys to delay the Hidden Ones. Since he did not know how to activate the vault's pedestal, he turned his anger to the Hidden Ones who faced him. Proving no match for his opponents, the Ibis Reborn was ultimately slain and unmasked as Menkhtu, a priest who had served under the original Ibis: Medunamun of the Order of the Ancients.[7]
In 832 CE, during his military campaigns in Egypt, the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun ordered his men to breach the pyramid, hoping to find some hidden knowledge or treasure. They entered the pyramid by tunneling into it, unknowingly enlarging what was once an entrance for tomb raiders in antiquity.[8] The resulting passage, which was later named the "Robber's Tunnel", is the path along which tourists enter the pyramid today.[9]
Materials[edit | edit source]
The materials used in the construction of the pyramid consisted of locally quarried limestone blocks, weighing between 2 to 15 tons each.[10] These blocks were only used for the exterior of the pyramid however, as the interior chambers were build with red granite from Aswan.[11] It is estimated that it took between 600,000 and 2 million blocks of the stone to construct the pyramid.[12]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Located 17 meters above ground lays the entrance to the Great Pyramid facing due north, likely to align with the North Star. Although the entrance was discovered in antiquity, further access was barred by large vertical slabs of rock.[9]
The entrance to the ascending passage contains three granite flagstones weighing an estimated 25 tons each. These heavy stones were used to protect the pyramid from thieves. Also the thieves merely dug around the stones, thereby creating the Robbers' Entrance.[13]
The ascending passage is accessed 30 meters from the entrance along the descending corridor, it leads directly to the Grand Gallery. Each corridor has the same similar 26-degree incline.[14] Smooth masonry finishes off the ascending passage and the layout includes many trapezoidal stones. The floor and ceiling show evidence of having been widened, possibly to allow the transport of the large granite blocks.[15]
Queen's Chamber[edit | edit source]
Although the chamber is attributed to the Queen, it is believed there was never anyone else buried in the tomb. It was likely intended to hold the king's serdab, a statue of his ka—housing his spirit.[16] The chamber is situated exactly in the center of the pyramid, on its east-west axis. The chamber's vaulted ceiling measures 5.7 by 5.2 meters. The ka statue was possibly held in a niche in the eastern wall, tuck away in a small corbelled archway. Another smaller hole can be found behind the niche, possibly from thieves searching for further treasure.[17]
Grand Gallery[edit | edit source]
The Grand Gallery's purpose is still largely unknown. Possible theories include being a buffer to protect the King's Chamber, or to align with the stars. It could also simply been to facilitate moving the granite blocks inside the pyramid. Access to the Queen's Chamber was at the beginning of the Grand Gallery.[18] The corbelled vault is the longest ever built measuring 8.6 meters high and 47 meters long. Its walls were made to taper inward in order to allow for a better weight distribution. As a result, the ceiling measures just over a meter wide at its highest point.[19]
The far end of the Grand Gallery leads to a small antechamber, with a portcullis preventing access to the King's Chamber.[20]
King's Chamber[edit | edit source]
The King's Chamber was the room that held the sarcophagus of Khufu and was made entirely out of red granite. The King's Chamber measured 5.8 meters in heights. The room features an imposing cover of five stacked levels overhead, with granite beams weighing 25 to 40 tons each. The chamber's highest level is surrounded by a vault of stones, arranged in chevrons to bear the extreme weight of the overall structure.[21]
Modern entrance[edit | edit source]
Modern-day visitors of the pyramid must enter via the Robbers' Entrance.[9] Originally a tunnel used by grave robbers in antiquity, it was greatly expanded in the early 9th century CE by the caliph al-Ma'mun, who had his men dig into the Great Pyramid in search of treasure.[8]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Khufu's chamber in the pyramid -
A drawing of the Great Pyramid by Khaliset
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed II (as Glyph)
- Assassin's Creed: Origins (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Rebellion
- Echoes of History – Origins (indirect mention only)
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Valley of Memory (indirect mention only)