The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a huge pyramid built by the Ancient Egyptians. It stands near Cairo, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. It was the tallest building in the world for over 3,800 years. It is Constructed 2580–2560 BC (4th dynasty). When it was built it was 146.7 metres (481 ft) or 280 Egyptian Royal cubits 138.8 metres (455 ft) height. Erosion and other causes have shrunk it to 138.8 m. The mass of the pyramid is estimated at 5.9 million tonnes. Egyptologists believe the pyramid was built as a tomb for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. It was built by Khufu's vizier, Hemiunu. It is believed that it took about 20 years to build, and was completed around 2580 BC. Archaeologists found that the Pyramids of Giza were not built by slaves, but workers who were paid for working. There have been many different theories to explain how the pyramid was built. Most accepted theories are based on the idea of moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.