Quiz: What Do You Know About The Pyramids of Giza?

The Giza pyramid complex contains three main pyramids: the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren), and the Pyramid of Menkaure (Mycerinus). Several smaller satellite pyramids and tombs are also present. (Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

The Great Pyramid was built for Pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops) of the Fourth Dynasty, around 2560 BCE. It is the largest of the three pyramids. (Source: Mark Lehner, 'The Complete Pyramids')

The Great Pyramid originally stood 146.6 meters (481 feet) tall. Over time, it lost its smooth outer casing stones, reducing its current height to about 138.5 meters (454 feet). (Source: Miroslav Verner, 'The Pyramids')

The pyramids were originally encased in highly polished white limestone from Tura, across the Nile. This gave them a brilliant, gleaming appearance. The casing was mostly removed in later centuries for construction in Cairo. (Source: Zahi Hawass, 'The Secret of the Great Pyramid')

The Great Sphinx of Giza is a limestone statue of a reclining sphinx (lion with a human head). It is believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre and guards the pyramid complex. (Source: Selim Hassan, 'The Sphinx')

The sides of the Great Pyramid are almost perfectly aligned with the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), with an accuracy of within 0.05 degrees of true north. (Source: Glen Dash, 'Pyramid Alignment')

Herodotus, in his 'Histories' (Book II, 5th century BCE), described the Great Pyramid and estimated the workforce needed to build it. He is one of the earliest sources on the pyramids. (Source: Herodotus, 'The Histories')

The Great Pyramid contains an estimated 2.3 million blocks of stone, weighing from 2.5 to 15 tonnes each. Some granite blocks in the King's Chamber weigh up to 80 tonnes. (Source: John Romer, 'The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited')

The King's Chamber is the main burial chamber, located at the pyramid's center. It is made of red granite and contains an empty sarcophagus. The Queen's Chamber, despite its name, was likely not used for a queen. (Source: Bob Brier, 'The Secret of the Great Pyramid')

Al-Aziz Uthman, son of Saladin and a Kurdish ruler of Egypt, tried to demolish the pyramids starting with the smallest (Menkaure) in 1196 CE. After eight days of effort (removing only a small gash), he gave up due to the monumental cost. (Source: Arab historian Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi)

The granite beams above the King's Chamber weigh up to 80 tonnes (approx. 88 US tons) each. They were transported from Aswan, over 800 km away. (Source: Flinders Petrie, 'The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh')

In the 14th century CE, a massive earthquake loosened many casing stones. Later, rulers and builders removed them for mosques, fortresses, and buildings in Cairo, including the Mosque of Sultan Hasan. Only a few remain at the base of the Great Pyramid. (Source: Salima Ikram, 'Death and Burial in Ancient Egypt')