Pyramid of Khufu
From ArchaeoWiki
| Identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Alternative Names | the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops |
| Dynasty | 4 (Old Kingdom) |
| Owner | Khufu (Khnum-khuf) |
| Builder / Architect | unknown |
| Ancient Name(s) | Akhet-Khufu, 'Horizon of Khufu' |
| Location | |
| Locale | Giza Plateau |
| Coordinates | not specified |
| Measurements | |
| Height (original) | 146.59 m (481 ft) |
| Height (present) | |
| Angle of Slope | 51° 50' 40" |
| Base Dimension(s) | 230.33 m (756 ft) |
| Orientation | 3' 6" off true north |
| Related Structures | |
| Subsidiary Pyramids | queens △△△ satellite △ |
| Boat Pits | |
| Causeway | |
| Construction | |
| Materials | |
| Structure | horizontal core stones and outer casing |
The Pyramid of Khufu, commonly referred to as the Great Pyramid or the Pyramid of Cheops, is the largest ancient Egyptian pyramid to have been constructed and formed the focus of a massive pyramid complex of temples, causeway and subsidiary structures. The Old Kingdom period true pyramid was constructed on the orders of the Fourth Dynasty Khufu on the Giza Plateau, subsequently forming the centrepiece for an extensive cemetery and pyramid field.
The Pyramid of Khufu is the sole surviving intact representative of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Layout and Preservation
The completed pyramid was originally bounded at the base by a wall of Tura limestone, possibly over 8 m (26 ft) high, which formed a surrounding limestone-paved 'court' some 10.2 m (33 ft) wide. Entry to this court could only be gained by accessing first the valley temple, causeway and mortuary temple.
Built against the midde range of the eastern pyramid base wall, the Khufu mortuary temple was almost square in plan and built to a far larger specification than the small chapels built for preceding pyramids at Meidum and Dahshur. Although demolished down to bedrock in the intervening centuries, the black basalt pavement of the temple's open court survives to the present day, together with sockets for the granite pillars of a interior facing colonnade—the first occasion in which the two types of stone were employed together to create a large temple structure. Evidence exists for a recessed bay on the western side and cuttings in the bedrock trace the now absent outer wall. The temple walls were built of fine limestone and carved in relief. Within the temple, indications exist for an inner sanctuary and storage rooms—no signs survive to indicate whether the five statue niches and false door that later became standard features were integrated into the plan of the Khufu temple.
The causeway of the Khufu pyramid was built on elevated foundations, rising to more than 40 m (131 ft) in places to convey the causeway from the Giza plateau edge to the valley temple on the banks of the Nile River. The foundations of the causeway survived east of the plateau escarpment until the late 19th century CE.
Little remains of the Khufu valley temple, but for a basalt pavement that probably formed part of the temple pavements. The temple plan and elevation are completely unknown.
Undetected for many years until its recent discovery by a team engaged in clearing, led by Zahi Hawass, a small satellite pyramid of Khufu was discovered at the south-eastern corner of the main pyramid. Perhaps built for the ka of the ruler, the satellite pyramid has sides measuring only 20 m (66 ft) in length. The interior features a T-shaped descending passage leading to a small chamber. Like the galleries under the eastern side of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the side walls of the chamber lean inward like those of a tent or canopy.
Bibliography
- Badawi, A. [1964], "The Stellar Destiny of Pharaoh and the So-Called Air Shafts of Cheops' Pyramid", Mitteilungen des Instituts für Orientforschung des deutschen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 10.2-3 (1964), pp.189-206.
- Edwards, I.E.S. [1994], "Do the Pyramid Texts suggest an explanation for the abandonment of the subterranean chamber of the Great Pyramid?", Hommages à Jean Leclant, [BdÉ 106.1], 1994, pp.161-167.
- Emery, K.O. [1960], "Weathering of the Great Pyramid", Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 30 (1960), pp.140-143.
- Goyon, G. [1936], "Le méchanisme de fermeture de la pyramide de Khéops", Revue d'Archéologique 2 (1936), pp.1-24.
- Hawass, Zahi [1996], "The Discovery of the Satellite Pyramid of Khufu (GI-d)", in der Manuelian, Peter (ed.), Studies in Honor of William Kelly Simpson, Volume 1, Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1996, pp.379-398. pdf
- Lauer, Jean-Philippe [1989], "Le problème de construction de la Grande Pyramide", RdÉ 40 (1989), pp.91–111.
- Messiha, H. [1983], "The Valley Temple of Khufu", ASAE 65 (1983), pp.9-14.
- Romer, John [2007], The Great Pyramid: Ancient Egypt Revisited, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 0521871662
- Thomas, Elizabeth [1953], "Air channels in the Great Pyramid", JEA 39 (1953), p.113.
- Trimble, V. [1964], "Astronomical investigation concerning the so-called air shafts of Cheops' pyramid", Mitteilungen des deutschen Akademie Berlin 10 (1964), pp.183-187.
