Vanessa Mayhew

Great Pyramid

General Description:

The Great Pyramid is located on the edge of the Giza Plateau. The Great Pyramid is the largest pyramid ever built. You can not truly understand the size and intensity of this massive pyramid unless standing before it. The numbers do not do justice to the description of how large the Great Pyramid truly is. Dr. John DeSalvo clarifies, “Today, with all our modern science and engineering, we would not be able to build a Great Pyramid of Giza.” This statement truly defines the work and genius put into the formation of this pyramid.

Architectural Design:

According to PBS.org the Great Pyramid was built with over 2,300,000 stones, it weighs 6.5 million tons, the original height was 481 feet and the angle of incline 51 degrees. It was built with limestone and granite which really defines why it weighs as much as it does. Each block is said to weigh at least 2.5 tons and the largest were possibly 9 tons. The pyramid was made of limestone in order to allow the sun’s light to reflect and make the pyramid shine. Another unique architectural fact is that “it is the only pyramid in Egypt that has both descending and ascending inner passages” (DeSalvo). This addition of ascending passages must have a distinctive purpose, along with the airshafts that were built in the King’s and Queen’s chambers.

Interior Features of the Great Pyramid

Harmony with Nature:

The accuracy of the direction the pyramid is facing is a true harmony with nature. It is the most precise north oriented structure because it is only 3 minutes of a degree off of true north. According to Dr. DeSalvo, the 3 minutes of a degree of true north is because of natural forces in the earth and when it was built originally, the Great Pyramid was true north.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects:

One sacred object within the Great Pyramid is the Coffer in the King’s chamber because it the same volume as the Ark of the Covenant in the Bible. Dr. DeSalvo would like to hypothesis that possibly there is a connection between the Ark in the Bible that would actually produce electricity and the Great Pyramid. Could this pyramid have electro-static producing effects?
This pyramid is also sacred to many because pyramids are said to be used for tombs for pharaohs but without any remains found in this pyramid or any decoration it is hard to say this was the purpose of this pyramid.

How it is used by Worshippers:

The Great Pyramid is the first wonder of the world as listed by the Greeks. This is amazing considering there are only seven world wonders left today. The true purpose of the Great Pyramid is unknown, along with the exact age but there is evidence that it was protected. This pyramid has been adopted by different individuals throughout it’s history and also explored by different men, each having their own reactions. One thing that seemed to be agreed upon is the mystery of the massive structure and differing views on how and why.

Sources:

Great Pyramid of Giza Research Association. Ed. John DeSalvo. 16 Apr. 2009 .

"NOVA Online/Pyramids/Khufu/Khufu's Inside Story." PBS. 16 Apr. 2009 .