Three kings--or pharaohs--of the Fourth Dynasty (c. 2575-c. 2465 BC) of Ancient Egypt constructed the three Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx that comprise the central attractions of the Giza Necropolis. The first and largest pyramid constructed, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was to honor the second ruler of the Fourth Dynasty. Khafre, Khufu's son, constructed the second Great Pyramid along with the Great Sphinx, and Khafre's son Menkaure had the responsibility of building the third and smallest pyramid.
According to PBS' "Nova Online Adventure," the Great Pyramid of Khufu, built around 2550 BC, remained the tallest building in the world until the early 20th century. A history Web site called "Sacred Destinations" lists the Great Pyramid as the largest single building ever constructed, weighing 6 million tons when completed, and goes on to say that around 450 BC the Greek Historian Herodotus visited Giza and named The Great Pyramid of Khufu one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. As of 2010, it remains the only Wonder of the Ancient World still standing.
Carved from soft limestone and standing 66 feet high and 240 feet long, Khafre's Great Sphinx has the body of lion and bears the face of the ancient pharaoh who built it. "National Geographic" says says the Sphinx represents a "guardian figure, protecting the tomb of the Khafre by warding off evil spirits." Since the 15th century a stone tablet recounting the story of a young Egyptian prince who rose to power after receiving a vision from the Sphinx rests between its paws.
The enduring mystery surrounding the Egyptian Pyramids includes the question of how they were built. One theory postulates that the Egyptians piled a dirt ramp up to the level of construction and hauled the enormous stone blocks used to build the pyramids up that ramp. Herodotus claimed that the construction of the Great Pyramid took 100,000 men 20 years, but according to "Sacred Destinations," modern archaeologists now think that the project required no more than 20,000 workers.
Giza lies on the outskirts of Cairo in Egypt. Visitors may take a bus, taxi, or camel ride to the Pyramids. Visitors are not allowed to climb the pyramids, and visitors choosing to enter the pyramids should beware that some pyramid shafts have low ceilings and require visitors to crouch. Many tourist companies offer guided tours of the Giza Necropolis and other sites pertaining to Ancient Egypt.
