We ambled along to the Great Pyramid of Khufu, built around
BCE It is the oldest and largest of the Giza pyramids and the only
surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. It served as the tomb of
Pharaoh Khufu, who reigned during a period marked by a peak in
pyramid construction and centralised power.
Built over approximately 20–26 years, the pyramid originally stood
146.6 meters tall, making it the tallest human-made structure for
nearly 4,000 years. It consists of an estimated 2.3 million limestone
and granite blocks, some weighing up to 15 tons, with a total mass of
about 6 million tonnes. The outer casing was made of white Tura
limestone, polished to a dazzling finish. A golden capstone may have
once crowned the top. Its base spans 230.3 meters on each side, and
the precision of its alignment—within centimetres—is astonishing,
even by modern standards. No wonder it remains the only intact
Wonder of the Ancient World. Standing before this monument felt like
touching the heartbeat of ancient civilisation.