The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza sit in the hot desert of Egypt, near a city called Cairo. They are some of the oldest and biggest buildings in the world. People built them a very long time ago as special tombs for their kings. The kings of Egypt were called pharaohs. These giant stone shapes still stand tall today, and millions of people travel to see them every year.

Who Built Them?

The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids around 4,500 years ago. For a long time, people thought slaves built them. But now we know that skilled workers did most of the job. These workers lived in small towns near the pyramids. They got food, beds, and even doctors. Thousands of people worked together to move the giant stones. It took many years to finish just one pyramid.

The Three Big Pyramids

There are three main pyramids at Giza. The biggest one is called the Great Pyramid. A pharaoh named Khufu had it built for himself. It used to be the tallest building in the whole world for almost 4,000 years. The second pyramid was built for Khufu's son, Khafre. The third and smallest one was built for Khafre's son, Menkaure. Near them stands a huge stone statue called the Sphinx. It has the body of a lion and the head of a man.

How Were They Built?

Building a pyramid was very hard work. Workers cut big blocks of stone from the ground. Some blocks weighed as much as an elephant! They pulled the stones on wooden sleds over wet sand. Then they lifted them up using ramps. The Great Pyramid has more than 2 million stone blocks. Every block had to fit just right. It is amazing that people did all this without any machines.

Inside the Pyramids

Inside each pyramid are secret rooms and long tunnels. The pharaoh's body was placed in a special room called a burial chamber. The Egyptians also put gold, jewels, food, and toys inside. They believed the pharaoh would need these things in the next life. Many years later, robbers took most of the treasure. But we can still visit the empty rooms today.

Fun Facts

• The Great Pyramid is made of more than 2 million giant stone blocks.
• The pyramids used to shine white because they were covered in smooth limestone.
• The Great Pyramid stood as the tallest building on Earth for nearly 4,000 years.

Did You Know?

The Pyramids of Giza are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that you can still see today!