PYRAMIDS-III
THE GIZA PYRAMIDS The Giza Pyramids, which were designed to last forever, have done exactly that. The massive tombs date back to Egypt's Old Kingdom era and were built some 4,500 years ago. In the afterlife, Egypt's pharaohs were supposed to become gods. They built temples to the gods and enormous pyramid tombs for themselves to prepare for the next world, which were stocked with everything a king would need to govern and support himself in the next world. Around 2550 B.C., Pharaoh Khufu began the construction of the first Giza pyramid. His Great Pyramid, which stands 481 feet (147 metres) above the plateau, is the biggest in Giza. Each of the estimated 2.3 million stone blocks weighs between 2.5 and 15 tonnes. Pharaoh Khafre, Khufu's son, erected the second pyramid at Giza in 2520 B.C. The Sphinx, a mystery limestone monument with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, was also part of his necropolis. The Sphinx may serve as a guard for the entire pharaoh's bu...