How did they build the Great Pyramid of Giza? - Soraya Field Fiorio
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
Pharaoh Khufu built the Great Pyramid around 2575 BCE with a 20-year construction plan, using 25,000 workers who worked 10-hour days to move stones every 3 minutes. The pyramid's construction involved quarrying over 2 million stones, with limestone for the exterior, granite for support beams, and a King's Chamber built with granite beams to prevent collapse.
Insights
- The construction of the Great Pyramid under Pharaoh Khufu involved a workforce of 25,000 citizens working 10-hour days, moving stones every 3 minutes to meet the ambitious 20-year completion timeline set by architect Hemiunu.
- The use of over 2 million stones, some weighing up to 80 tons, in the construction of the pyramid showcases the intricate planning and engineering involved, with granite beams in the King's Chamber ensuring structural integrity and a gleaming electrum-covered capstone crowning the monumental structure.
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Recent questions
How long did it take to build the Great Pyramid?
Approximately 20 years
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Summary
00:00
Building the Great Pyramid: A Monumental Feat
- Pharaoh Khufu began construction on his eternal resting place, the Great Pyramid, around 2575 BCE, with architect Hemiunu estimating a 20-year timeline for completion.
- The construction required a massive workforce of 25,000 workers, who were not enslaved but rather citizens contributing to the project. Workers labored 10-hour days, moving stones every 3 minutes to maintain the ambitious schedule.
- The pyramid's construction involved quarrying over 2 million stones, each weighing up to 80 tons, with limestone used for the exterior and granite for support beams. The King's Chamber, located at the heart of the pyramid, was built with granite beams to prevent collapse, and the entire structure was encased in white limestone and capped with a gleaming electrum-covered capstone.
