Although the three great pyramids are different sizes, many people still do not know their names, or how to tell them apart...
- The 'Great' pyramid of Khufu (Cheops, Shoufu) - Son of Snoferu.
The only one to contain tunnels...
Khufu's pyramid official name was 'Khufu belongs to the horizon': The exterior angle of Khufu's pyramid is 51° 51', which in geometric terms is (360/7) x 4. This same angle is seen in the angle of the avenue leading from Stonehenge, and the angle from Avebury to the 'Sanctuary'.
The Giza pyramids were all built with simple horizontal rows of blocks - In the case of the great pyramid an estimated 2,500,000 with an average weight of 2.5 tons each. The pyramid-ion or Ben-ben is missing from the top and has never been reported.
- The pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) - Son of Khufu.
Khafre's pyramid stands equal in height to the great pyramid, although it is actually smaller - this is due to its being built on higher ground.
The angle of slope for 'Khafre's' pyramid is achieved as a result of a 3:4:5 triangle. (As is the King's coffer in the Great pyramid).
Although the majority of books discuss the 'mysteries' surrounding the 'great' pyramid, Khafre's has certain features that make it equally unique. Not only does it sit at the geometric centre of the site, it is also attached to the Sphinx by a causeway, although this causeway runs over other tombs suggesting it was a later addition.
Khafre's pyramid sits at the centre of the Giza plateau, it is attached to the Sphinx by a causeway, the angle of which is 30° off true East.
- The Pyramid of Menkaure - Son of Khafre, Grandson of Khufu.
Although Menkaure's pyramid is the smallest, and was constructed last, it was faced with several layers of granite, which were left unfinished.
The blue basalt coffer which was taken from the pyramid was lost at sea a year later in 1838. A joint Egyptian/Spanish initiative is currently underway to retrieve it.
the granite coering stones, are still resent, yet absent on the great pyramid, this is unfortunate due to the fact that halfway up, there was an ancient waterline... something we will be covering shortly...
