Definition: The largest of the three Old Kingdom pyramids located at Giza in Egypt, Khufu's pyramid was built during the reign of the Pharaoh Khufu between 2589 and 2566 BC. The pyramid base covers an area of 13 square acres, and its original height was 481 feet, although it has been eroded over the millennia and is now only about 449 feet tall. Built of cut and shaped limestone blocks and weighing a total of approximately 6.5 million tons, Khufu's Pyramid is also, justifiably, known as the Great Pyramid. The Pharaoh Khufu was called Cheops in Greek, and was a member of the 4th Dynasty, Old Kingdom.
More on Egyptian Pyramids
- Giza Plateau Pyramids: A Slide Show
- The Sphinx
- Khafre's Pyramid
- The Bent Pyramid
- Menkaure's Pyramid
- Step Pyramid of Djoser
- The Great Pyramid (book review of John Romer's recent book
- Ancient Egypt Timeline and Definition
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Also Known As: Cheops Pyramid, the Great Pyramid
