The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, is the oldest monument on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In 1979, the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located on the Giza Plateau in Cairo's outskirts, the Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex, and also is the largest piece of stone architecture ever built in history.

As a massive stone structure, the construction required a knowledge of many academic fields, including surveying, astronomy, mechanics, physics, and mathematics. What's more, the construction of the pyramid abided by the golden ratio, the perfect proportion in modern aesthetics.

Many aspects of this marvel of human engineering and construction remain shrouded in mystery. As for the building of the Sphinx, legend has it that in 2610 BC, when Pharaoh Khufu was on a tour to inspect his mausoleum, he found a boulder in the quarry and the pharaoh immediately ordered builders to carve a sphinx in his likeness. Braving the sweltering weather, the Egyptian stonemasons spent years on the statue that still awes the world. The Sphinx, 20 meters high and 57 meters wide, sports a headpiece that was typically worn by a pharaoh.