How much curiosity is linked to the pyramids of Giza, in Egypt, and above all to the great pyramid of the pharaoh Khufu, called by the Greeks, Cheops.
Built about 4.500 years ago, it still remains the largest work of architecture ever built by man, with its 2.300.000 blocks of stone, weighing 50 tons each, and a height of 146,5 meters - above the desert -.
The stone blocks were cut and arranged with perfect precision, to the point of fitting together perfectly without leaving any space, not even a thousandth. For this precision various hypotheses have arisen, one of which is that it was built by superior intelligences, perhaps coming from who knows where or that prophecies were made there, that is, that the pyramid was a monument erected in memory of who knows what cataclysm, or that in it must have been kept a universal system of measures to accurately determine the time, the light, and the planets.
In short, a whole series of nonsense, but despite fantasies and research carried out, many questions remain without a certain answer.
But if the ancient Egyptians did not use the wheel and towed animals, nor did they know pulleys and winches, how could they have erected such a perfect building? The stone used is red sandstone typical of the plateau where the pyramid stands, the limestone for the cladding comes from the right bank of the Nile. While the granite for the galleries and chambers comes from Aswan, a thousand kilometers away. Each block was worked by stonemasons who made the stone perfectly smooth using quartz abrasives.
The Greek historian Herodotus, during his visit to Giza, recounted being hit by a road that stood elevated between the bank of the Nile and the place where the pyramid would have risen. Again according to Herodotus, who probably received information from temple priests, it took ten years to build the road and twenty for the pyramid, with the employment of 100 men who had to be replaced every three months. But Egyptologists object that Cheops reigned for only 23 years, and if he had died before the pyramid was finished, perhaps this one would have remained unfinished like others?
Again according to what Herodotus reports, the stones were brought to higher levels with levers made of short wooden beams, but this version too is not confirmed, because if that were the case it would have taken more years.
Therefore, the hypothesis remains that the blocks were dragged with their arms only along a large ramp made of bricks, earth and debris. After all, these ramps can still be seen next to other pyramids. In the case of the Great Pyramid, the ramp had to be at least a mile long, but was there that much manpower? And, then, why so many sacrifices?
According to the ancient Egyptians, the pyramid was built because in the afterlife the deceased would have lived as during their earthly existence, therefore it was necessary to reconstruct the same characteristics. And the body to continue to enjoy the same joys had to remain intact, so the Egyptians developed the technique of embalming. And if this did not succeed, it was necessary to have statues and portraits that would have given the deceased a new life with engraved magical formulas. And it is for the same reason that their tombs had to contain all possible material goods, from clothes to food. All this had to be locked up, with the body, in an impenetrable tomb surrounded by dedicated temples and supervised by priests.
At first Cheops did not have many needs, and the first phase of construction of his tomb was quite modest, then as his ambitions grew he had the room enlarged, called the Queen's Chamber and, not only that, nor did he build an even larger one, the King's chamber 40 meters above the ground, i.e. almost in the center of the pyramid.
In 820 AD the Muslim caliph Abdullah Al Mamun entered the pyramid, to look for astrological manuscripts that were believed to be kept, they entered through a passage which led them, however, first to the first chamber which had remained unfinished, then they realized the existence of a passage ascendant that took them to the Queen's Chamber, also empty, and then to that of the King, but they found nothing.
In 1763 another tunnel of about 60 meters was discovered which led out of the King's Chamber, it was believed that it was built by the workers without the knowledge of Cheops, so that they could get out after having placed the stone blocks. By this time grave robbers may have used this route to steal any good.
But, then, where has the treasure gone? There was also the hypothesis that Cheops had this pyramid built, but then opted for another one where he would have placed all his treasure instead… a pyramid bait for thieves?
In 1954, under the sand, on the southern side of the pyramid, a magnificent ship of cedar wood was found, over 40 meters long with a golden cabin which is believed to be the "solar boat" of Cheops, with which the pharaoh could have exited the grave to participate in religious rites.
Since then, excavations and discoveries have followed one another... and if there was also the "moon boat" on the eastern side? Of course, at that point, it could still be useful to Cheops if he ever woke up one day, but he would no longer be the first to conquer the moon.
