THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA

The Great Pyramid of Giza was not called the First Wonder of the World for nothing: for over 4,000 years it was the tallest monument ever built and was equalled only in the late 16th century by the highest cathedrals. To this day it is still the largest stone monument in the world. It has been estimated that approximately 2,300,000 blocks had been used to build the great pyramid, each averaging 2.5 tons, making a total mass of 5.75 million tons. Most of the stone is limestone quarried locally, but granite blocks from Aswan were also used for the King's chamber: the 5.5 meter long granite beams forming its ceiling weigh between 25 and 40 tons each. Nowadays, the white Turah limestone casing is missing as well as the enclosure wall (which was over 8 meter high).

All measurements are in cubits, with the equivalence in meters between brackets (altitude means height above or depth below surface).

Entrance	Altitude 32.4 (16.97) 13.92 (7.29) east from centre axis
Descending passage	Total length 200.94 (105.23) , 63.95 (33.49) through masonry and 136.99 (71.74) through bedrock Height 2.27 (1.19) Width 2 (1.05) Angle 26° 31' 23"
Ascending passage	Start in descending passage 53.87 (28.21) from entrance Length 75.02 (39.29) Height 2.29 (1.2) Width at lower end 1.85 (0.97) , at upper end 2.02 (1.06) Angle 26° 2' 30"
Plug blocks	There are three of them Start 3.59 (1.88) from beginning of ascending passage Original length 9.83 (5.15) , now 9.36 (4.9)
Well shaft	Total length approximately 105 (54.99) Opening at the beginning of the Queen's chamber's passage Opening in descending passage 185.53 (97.16) from entrance Width at opening in descending passage 1.49 (0.78) There is a small recess just above the surface

Entrance passage	Altitude at northern end -57.28 (-30) , at entrance -57.13 (-29.92) Entrance is 13.88 (7.22) east of centre axis Length (including antechamber) 16.78 (8.79) Height at northern end 1.83 (0.96) , at entrance 1.74 (0.91) Width 1.57 (0.82)
Antechamber	Southern end of antechamber 2.67 (1.4) from chamber's entrance Length 3.53 (1.85) Height 1.99 (1.04) Width 3.51 (1.84)
Chamber	Altitude of roof -51.21 (-26.82) The centre of the subterranean chamber is 1.26 (0.66) east of the pyramid's centre axis Length along eastern wall 15.81 (8.28) , near western wall 15.98 (8.37) Height of main part 7.52 (3.94) , at eastern end 6.8 (3.56) , at western end 0.48 (0.25) , around shaft 9.6 (5.03) Width 26.86 (14.07)
Pit	Approximately at the centre of the chamber, near the eastern wall Total depth approximately 5 (2.62)
Southern passage	Altitude at entrance -59.12 (-30.96) , at southern end -58.83 (-30.81) Entrance is 13.82 (7.24) east of centre axis Length 31.33 (16.41) Height at entrance 1.51 (0.79) , at southern end 1.41 (0.74) Width at entrance 1.43 (0.75) , from 1.26 (0.66) to 1.45 (0.76) beyond entrance

Entrance passage	Altitude north of step 41.51 (21.74) , 40.48 (21.2) beyond Total length 73.92 (38.71) , north of step 63.39 (33.2) , south of step 10.53 (5.51) Height north of step 2.25 (1.18) , south of step 3.28 (1.72) Width 2.02 (1.06)
Chamber	The centre of the chamber is 9.44 (4.9) east of centre axis and 0.015 (0.0076) north of it Length 9.99 (5.23) Height on walls 8.96 (4.69) , under apex 11.9 (6.23) Width 10.99 (5.75) Mean angle of roof 30° 26'
Niche	In eastern wall North side of niche 4.7 (2.46) from chamber's entrance Depth 1.99 (1.04) Height 8.92 (4.67) Width at base 3 (1.57) , at top 0.97 (0.51) There are four overlappings 0.25 (0.13) wide each
Northern shaft	Both shafts are approximately 3 (1.57) above floor Distance from eastern wall 5.54 (2.9) Height 0.4 (0.21) , width 0.4 (0.21) Total length unknown, horizontal length 3.68 (1.93) Angle varies from 33° 18' to 40° 6'
Southern shaft	Distance from eastern wall 5.5 (2.88) Height 0.4 (0.21) , width 0.4 (0.21) Total length 113.5 (59.44), horizontal length 3.74 (1.96) 109.8 (57.5) at 39° 36' 28"

Queen's Chamber

First passage	Altitude 82.09 (42.99) Length from great step 5.5 (2.88) , from gallery's southern wall 2.98 (1.56) Height 2 (1.05) Width 2.02 (1.06)
Antechamber	Length 5.63 (2.95) Height 7.24 (3.79) Width 3.15 (1.65) The eastern , southern and western walls are made of red granite There are four slots in the eastern and western walls , the northernmost ones coming down only to the level of the passage roof and holding two blocks of granite
Second passage	Length 4.89 (2.56) Height 2 (1.05) Width 2.02 (1.06)
Chamber	The centre of the chamber is 4.8 (2.51) east of centre axis The chamber is entirely made of red granite Length 10 (5.24) Height 11.17 (5.85) Width 20 (10.47)
Northern shaft	Both shafts are approximately 2 (1.05) above floor Distance from eastern wall 4.74 (2.48) Height 0.27 (0.14) , width 0.4 (0.21) Total length 113.61 (59.5), horizontal length 5.02 (2.63) , 4 (2.09) at 17°, 4 at 25°, 4 at 29° 30', 6 (3.14) at 34° and 113.61 (59.5) at 32° 36' 8"
Southern shaft	Distance from eastern wall 4.75 (2.49) Height 0.27 (0.14) , width 0.34 (0.18) Total length 102.25 (53.55), horizontal length 3.28 (1.72) , 4.2 (2.2) at 39° 12', 8.3 (4.35) at 54° 32' 24" and 86.5 (45.3) at 45°
Sarcophagus	At the center of the chamber, near the western wall External length 4.35 (2.28) Internal length 3.78 (1.98) External height 2 (1.05) Internal depth 1.66 (0.87) External width 1.87 (0.98) Internal width 1.3 (0.68)
Relieving chambers	There are five of them, the uppermost one having a gabled roof Total height approximately 29 (15.19) above the ceiling of the King's chamber Lengths and widths are the same as in the King's chamber