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The Egyptian pyramids are among humanity's greatest achievements, yet there are many surprising and intriguing aspects about them that not everyone knows.
1. Many believe that only Egypt has pyramids, but there are numerous similar structures worldwide. In fact, the world's largest pyramid is located in Mexico, not Egypt.
2. Egypt is home to the most pyramids globally, with over 130 structures currently standing.
3. The oldest pyramid in Egypt is over 4,500 years old.
4. The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed from over 2.3 million blocks of stone. Each block weighs between 2 to 30 tons, with some weighing over 50 tons.
5. The three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are aligned with the three stars forming Orion's Belt constellation.
6. The passage inside the Great Pyramid of Giza directly points to the North Star named Alpha Draconis.
7. Inside the Egyptian pyramids, the temperature remains stable at around 20°C.
8. Despite the common belief that hieroglyphs are integral to ancient Egyptian structures, the Great Pyramid of Giza contains no hieroglyphs.
9. While modern pyramids may appear rough, originally, they were covered with a layer of polished limestone that reflected sunlight like a mirror. This is why ancient Egyptians described pyramids as 'Ikhet' or 'Glorious Light'.
10. The Great Pyramid of Giza faces the true North Pole of the Earth. It is the most accurately aligned structure to the North Pole globally. Despite being built thousands of years ago, the orientation of the Great Pyramid of Giza only deviates from the true North Pole by 0.05 degrees. This discrepancy is due to the changing position of the North Pole over time; at the time of completion, Giza was accurately aligned with the North Pole.
11. The Great Pyramid of Giza features slightly concave faces, making it the only pyramid with this characteristic. Inside the pyramid lies the 'King's Chamber,' containing a granite sarcophagus. However, the sarcophagus is too large for the passageway leading to the chamber, leading many to speculate that the Great Pyramid was built around this sarcophagus.
12. The entrances of the three pyramids—Giza, Huni's, and Sneferu's—feature swiveling doors. All three pyramids belong to a familial lineage (son, father, and grandfather).
13. Despite weighing up to 20 tons, the swiveling doors of the Great Pyramid of Giza are well-balanced, easily opened from the inside with a gentle push. When closed, however, they fit so tightly that they are hardly recognizable as doors.
14. Estimated to weigh 5,955,000 tons, the Great Pyramid of Giza stands as the only remaining wonder of the world, enduring through the ages.
15. On average, each pyramid takes approximately 200 years to complete. Therefore, construction on a new pyramid begins only after the completion of the previous one.
16. Until the completion of the Eiffel Tower in 1889, the Great Pyramid of Giza remained the tallest structure in the world, despite being nearly 4,500 years old.
17. One reason for the continued existence of the pyramids is the type of mortar used to bond the stone blocks. This mortar is even harder and more durable than the stones themselves. However, the exact ingredients used by the ancient Egyptians to create it remain unknown.
24. According to Traveltimes.vn
29. ***
30. Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
31. Mytour32. February 28, 2015
