Building The Great Pyramid of Giza, 20 years Challenge

ARTICLE CONTENT:

Building the Great Pyramid: Timeline, Workers, and the 20-Year Challenge

When Was the Great Pyramid Built?

The Great Pyramid was constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (also known by his Greek name, Cheops), the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom. Based on archaeological evidence and historical records, construction began around 2560 BCE – approximately 4,584 years ago.

The Timeline of Construction

Before Construction Began

The pyramid was not built on a whim. Years of planning preceded the first stone:

Site selection: The Giza Plateau was chosen for its solid bedrock and proximity to the Nile

Surveying: The base had to be perfectly level across 13 acres

Quarry preparation: Limestone quarries needed to be established

Logistics planning: Housing, food, and supply chains for thousands of workers

Road building: Causeways for transporting stones from quarries

The Construction Period

Based on the evidence, the Great Pyramid took approximately 20 to 27 years to complete – essentially the entirety of Khufu's reign.

Let us break down what that means mathematically:

Total blocks: approximately 2,300,000
Construction years: 20
Working days per year: approximately 365
Total days: approximately 7,300
Blocks per day: approximately 315
Blocks per hour (24-hour): approximately 13
Time per block: approximately 4.6 minutes

For 20 years straight, a 2.5-ton block was placed every 5 minutes, around the clock.

Who Built the Pyramids?

The Slave Myth – Debunked

One of the most persistent myths about the pyramids is that they were built by Hebrew slaves. This is not supported by archaeological evidence.

What we have actually found:

1. Worker villages: In 1990, archaeologists discovered the remains of a worker city near the pyramids. These were not slave quarters – they were organized communities.

2. Evidence of good treatment:
- Bakeries capable of producing thousands of loaves daily
- Breweries (beer was a staple food in ancient Egypt)
- Medical facilities showing healed bones – workers received care for injuries
- Butcher shops with cattle bones – they ate meat, a luxury

3. Graffiti with pride: Workers left graffiti on blocks like "Friends of Khufu Gang" and "Drunkards of Menkaure" – not the words of enslaved people

4. Proper burials: Workers' cemeteries have been found with proper burial rites – slaves would not have received such treatment

The Actual Workforce

The Great Pyramid was built by:

Permanent Skilled Workers (2,000 to 5,000 people)
- Stone masons and cutters
- Engineers and architects
- Surveyors
- Overseers and administrators
- Ramp builders

Rotating Labor Force (20,000 to 30,000 people)
- Farmers who worked during the Nile's flood season (when farming was impossible)
- This was essentially a form of tax payment
- Workers rotated in 3-month shifts
- They were fed, housed, and likely proud to participate

The Organization

The workforce was organized into crews (called "phyles") of about 2,000 men each. These were divided into smaller groups:

Gangs: approximately 200 workers each
Divisions: 20 workers each

Each group had leaders, and there was a clear hierarchy. This was not chaos – it was the most organized construction project of the ancient world.

The Economics of Pyramid Building

Building the Great Pyramid was essentially a national project that:

1. Employed thousands during the agricultural off-season
2. Developed infrastructure – roads, housing, supply chains
3. Advanced technology – new tools and techniques were invented
4. United the nation – people from all regions worked together
5. Demonstrated power – showed Egypt's organizational capability

The pyramid was not a burden on Egypt – it was an engine of employment, innovation, and national pride.

What Happened After Completion?

Khufu's death: The pharaoh died around 2530 BCE

Sealing: The pyramid was sealed with Khufu's mummy inside (supposedly)

Casing: The exterior was covered in polished white limestone

Subsequent looting: Despite precautions, the tomb was eventually robbed

Today: The mummy of Khufu has never been found

The Legacy

When the last stone was placed, the workers had created something that would outlast every other structure of its time. They could not have known that 4,500 years later, their work would still stand – still inspiring wonder, still keeping secrets.

The Great Pyramid is more than stone. It is a monument to human organization, determination, and skill.

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Part 2 of 9 in our Great Pyramid series. Next: The impossible precision of the pyramid's architecture.

Visit 360egy.com for more articles and to book your Egypt adventure.

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SOCIAL MEDIA CAPTION:

Who built the pyramids?

Not slaves. Not aliens.

Skilled Egyptian workers. Well-fed. Well-treated. Proud of their work.

They left graffiti like "Friends of Khufu Gang" on the blocks they placed.

20 years. 30,000 workers. One incredible achievement.

The truth is more impressive than the myths.

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