After his father's experiments with smooth sides, King Khufu built the biggest pyramid of all at Giza, near today's Cairo. His son and grandson built beside it.
Key idea
The three great pyramids of Giza belong to Khufu (the biggest), Khafre and Menkaure (the smallest). The Great Sphinx, a lion with a king's head, lies beside the path to Khafre's pyramid.
Why it works
Each king wanted a tomb near his family's. Khufu's pyramid was about 147 meters tall when it was new, and it stayed the tallest building in the world for more than 3,700 years. Khafre's looks almost as tall because it stands on higher ground. The Sphinx was carved out of the bedrock itself, about 73 meters long.
Worked example: Biggest and smallest
Khufu's pyramid was about 147 m tall, Khafre's about 144 m and Menkaure's about 66 m. Which is the smallest, and by how much is it shorter than Khufu's?
- The smallest number is 66 m: Menkaure's.
- 147 − 66 = 81.
Answer: Menkaure's, about 81 m shorter.
Common mistake
Thinking the Sphinx is far out in the desert. It is right at Giza, beside the causeway (a stone road) up to Khafre's pyramid. Many experts think its face shows Khafre, though no writing from his time says so.