Chephren pyramid open for visitors Saturday
Egypt, Local, 12/31/2004

Egypt's Culture Minister Farouk Hosni will re-open the Pyramid of King Chephren in Giza as of Saturday after the completion of restoration works.

In statements, Hosni said the third Pyramid of Mycerinus will be closed for a year to start necessary rejuvenations, adding 2005 will see a giant restoration project to restore King Chephren's funerary temple and the stone blocks in the area south of the temple.

These steps fall within a plan by the ministry and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) which started in 1995 to preserve the Giza pyramids through regular restoration activities, said Hosni.

For his part, SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawas said this is the third time King Chephren's Pyramid is restored since 1995, adding the project was undertaken by an Egyptian team.

Restoration efforts went on for two years and involved cleaning, strengthening of internal walls, removing visitors' graffiti and refurbishing the king's sarcophagus, said Hawas.

The pyramids of Egypt, build at Giza during the 4th Dynasty, are the oldest of the seven wonders and the only ones remaining intact today. The three great pyramids and six small pyramids are situated on the left bank of the Nile in Cairo.

The pyramids earlier than Giza are Step pyramid of King Zoser in Saqara (early III Dynasty), Step pyramid in Medum (111-IV Dynasty), the pyramid in Dahshur (IV Dynasty) and others.

Giza pyramids were built by three pharaohs-Cheops (or Khufu), Chephren (Khafre) and Mycerinus (Menkaure) -during the second half of the third millennium B.C.

The Pyramid of Chephren is 215.8m square at base, 136.5m height (originally 143.5m) and the incline is 53 degree.

These monumental pyramids are precisely oriented to the four cardinal points. The Great Pyramids of Giza still have a strong impact on humanity. The impact is best summed up in this ancient Arab proverb: "Man fears Time, yet Time fears the pyramid."

The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a period of 20 year. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface.

Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded.

This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second, theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot.

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