Built around 2600 BC, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost 4,000 years. We are used to seeing it this way:
Though still impressive, it looked much different at the time. As constructed its facing was white limestone with a gold cap, as shown in this illustration from Historical Artifacts. Quite different, isn't it? How distinctive and awe-inspiring it must have been at the time. Today, with the facing gone, one can climb the pyramid which would have been impossible in its original state.
Much of the limestone cladding was intact until the 13th and 14th centuries AD. The gold cap had disappeared by the time the Greek author Herodotus wrote about the pyramid in the 5th century BC.
No comments:
Post a Comment