What’s inside the pyramids of Giza?

Egypt is an enthralling, yet intriguing country with its 4,500-year-old pyramids, tombs, mummies and other wonders that have astounded the world for long, writes B S Arun

I’ve wanted to visit Egypt for as long as I can remember. The idea of standing in front of the towering pyramids, gazing up at the colossal structures that have awed the world for centuries, was a dream. I finally made that dream a reality recently, and it left me marvelling at how these massive edifices could have been built. Like many others, I was struck not only by their immense size but also by the mysteries they hold within. The cool breeze and gentle sunlight of January made the scene even more captivating, with the pyramids rising majestically against the sky as a soft wind brushed fine sand across my face.

Standing proudly in Giza, just outside Cairo, the pyramids are part of the Sahara Desert in northern Egypt — a country that captivates anyone with an interest in ancient history and architecture. Egypt is a land of intrigue, with its 4,500-year-old pyramids, tombs, mummies, and countless other wonders that have fascinated the world for centuries.

Spanning 17 acres, the three pyramids of Giza are the most visited, though Egypt boasts around 140 pyramids in total, most of them much smaller in size. The tallest and largest of these pyramids, towering at 148 metres (about the height of a 40-storey building), was constructed by Pharaoh Khufu over approximately 20 years, with the labour of more than 20,000 workers. Just imagine: this colossal structure required around 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 5 and 15 tonnes.

Archaeologists and Egyptologists have spent countless years trying to unravel the mysteries of these incredible monuments — how the massive stones were transported to the site, where they came from, and how they were stacked with such precision.

And why were the pyramids built? Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife and mummified their Pharaohs, convinced that the soul lived on within the preserved body. These mummies were placed in ornate tombs, made of wood or stone, inside the pyramids that the kings built for themselves. Interestingly, these pyramids also contained treasures and personal items like ornaments, furniture, and utensils — objects that were dear to the kings and queens. Many of these items are now displayed in two museums in Cairo: the Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisations.

So, what’s inside the pyramids of Giza? Of the three pyramids, only the second one, built by Pharaoh Khufu’s son, Khafre, is open to tourists (though there’s a separate ticket for entry). To enter, you descend steep, narrow wooden steps for about 30 to 40 feet, bending your body as you go down. At the bottom, you’ll find the King’s Chamber — a small, dimly lit space that was once filled with treasures. Today, it houses only a tomb that resembles a bathtub, along with some ancient drawings. This was the burial place of Pharaoh Khufu, and on the wall, you’ll find a depiction of a boat — possibly his own. The ancient Egyptians believed that the Pharaohs would journey by boat to the afterlife, where they would be reborn. A large boat attributed to Khufu was discovered outside the pyramid, and it has since been reassembled and displayed at the museum near the site.

The pyramids are triangular, with their sharp peaks pointing towards the sky, perhaps symbolising the belief that Pharaohs could stay close to the gods. Originally, they were likely covered in gold, but that was stolen long ago, along with much of the gold and treasures that once lay within the tombs. The pyramids also contain hidden passages, tunnels, and underground rooms meant for the queens, but these areas are off-limits to tourists.

In addition to the pyramids, the Giza complex is home to the Great Sphinx — an iconic statue with the body of a lion and the face of a man, carved from a single block of limestone. Some historians believe the Sphinx’s face resembles that of King Khafre. The statue is thought to have been damaged by Napoleon’s forces during their invasion of Egypt in 1798.

But where can you find the mummies? Aside from the Egyptian Museum and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisations, mummies are also housed at the Valley of the Kings, one of the world’s most famous and significant archaeological sites. Located near Luxor in southern Egypt, the Valley of the Kings, built between 1539 and 1075 BC, contains over 60 tombs carved into the rock, many of which belong to kings, queens, and nobles, including the tomb of the famous boy-king, Tutankhamun, and the great Pharaoh Ramses II. These mummies are not housed in the pyramids but rather buried in underground tombs cut into the hills. These tombs were excavated in the 1920s by British archaeologist Howard Carter.

As you enter the Valley, you descend into a corridor adorned with colourful artwork on the walls and ceilings, depicting scenes from Egyptian mythology and religious texts. These intricate paintings and carvings offer a glimpse into the cultural and spiritual life of ancient Egypt.

A few of the tombs are open to the public, with tourists allowed in small groups, asked to remain quiet to protect the fragile artwork and minimise the impact of their visits.

Not far from Cairo, Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city, is home to a unique archaeological site known as the Catacombs. Over 3,000 years old, the Catacombs once housed many mummies, and a spiral staircase led bodies down to burial chambers. Today, the Catacombs are empty, but they remain a significant tourist attraction.

Egypt, with its remarkable history and awe-inspiring monuments, offers a glimpse into an ancient world that continues to captivate and inspire.