пятница, 13 января 2012 г.

Great Pyramid of Giza


intact [in`tækt]  – неповрежденный; нетронутый
tomb [tu:m]  – могила; надгробие
initially  – сначала, вначале
casing [`keisiŋ]  – обшивка; оболочка
outer [`autə]  – внешний; наружный
chamber [`tʃeimbə] – комната
contain – содержать
ascending – возрастание
passages – проходы
mortuary [`mo:tјuəri] – погребальный; похоронный
causeway – тротуар
nobles – знать
via [`vaiə] – через
dug [dʌg] – вырытый; выкопанный
masonry – каменная/кирпичная кладка

Ancient Name   Khufu's Horizon
Constructed      2540-2560 BC
Type                  True Pyramid
Height               146.5 metres (481 ft)
Base                   230.4 metres (756 ft)

   The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) over an approximately 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC.
   Initially at 146.5 metres (480.6 ft), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, the longest period of time ever held for such a record. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface.

Casing stone

   There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only pyramid in Egypt known to contain both ascending and descending passages. The main part of the Giza complex is a setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.


   Entrance
   Today tourists enter the Great Pyramid via the Robbers' Tunnel dug by workmen around AD 820. The tunnel is cut straight through the masonry of the pyramid for approximately 27 metres (89 ft), then turns sharply left to encounter the blocking stones in the Ascending Passage. Unable to remove these stones, the workmen tunnelled up beside them through the softer limestone of the Pyramid until they reached the Ascending Passage. It is possible to enter the Descending Passage from this point, but access is usually forbidden.

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