Facts about the pyramids of ancient Egypt

1. The Great Pyramid is estimated to have about 2,300,000 stone blocks weighing from 2-30 Tons each with some weighing as much as 70 tons.
2. The Pyramids of Ancient Egypt were built as tombs for Kings (and Queens), and it was the exclusive privilege to have a Pyramid tomb.
3. Two types of limestone were used for construction. A soft limestone was used for the bulk of the core blocks and a hard white limestone for the mantle. Hard limestone becomes more polished with age.
4. Most of the pyramids can be found on the western side of the Nile River, just into the dry desert.The reason they built the pyramids next to the Nile River was so it would be easier to get the blocks to the pyramid.
5. There is so much stone mass in the Great Pyramid that the interior temperature is constant and equals the average temperature of the Earth, 20 Degrees Celsius (68 Degrees Fahrenheit).
6. The first true pyramid was developed for King Sneferu during the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.
7. The outer mantle was composed of 144,000 casing stones, all highly polished and flat to an accuracy of 1/100th of an inch, about 100 inches thick and weighing about 15 tons each.
8. King Khufu’s great pyramid is the largest pyramid (Great Pyramid at Giza). It is well known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, standing at an impressive 146 meters.
9. The base of the pyramid covers 55,000m2 (592,000 ft2) with each side greater than 20,000m2 (218,000 ft2) in area.
10. There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008.
11. The mortar used is of an unknown origin. It has been analyzed and its chemical composition is known but it can't be reproduced. It is stronger than the stone and still holding up today.
12. Most pyramid complexes had satellite pyramids and queens’ pyramids. The satellite pyramids were too small to serve as burial places, and their purpose remains mysterious.
13. The average casing stone on the lowest level was 5 ft. long by 5 ft. high by 6 ft. deep and weighed 15 tons.
14. There are no hieroglyphics or writing in the Great Pyramid.
15. The cornerstone foundations of the pyramid have ball and socket construction capable of dealing with heat expansion and earthquakes.
16. Its polished surfaces would have reflected light like a beacon.
17. With the mantle in place, the Great Pyramid could be seen from the mountains in Israel and probably the moon as well.