Wonders of the World
Ever wondered what’s so wonderful about the Wonders of the World? Join Explorica for a mind-boggling exploration into three of the world’s greatest architectural triumphs that have many scratching their heads over how and why they were constructed. We’ll travel to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, head northwest to England’s mystical Stonehenge, before making a lengthy trip across the Atlantic to the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru. So grab your Indiana Jones hat and let’s go!
Wonders of the World, Part 1: The Great Pyramid of Giza
So amazing is the Great Pyramid of Giza that not only is it the oldest Ancient Wonder of the World but it’s also an honorary member of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Even more amazing is that in its heyday (that’s 2,500 B.C.) this Great Pyramid was the tallest building in the world, standing at a massive 480 feet. (Or about a third as tall as the Empire State Building). And it held that record for a whopping 3,800 years! Archeologists believe that the Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, leader of Egypt‘s fourth dynasty. (Incidentally, his name means “the god Khnum protects me.” Though legend has it that he was anything but a protector, except of himself, demanding money from anyone who came near him—including his own daughter.) Enter the Great Pyramid and be dazzled by the number of complicated corridors and pathways (constructed that way to confuse grave robbers) that lead to the King’s Chamber, the Queen’s Chamber, mortuary temples and smaller pyramids believed to be tombs for Khufu’s wives. (By the way, scholars believe that ancient Arab explorers misnamed the Queen’s Chamber because it was definitely not meant to house a queen. It was probably meant to be a back-up chamber for Khufu instead.) Yet, the mystery of the Great Pyramid is more than just that of the mummies (who Egyptians believed would be protected by the tombs forever while their spirits traveled to the afterlife.) It’s the fact that the Great Pyramid was created with such geometric accuracy that modern architects have only just been able to recreate it. And that’s with the help of laser measuring technology. Perhaps it’s only the Great Sphinx of Giza whose watchful eye over the pyramids holds the answer to this great mystery.
