Pyramids of Giza

I stand tall and proud under the hot, bright sun. All around me, golden sand stretches as far as you can see, like a giant, sandy blanket. I have a pointy top that almost tickles the blue sky and four big triangle sides made of giant stones. I am not alone out here in the desert. I am part of a family of giants, standing in a line. We have a very special friend who keeps watch nearby. He has the body of a lion and the face of a person, and he is very mysterious. He almost never says a word. People come from all over the world just to look up at me and wonder how I got here. Have you guessed who I am yet? I am the Great Pyramid of Giza.

I was built a very, very long time ago, even before your grandparents’ grandparents were born. The year was around 2580 BCE. I was made for a very important king, a pharaoh named Khufu. Pharaoh Khufu wanted a special and safe place to rest after his time as king on Earth was over. He believed he would travel to the stars, and he needed a grand home for his long journey. So, thousands of smart and strong workers came to help build me. They were clever builders and planners. First, they had to cut giant stone blocks from the earth. Each block was heavier than ten elephants put together. "Heave! Ho!" they would shout as they worked. They brought the giant stones across the wide and mighty Nile River on big wooden boats. Then, they carefully pushed and pulled each heavy block into the perfect spot, one on top of the other. They worked together as a team, building me up, up, up, higher and higher. When they were finished, I was the tallest thing anyone in the whole world had ever seen. I felt so proud to touch the clouds.

For thousands of years, I have stood right here, watching the world change. I have watched the sun rise and set more times than I can count. I have seen countless starry nights sparkle above my pointy top. My good friend, the Great Sphinx, has kept me company through it all. He sits quietly, watching over the sand and the people who visit. We don't talk much, but I know he is always there. Travelers from every corner of the world have made long journeys just to come and gaze up at me. They take pictures and say, "Wow! How did they build something so big?" Today, I am a treasure for the whole world. I love it when children like you come to visit me in Egypt. You can run your hands on my old stones and imagine all the clever people who built me. I hold their secrets and their amazing stories inside my stone walls. I hope I remind everyone that with great teamwork and big dreams, people can create wonderful things that last forever.