The Pyramid of Khafre
The Pyramid of Khafre has recently re-opened along with six other ancient tombs at Giza, Cairo after a long period of restoration.
The restoration took over 10 years after it was discovered that the large volume of visitors over the years had raised levels of humidity inside the structures to levels of up to 80 per cent. Apparently every visitor to the Pyramids releases an average of 20 grams of water vapour through sweat and this was causing damage to the plaster that covers part of the Grand Gallery.
The ground is now protected by wood to maintain the tomb’s original rock and enable tourists to walk inside.
New lighting and ventilation systems have also been installed. A path linking the tombs to the Great Pyramid of Khufu was carved to enable movement across the plateau”.
The Pyramid of Khafre, which is also known as the “Pyramid of Chefren” is in fact the second largest Pyramid at the Giza complex and was built as the tomb for the Pharaoh Khafre. Made of limestone rock the pyramid has two entrances which lead to the burial chamber, one that opens 11.54 m (38 ft) up the face of the pyramid and one that opens at the base of the pyramid.
As I mentioned in my last post Barbara and I will be visiting the Pyramids in November so we’ll make sure to visit Khafre Pyramid and take as many photos as we are allowed and I’ll post them here on the blog on our return.
