Editing Great Pyramid of Giza (section)

== Purpose ==
The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tomb of pharaoh Khufu,{{sfn|Maragioglio|Rinaldi|1965a|p=10}} and still contains his granite sarcophagus.{{Sfn|Maragioglio|Rinaldi|1965a|p=24}} It had, like other tombs of Egyptian elites, four main purposes:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roeten |first=Leo |title=The Decoration on the Cult Chapel Walls of the Old Kingdom Tombs at Giza |publisher=BRILL |year=2014 |isbn=9789004265462 |pages=1}}</ref>

* It housed the body of the deceased and kept it safe.{{Sfn|Kanawati|2005|p=56}}
* It demonstrated the status of the deceased and his family.
* It retained the deceased's place in society.
* It was a place where offerings could be brought to the deceased.

{{Blockquote|text=Make your grave well furnished and prepare thy place in the west.{{br}}Look, death counts little for us. Look, life is valued highly by us.{{br}}The house of the dead (the tomb) is for life.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Archaeology of Pharaonic Egypt: Society and Culture, 2700–1700 BC |first1=Richard |last1=Bussmann |year=2023 |page=202}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Teaching of Hordjedef|website=Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst|url=https://smaek.de/en/news/lehre-des-hordjedef/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Tod und Jenseits im Alten Ägypten|year=2003|last=Assmann|first=Jan|page=15|lang=de}}</ref>|author=Excerpt from the [[Instruction of Hardjedef]] (son of Khufu)}}

In ancient Egypt, high social status was considered absolutely positive, and the monumental social inequalities were symbolized by gigantic pyramids versus smaller [[mastaba]]s. The sizes of tombs were regulated officially, with their allowed dimensions written down in royal [[decree]]s. In the Old Kingdom only kings and queens could have a pyramid tomb. Architectural layout and funeral equipment were also sanctioned, and were, like access to material and workers, at the discretion of the king.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alexanian |first=Nicole |url=http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/pubdocs/264/full/ |title=The Old Kingdom Art and Archaeology. Proceedings of the Conference held in Prague |year=2006 |pages=1–8 |chapter=Tomb and Social Status. The Textual Evidence}}</ref>

The Great Pyramid's internal chambers lack inscriptions and decorations, the norm for Egyptian tombs of the fourth to late fifth dynasty, apart from work-gang graffiti that include Khufu's names.{{sfn|Kanawati|2005|p=55}} Constructed around 2600 BC, it predates the custom of inscribing [[Pyramid Texts|pyramids with text]] by over 200 years.<ref>{{cite book |last=Allen |first=James P. |title=The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts |year=2015 |pages=1, 15–16}}</ref><ref name="Ramsey2010" />

The pyramid complex of Khufu included two temples that were lavishly decorated and inscribed. The pyramid temple was dedicated to the [[Sed festival]], celebrating Khufu's 30th jubilee.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lehner |first=Mark |date=2020 |title=Khufu's 30-Year Jubilee - Newly Discovered Pieces of a Puzzle |url=https://aeraweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/aeragram21_1-2.pdf |journal=AERAgram |volume=21 |issue=1&2 |pages=16–17}}</ref> Surviving scenes portray Khufu, officials, priests and other characters performing rituals. The valley temple remains largely unexcavated, but blocks reused by [[Amenemhat I]] depict, for instance, nautical scenes and personifications of the estates of Khufu (e.g. the estate "Khufu is beautiful").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goedicke |first=Hans |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Re_Used_Blocks_from_the_Pyramid_of_Amenemhet_I_at_Lisht |title=Re-Used Blocks from the Pyramid of Amenemhet I at Lisht |year=1971 |author-link=}}</ref> The mortuary cult of Khufu which operated in these temples for hundreds of years indicates that Khufu was successfully interred in the Great Pyramid.{{sfn|Hassan|1960|p=12}} That the funeral was carried out by Khufu's son and successor [[Djedefre]] is evidenced by the presence of his [[cartouche]]s on the blocks that sealed the boat pits next to the pyramid.{{Sfn|Maragioglio|Rinaldi|1965a|p=72}}

The Great Pyramid was likely looted as early as the [[First Intermediate Period of Egypt|First Intermediate Period]] and may have been reused afterwards.{{Sfn|Maragioglio|Rinaldi|1965a|p=8}} Arab accounts tell stories of mummies and treasures being found inside the pyramid. For instance, [[Al-Maqrizi]] (1364–1442) reports the discovery of three shrouded bodies, a sarcophagus filled with gold, and a corpse in golden armour with a sword of inestimable value and a ruby as large as an egg.{{Sfn|Vyse|1840b|p=352-357}}