Stone courses of the Pyramid of Khufu (table)

Characteristics of the stone courses - In tabular form - Additional information - Print version - Sources

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Steinschichten der Cheops-Pyramide (genaue Illustration mit Dicke und Lage)

Illustration: The levels of the stone courses of Khufu's Pyramid are correct to 1/4 meters - Print version

The levels for the stone courses of the pyramid of Khufu on the following table have been transcribed from Petrie [2], and have been measured at the northeast corner (above the foundation). Since there are no outer stones left except at the bottom, the height of the inner stone layers were measured. According to Petrie the outer beveled stones were of the same height as the inner stones. The height of the upper 10 (or more) stone courses are not known, the height of the pyramid is computed to be 146.59m.
Photo of Khufu's Pyramid with all the stone courses / original illustration of the Levels of the Courses of the Great Pyramid / illustration of the first 85 levels [2]

 

Characteristics of the stone courses

1. Accumulation of thicker stone courses
The illustration and the table show, that there are accumulations of thicker stone courses at 17m / 30m (+13m) / 37m (+7m) / 54m (+17m) / 69m (+15m) / 75m (+6m) / 89m (+14m) / 105m (+16m) / 125m (+20m) and shortly before the top of the pyramid. These thicker stone courses follow others which are considerably lower. According to the methods that Franz Löhner is suggesting such more massive stone layers are necessary to build fixed rope roll stations. The archeologist Goyon and Petrie also noticed these numbers of thicker courses and Goyon [1] divided the pyramid in a total of 19 sections.
Transport up the pyramid flank with Löhner's rope roll

2. Possible location of the rope-roll stations
A look at the table and the illustration shows, that all larger blocks for the Grand Gallery, the King's and Queen's chamber and the relieving chambers were used between the proposed rope-roll-stations at 17 and at 75 meters. To anchor the rope-roll-stations several thicker stone layers would be used, where several rope rolls are placed side by side to transport the granite slaps which are weighting up to 50 tons. Smaller stations are used throughout the whole building to transport the regular stones up to the appropriate heights.
Transporting the large granite blocks up the pyramid

3. Thicker layers also in the upper regions of the pyramid
Egyptologists propose ramps for building the pyramids - but all ramps get smaller when they reach the upper portion of the pyramid. So it is of great importance, that when you get higher up you only use smaller and lighter stones. With a ramp you would expect, that the size of the stones would decrease steadily as you get higher. It is interesting, that this is not the case in the pyramid of Khufu! On the contrary you find thicker stone layers even very high up - on 69m, 75m and on 89m. Goyon [1] also remarked, that there is a stone which is 1.12m high lying on the platform of Khufu's Pyramid and this proves, that the Egyptians were able to transport large and heavy stones (this one weights about 3 tons) up to this height. This fact is inconsistent with the proposed ramps but corroborates the use of Franz Löhner's rope rolls and the installation of rope-roll stations also high up on the pyramid flank.
Theories of pyramid ramp systems disproved

4. Stone layers oft the same thickness
Again and again there are stone layers where the thickness vary only about 1-2cm. According to Franz Löhner the stones were quarried from the same stone layer or sheet (bed). In the table below layers of the same height are highlighted with a brown color. The thickness of the layers on the northeast and the southwest corner vary mostly only a few centimeters. The largest differences are found in the first 15 layers where the pyramid is built around a rock outcropping and then again at the height of the ceiling of the King's chamber (course 58-59). The maximal difference is 10.9 cm in the 12th course [7]. These differences are evened to 1cm in the following stone courses.
Quarrying stones for the pyramid
The outer casing stones of the pyramid with arguments against an inner core and mantle

 

In tabular form

The levels of the stone courses of Khufu's Pyramid on the northeast corner (according to Goyon [1] und Petrie [2]):
Up to 60cm
/ 60-69cm / 70-79cm / 80-89cm / 90-99cm / over 100cm / average height ca. 0.69m

Print version table (Word-Document)

Height
[1]

No

Layer
[2]

Layer [1]

Rope-roll stations
(F. Löhner)

Granite

Explanatory notes

1
148.8cm
150 cm
    1. section [1] 19.015m high. The first layer has a length of 230.36m (440 royal cubits)
2
124.7cm
124 cm
     
3
122.4cm
120 cm
     
4
111.8cm
102 cm
    Branching of the corridor to the Grand Gallery [2]
5
102.1cm
99 cm
     
6
96.5cm
90 cm
     
7
99.6cm
100 cm
    Approx. height of rock outcropping (7.85m) [3]
8
96cm
97 cm
    Mamuns Eingang
9
92.5cm
93 cm
     
10m
10
91.4cm
91.5cm
     
11
85.6cm
86.5cm
     
12
75.4cm
76 cm
     
13
75.7cm
76 cm
     
14
74.7cm
75 cm
     
15
74.4cm
75 cm
    15m height = 30% of the entire pyramid built [5]
16
73.4cm
73.5cm
    Entrance today
17
71.1cm
75 cm
     
18
79cm
83 cm
17m-rope-roll station
   
19
96.8cm
95 cm
  Entrance, where the corridor probably emerged [2] on 16.865m
20
59.7cm
62 cm
     
19.121m
21
60.5cm
58 cm
     
22
87.6cm
87 cm
    2. section [1] 9.54m high
20m
23
83.8cm
89 cm
    Perhaps rock outcropping reached this height [3]
24
82.3cm
83 cm
    Floor of the Queen's chamber [2]
25
82cm
80 cm
 
I
Beginning of the Grand Gallery [2]
26
78.2cm
74 cm
 
I
 
27
75.4cm
78 cm
 
I
 
28
74.2cm
69 cm
 
I
Entrance [2] - upper gable stone
29
71.4cm
65 cm
 
I
 
30
71.6cm
64 cm
 
I
 
31
70.6cm
73 cm
 
I
 
32
66.8cm
72 cm
 
I
Gable of the Queen's chamber [2]
33
66.8cm
54 cm
 
I
 
28.895m
34
66.5cm
66 cm
 
I
 
30m
35
126.5cm
127 cm
30m-rope-roll station
(layer is 60cm higher than the one before)
I
3. section [1] 8.25m high / Ceiling of the Grand Gallery, lowest section
36
104.4cm
100 cm
I
30m height = 52% of the entire pyramid built [5]
37
97cm
97 cm
I
 
38
92.2cm
95 cm
I
 
39
86.1cm
84 cm
 
I
 
40
81cm
84 cm
 
I
 
41
78.5cm
83 cm
 
I
 
42
71.1cm
72 cm
 
I
 
37.109m
43
84.6cm
83 cm
 
I
 
44
104.4cm
106 cm
37m-rope-roll station
(layer is 20cm higher than the one before)
I
4. section [1] 11.315m high
45
96.3cm
97 cm
I
 
46
69.3cm
73 cm
 
I
 
40m
47
90.4cm
90 cm
 
I
 
48
90.2cm
90.5cm
 
I
 
49
79.2cm
86 cm
 
I
 
50
71.1cm
70 cm
 
I
 
43.795m
51
67.6cm
72.5 cm
 
I
Floor of the King's chamber on 43.03m [2]
52
66.8cm
61 cm
 
I
 
53
65cm
68 cm
 
I
 
54
65.3cm
63 cm
 
I
 
55
64.3cm
69 cm
 
I
 
56
63cm
55 cm
 
I
 
57
57.2cm
62 cm
 
I
 
48.336m
58
72.6cm
68.5cm
 
I
Ceiling of the King's chamber (48.36m) [2]
59
72.9cm
75 cm
 
I
5. section [1] 5.355m high
60
71.4cm
70 cm
 
I
 
50m
61
66.5cm
67.5cm
 
I
50m height = 82% of the entire pyramid built [5]
62
62cm
63.5cm
 
I
Upper tip of the Grand Gallery [2]
63
66cm
65.5cm
 
I
 
64
65cm
67.5cm
 
I
 
65
66.5cm
66 cm
 
I
 
53.642m
66
60.2cm
60.5cm
 
I
 
67
88.9cm
86 cm
54m-rope-roll station
(layer is 29cm higher than the one before)
I
6. section [1] 5.16m high
68
77.7cm
83.5cm
I
 
69
82.3cm
78 cm
 
70
70.6cm
64 cm
 
I
 
71
73.2cm
71 cm
 
I
 
72
65.5cm
67.5cm
 
I
 
58.867m
73
64.3cm
66 cm
 
I
 
74
77.2cm
80 cm
 
I
7. section [1] 4.015m high
60m
75
73.7cm
76 cm
 
I
 
76
59.9cm
62 cm
 
I
 
77
64.8cm
64 cm
 
I
 
78
60.2cm
60 cm
 
I
 
62.812m
79
58.7cm
59.5cm
 
 
80
61.2cm
62.5cm
 
I
8. section [1] 6.67m high
81
58.9cm
60 cm
 
I
 
82
59.2cm
60 cm
 
I
Upper relieving chamber, visible gable [2]
83
57.4cm
60 cm
 
I
 
84
70.6cm
67 cm
 
I
 
66.467m
85
58.2cm
57.5cm
 
I
Upper relieving chamber, approx. height of gable
86
66.8cm
67 cm
 
I
9. section [1] 2.52m high
87
55.6cm
66 cm
 
I
 
88
58.7cm
58 cm
 
I
 
68.854m
89
57.7cm
61 cm
 
I
 
90
97.8cm
97 cm
69m-rope-roll station
(layer is 40cm higher than the one before)
I
10. section [1] 6.01m high
70m
91
87.1cm
90.5cm
I
 
92
84.1cm
83.5cm
I
 
93
74.7cm
77.5cm
 
I
Approx. height of gable , if there the gabled roof has 3 layers
94
66.3cm
68 cm
     
95
65cm
63 cm
     
96
58.4cm
60.5cm
     
74.849m
97
66cm
61 cm
     
98
95.3cm
100 cm
75m-rope-roll station
(layer is 29cm higher than the one before)
  11. section [1] 14.115m high
99
97.3cm
99.5cm
   
100
90.4cm
90.5cm
   
101
85.1cm
85 cm
   
102
69.6cm
74 cm
    Exit northern air shaft [2]
103
74.4cm
76 cm
    Exit southern air shaft [2]
80m
104
66.8cm
68 cm
     
105
67.1cm
67.5cm
     
106
63.5cm
64 cm
     
107
63cm
63.5cm
     
108
74.4cm
75.5cm
     
109
67.6cm
68 cm
     
110
58.9cm
59 cm
     
111
58.2cm
60.5cm
     
112
61.2cm
59.5cm
     
113
58.9cm
60 cm
     
114
58.4cm
58 cm
     
115
56.1cm
57.5cm
     
116
68.8cm
67.5cm
     
88.768m
117
56.9cm
58 cm
     
118
90.4cm
90.5cm
89m-rope-roll station
(layer is 46cm higher than the one before)
  12. section [1] 7.56m high
90m
119
80.8cm
83 cm
   
120
75.7cm
75 cm
     
121
73.9cm
74.5cm
     
122
66cm
67 cm
     
123
67.1cm
66 cm
     
124
61.7cm
63 cm
     
125
63cm
58 cm
     
126
58.4cm
60.5cm
     
127
57.4cm
59.5cm
     
96.291m
128
57.9cm
59 cm
     
129
56.1cm
70 cm
    13. section [1] 4.81m high
130
67.6cm
65 cm
     
131
63.2cm
60.5cm
     
132
58.9cm
56.5cm
     
133
54.6cm
55.5cm
     
134
57.9cm
54.5cm
     
100m
135
53.8cm
61 cm
    100m height = 97% of the entire pyramid built [5]
101.016m
136
60.2cm
58 cm
     
137
56.6cm
68 cm
    14. section [1] 3.585m high
138
65.3cm
65 cm
     
139
64.8cm
57 cm
     
140
55.1cm
56 cm
     
141
53.3cm
56 cm
     
104.554m
142
58.7cm
56.5cm
     
143
53.1cm
74 cm
    15. section [1] 3.735m high
144
79cm
68.5cm
105m-rope-roll station
(layer is 26cm higher than the one before)
   
145
61.5cm
60 cm
   
146
60.7cm
59 cm
     
147
56.1cm
56 cm
     
108.214m
148
55.6cm
56 cm
     
149
55.1cm
70 cm
    16. section [1] 6.885m high
150
67.6cm
63.5cm
     
110m
151
62cm
59.5cm
     
152
58.4cm
59 cm
     
153
56.4cm
55 cm
     
154
55.4cm
55 cm
     
155
52.1cm
54 cm
     
156
54.1cm
54.5cm
     
157
53.8cm
54.5cm
     
158
54.9cm
54.5cm
     
159
52.3cm
54.5cm
     
114.981m
160
54.6cm
54.5cm
     
161
52.6cm
60 cm
    17. section [1] 9.81m high
162
60.5cm
59 cm
     
163
56.1cm
64.5cm
     
164
65.5cm
56 cm
     
165
54.4cm
54 cm
     
166
65.5cm
54 cm
     
167
52.3cm
54.5cm
     
168
50.8cm
52.5cm
     
169
52.1cm
53.5cm
     
120m
170
52.8cm
54 cm
     
171
50cm
53 cm
     
172
53.8cm
52 cm
     
173
52.8cm
49.5cm
     
174
50cm
53 cm
     
175
51.6cm
53 cm
     
176
52.1cm
52.5cm
     
177
51.6cm
53 cm
     
124.62m
178
51.1cm
53 cm
     
179
52.3cm
67.5cm
    18. section [1] 9.415m high
180
67.3cm
63.5cm
125m-rope-roll station
(layer is 15cm higher than the one before)
   
181
62.7cm
60 cm
   
182
59.2cm
58 cm
     
183
57.2cm
56 cm
     
184
56.4cm
54.5cm
     
185
52.6cm
53 cm
     
186
53.6cm
52 cm
     
187
50cm
52.5cm
     
130m
188
53.1cm
52 cm
     
189
52.1cm
52.5cm
     
190
51.8cm
54 cm
     
191
53.8cm
51.5cm
     
192
51.1cm
52 cm
     
193
52.3cm
52 cm
     
194
52.6cm
52 cm
     
133.904m
195
50.3cm
58.5cm
     
196
60.7cm
60.5cm
    19. section [1] 2.86m high
197
59.7cm
56.5cm
     
198
56.1cm
55 cm
     
199
54.9cm
57.5cm
     
136.797m
200
57.9cm
56.5cm
    Platform

137.361m

138.75m

201

56.4cm

112 cm

   

Nowadays the height of Khufu's pyramid is 138.75m [8]. Remains of the upper stone layers and individual stones lie here, the largest is 1.12m high [1]. It is not known from which stone course it originates. There are also stones here, that are 48.5cm high [1].

202
57.2cm
      Today there are no further stone layers, but in 1880 Petrie [2] measured 2 more layers and calculated a total height of 138.476m (5451.8 inches).
203
54.4cm
     
204
80-100cm
       
205
80-100cm
       
206
80-100cm
       
ca. 140m
207
80-100cm
       
208
80-100cm
       
209
80-100cm
 
Small rope-roll station for pyramidion built slightly set off
   
146.59m
210
108-157cm [4]
      20. section [1] 8.36m high - tip of Khufu's pyramid with pyramidion. If exactly 210 stone layers or more existed is not confirmed. 146.59m = 280 royal cubits

 

Additional information

The last 10 stone layers:
Petrie found only remains of the last stone layers which were between 54.4 and 57.2cm high. On the platform which today consists the top of the pyramid lie stones that are between 48.5cm and 112cm thick. To give as much stability as possible to the apex (tip) of the pyramid with its pyramidion it is assumed that the last 2 or 3 stone layers were specially thick.
Transporting the pyramidion to the top of the pyramid

Oberste vorhandene Steinschichten Cheops-Pyramide

Stone layers on the top of the pyramid of Khufu - from an Italian aerial photography [3] - Photo - Video

 

Number of stones per stone layer:
Oskar M. Riedl [6] calculated the number of stones per stone layer if you take an average stone of 127 x 127 x 69cm (median height of 0.69m and median weight). He calculated in the fist layer 32'000 stones (not including that there are less stones because of the rock outcropping), with 25'000 stone blocks in the 26th course, 20'000 stone blocks in the 46th course, 15'000 stone blocks in the 68th course, 10'000 stone blocks in the 95th course, 5'000 stone blocks in the 128th course, 1'000 stone blocks in the 174th course and 500 stone blocks in the 184th course.

Stone bond patterns:
W. Petrie [6] thought, that the stones lying in the very middle and at the extreme corner of each course of blocks of the pyramid were layed down specially carefully and then those stones would provide a guide to ensure the geometrical accuracy of the four right angled corners and the outer stones between. Specially large and long stone blocks, so called headers were layed in the middle, so they were well interlocked with the other stones. Because these stones are missing nowadays, removed for buildings in Cairo, there is a slight indentation and the pyramid sides seem to be slightly concave.
The outer casing stones of the pyramid

Stone courses of the Pyramid of Khafre:
It would be interesting to compare the structure of the pyramid of Khafre with the structure of Khufu's pyramid. But unfortunately there is no information available about the number or height of the stone layers of the pyramid of Khafre. A look at the pyramid (photo 1 / photo 2 / photo 3) shows some larger stone layers near the top just underneath the casing. The pyramid of Khafre has a more simple inner structure where the chambers lie on the bedrock, so thicker stone layers would only be needed for the smaller rope roll stations for the regular stone blocks.
It is interesting, that the Bent Pyramid also shows an irregular pattern of thicker stone courses [8].
Transport up the pyramid flank with Löhner's rope roll

 

Sources

[1] G. Goyon Les ranges d'assises de la Grande Pyramide / Die Cheops-Pyramide (Anhang II)
[2] W. Petrie The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh (Levels of the Courses of the Great Pyramid)
[3] V. Maragioglio und C. Rinaldi Architettura delle Piramidi Menfite. Le grande piramide di Cheope
[4] Höhe des Pyramidions von 2 Ellen = 1.08m / 3 Ellen = 1.57m
Wie wurde das Pyramidion bis zur Pyramidenspitze transportiert?
[5] R. Stadelmann Die grossen Pyramiden von Giza
[6] Oskar M. Riedl Die Maschinen des Herodots
[7] Corrected Great Pyramid Course Elevations (nach Angaben von W. Petrie) - Webseite
[8] D. Arnold Building in Egypt

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Credits:

Copyright 2006:

Franz Löhner www.cheops-pyramide.ch
 

Concept and Design, English Texts:

Teresa (Zubi) Zuberbühler www.starfish.ch