Medieval travelers document gradual pyramid summit reduction. Abdal Atif Al Baghdadi in 1200 AD measured summit at 10 Turkish cubits (5.78m) with casing stones intact 1395 French witness documented masons removing casing stones using tackle Earthquake in early 14th century damaged Cairo, prompting use of pyramid as quarry
Medieval travelers show gradual summit shrinkage: 5.78m in 1200 AD down to 8 steps by 1540. By 1699, only 6 oversized blocks remained at the top 🏛️📜
Key Facts
- Abdal Atif Al Baghdadi in 1200 AD measured summit at 10 Turkish cubits (5.78m) with casing stones intact
- 1395 French witness documented masons removing casing stones using tackle
- Earthquake in early 14th century damaged Cairo, prompting use of pyramid as quarry
- Marco Griman around 1540 recorded 8 long steps at the summit
- Paul Lucas in 1699 was earliest account describing top course as about 6 oversized blocks
- By 1693, missing stones were observed and top course described as 12 large stones
- Jac de Vont in 1589 believed summit was one solid 15 ft block
- By 1200 AD, approximately 4 courses of stone had been removed since ancient times
Related site: Great Pyramid of Giza — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Why the Summit of the Great Pyramid is Missing by History for GRANITE