when was the great pyramid of giza discovered
Great Pyramid of Giza
The completed design dimensions , as suggested by Petrie 's survey and subsequent studies , are estimated to have originally been 280 Egyptian Royal cubits high by 440 cubits long at each of the four sides of its base . The ratio of the perimeter to height of 1760 / 280 Egyptian Royal cubits equates to 2 π to an accuracy of better than 0.05 percent ( corresponding to the well - known approximation of π as 22 / 7 ) . Some Egyptologists consider this to have been the result of deliberate design proportion . Verner wrote , `` We can conclude that although the ancient Egyptians could not precisely define the value of π , in practice they used it '' . Petrie , author of Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh concluded : `` but these relations of areas and of circular ratio are so systematic that we should grant that they were in the builder 's design '' . Others have argued that the Ancient Egyptians had no concept of pi and would not have thought to encode it in their monuments . They believe that the observed pyramid slope may be based on a simple seked slope choice alone , with no regard to the overall size and proportions of the finished building . In 2013 , rolls of papyrus called the Diary of Merer were discovered written by some of those who delivered limestone and other construction materials from Tora to Giza .
The completed design dimensions , as suggested by Petrie 's survey and subsequent studies , are estimated to have originally been 280 Egyptian Royal cubits high by 440 cubits long at each of the four sides of its base . The ratio of the perimeter to height of 1760 / 280 Egyptian Royal cubits equates to 2 π to an accuracy of better than 0.05 percent ( corresponding to the well - known approximation of π as 22 / 7 ) . Some Egyptologists consider this to have been the result of deliberate design proportion . Verner wrote , `` We can conclude that although the ancient Egyptians could not precisely define the value of π , in practice they used it '' . Petrie , author of Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh concluded : `` but these relations of areas and of circular ratio are so systematic that we should grant that they were in the builder 's design '' . Others have argued that the Ancient Egyptians had no concept of pi and would not have thought to encode it in their monuments . They believe that the observed pyramid slope may be based on a simple seked slope choice alone , with no regard to the overall size and proportions of the finished building . In 2013 , rolls of papyrus called the Diary of Merer were discovered written by some of those who delivered limestone and other construction materials from Tora to Giza .