Giza pyramid reopened to tourists after restoration
Agence France-Presse
Cairo, January 2, 2005
The Khephren pyramid, the second largest in Giza, was reopened to tourists after two years of restoration work.
At the same time, the pyramid of Mykerinos, the smallest of three on the Giza plateau, was closed for renovation as part of the Eygptian authorities' rotation of restoration work.
Unlike Egypt's other pyramids, the Khephren pyramid, which was reopened on Saturday, was constructed with stones of varying sizes, making it more susceptible to damage as the smaller stones wear away. However, it is the only pyramid still to have part of its limestone coating.
Khephren was a pharaoh, who ruled Egypt from 2620 to 2565 BC, and his tomb was discovered by an Italian, working on irrigation projects in 1818.
The pyramid is 136 metres high, one metre less than the Cheops pyramid, Giza's largest.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.