The original appearance of the Pyramid of Cheops

 The pyramids of El-Giza did not once have the present appearance. In fact, they were covered with glossy and very white blocks of perfectly shaped limestone, which made their faces smooth, white and bright in the light of the Sun. Not surprisingly, the ancient Egyptians called the Great Pyramid of Cheops "Ikhet", which means "glorious light". The realization of such coverings required a very complex work, because the shaped blocks had to match perfectly with each other and with those of the underlying structure.

Of the cladding that covered the pyramids of El-Giza only remains that of the upper part of the pyramid of Khafre; the rest has partly collapsed following a devastating earthquake that struck the area of Cairo in 1301 BC, It was partly detached and reused for other buildings, including the citadel and Cairo Mosque.

Computerized reconstruction of the original appearance of the Pyramid of Cheops.

The pyramid of Cheops, like perhaps the other two, had on top the pyramidion, now disappeared, that is a summit in other material, that the tradition wants was of gold, or of stone covered of gold, so much to be seen from far away, thanks to the reflection of the sunlight.