Abdullah's Pyramid Adventure Trivia Quiz

Answer: 820 AD

Abdullah began his scientific survey of the Great Pyramid in 820 AD. Actually, it was the Greek, Strabo, who visited in 24 BC. He claimed there was an entry door that was flush with the wall of the pyramid when lowered. Abdullah's men did find the door - but only after tunneling through about 100 feet of solid rock, finding a passage, and working their way back to it!

Answer: caliph

The caliph is the successor (for the time being) to Mohammad. Unfortunately, Mohammad did not name his successor before his death, and that caused a controversy which still exists in the Islam religion. Sunni Moslems believe the caliph should be elected by the people.

When Mohammad died, his best friend, Abu Bakr, was chosen to be caliph. Shi'ite Moslems believe Mohammad wanted the caliph to be a member of his family. They chose his daughter Fatimah's, husband, Ali, to be their leader. Both Abdullah and his father held the position.

Answer: Baghdad

Abdullah's father, Harun al Rashid, was the seventh caliph of Baghdad. His caliphate is well known, and the stories of "Thousand and One Nights" are said to be fantastical works about his reign and court. His influence was so far-reaching that he even received envoys from Charlemagne and exchanged gifts with him.

Although Abdullah was older than his brother, Amin, he was not his father's heir. Amin's mother was the Queen Zubayda, while Abdullah's mother was a Persian slave girl. After his father's death, Abdullah defeated Amin and became caliph in his own right.

Answer: Khufu

Also called Cheops, Khufu is given credit for building the Great Pyramid. One of the Seven Wonder of the Ancient World, and the only one still mostly intact, the Great Pyramid took approximately twenty years to build. It was completed about 2560 BC. Khafre, the son of Cheops, built a second pyramid nearby, along with the Great Sphinx. Menkaure, the grandson of Cheops, also built a pyramid that shares the same plateau.

Answer: Gizeh (Giza)

The Gizeh (Giza) plateau has been found to be crowded with all kinds of structures. One area includes three pyramids, the Great Sphinx, pyramids of queens, other temples, and the mastabas of nobles, while another area is made up of private tombs for workmen and ordinary citizens.

Answer: nummulite limestone

The nummulite limestone came from a quarry located about 200 meters south of the pyramid. Used for the casing of the pyramid, the white limestone came from a quarry on the eastern side of the Nile. The granite came from Aswan, about 900 kilometers from the plateau.

Answer: vinegar

Abdullah and his men used this method of breaking in for about one hundred feet. You would think they were quite relieved to finally hit a tunnel - but read on!

Answer: 4' x 3.5'

Finally! Abdullah and his men hit what is called the Descending Passage. However, they had to crawl in darkness in very cramped quarters.

Answer: Pit

At its deepest point the Pit measures about 11'6". There is an empty hole in the Pit, as well as rubble and initials on the ceiling that Abdullah believed had been left by Roman tourists.

Answer: Queen's Chamber

In order to make their way from the Pit to the next room, the group had to tunnel around three huge, granite plugs. The fourth plug was made of limestone, which they easily crushed. Almost square, the chamber measured approximately 18' x 18'.

Answer: False

On the eastern wall Abdullah and his men found a cavity that they thought had once held a statue, but the room was completely empty. Even though they hoped the cavity would lead to another passage, they dismissed the notion after tunneling through about a yard of solid granite.

Answer: King's Chamber

In order to reach this room, Abdullah and his men had to climb up a slippery passage, which eventually led to a room with walls of polished red granite. Abdullah noted it was "a right noble apartment."

Answer: Sarcophagus

The sarcophagus was made of dark brown granite that was 6.5' x 2'3". It didn't even have a lid.

Answer: False

This is one of the reasons modern scholars feel that the Great Pyramid was never used as a tomb. Murals are a major feature of a pharaoh's tomb; scenes from the pharaoh's life and the Book of the Dead are always displayed.

Answer: Initials, rubble

Luckily for Abdullah, he was from a wealthy and powerful family. He had another adventure waiting for him at home.