Why is the Great Pyramid So Sloppy?

Khufu's Great Pyramid at Giza is an imposing and majestic site from afar. It's even visible from space. But view it up close and you'll notice blocks askew and some massive chunks gouged out altogether. It's not the mere passing of time, a staggering 4,550 years since its completion, that ravaged the monument. Beginning even with the age of the pharaohs, Khufu's revered tomb has been pillaged by locals for its valuable stone. While most of the pyramid was built using a cost-effective, low-grade limestone, a finer white version encased the rough stuff inside and gave it a polished, majestic look. It's this outer shell that is now completely gone from the ancient wonder, leaving the pyramid with a ramshackle exterior unbefitting of its royal purpose. The gods can't be happy.

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