The pyramid of Khafre, stripped of its outer casing of fine Tura limestone and red granite, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

During his trip to Egypt, Elisofon visited Jīzah, Ahrāmāt al-, the site of three pyramids from the 4th dynasty (ca. 2613-ca. 2494), built on a rocky plateau near al-Jizah (Giza); one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; built by kings Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) & Menkaure (Mycerinus). [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. "The Khafre's pyramid was founded on a terrace which the ancient builders cut down below the original bedrock surface. Apart from the bottom course of outer casing in granite, the pyramid was cloacked in Turah limestone. Only the upper quarter of the casing remains. Just beneath the lowest surviving course of casing stones, a band of regular stepped core stone is visible. The rest of the surface down to the base consists of very rough, irregular, loose stones." [Lehner M., 1997: The Complete Pyramids. Thames and Hudson]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.