The Great pyramid of Giza was built 4,600 years ago. It was not the first. Stone pyramids had been built in Egypt for the previous 190 years. In that time, ancient Egyptians gained experience about successful construction techniques. Undoubtably, written records were kept about what was most effective.

The first monumental stone pyramid was built in 2780 BCE at Sakkara by king Djoser. It was a step pyramid with six terraces and was the first cut-stone burial monument. Two other pyramids were started later and abandoned due to the early death of their kings.

The next three pyramids were completed between 2612-2589 BCE during the reign of Sneferu. The Meidum pyramid, initially a step pyramid built for king Huni, was later modified to a smooth-sided pyramid by Sneferu. It suffered a partial collapse after completion, likely due to an earthquake. This was followed by the development of the Bent pyramid at Dahshur, which has a modified slope, probably influenced by the collapse of the Meidum pyramid during its construction. Finally, the Red pyramid at Dahshur was the first successful, geometrically true, smooth-sided pyramid, with a conservative 43° slope. it is the third-largest pyramid ever built in Egypt.

The Great pyramid of Giza is the largest, and archaeologists have studied it for centuries trying to determine not only how it was built, but to determine its internal structure. Experience gained from Sneferu's three pyramids undoubtably informed the development of the Great pyramid, although it has unique design elements of its own.

One of the unique features of the Great pyramid is the "relieving chamber" above the King's chamber. The ceiling in the King's chamber is composed of flat granite slabs. To reduce weight above the ceiling slabs, which would break otherwise, a series of five voids separated by their own ceilings were stacked above, with a gabled roof at top directing weight to the sides around the ceiling.

Recently it has been discovered that this relieving chamber also reduces vibrations within the pyramid that originate outside. Because it is less dense than the section of pyramid below it, it changes the vibration frequency of its section of pyramid, serving as a damper. We cannot be sure of what the Egyptians knew when they built the relieving chamber. But it does serve to reduce the susceptibility of the pyramid to Egypt's infrequent earthquakes. This may be part of the reason the pyramid is still largely intact after 4,600 years.

The Grand Galley is another feature found in no other pyramid. While its four-sided corbelled ceiling is found in earlier pyramids, its length and size are unique, and suggest it was built for specialized funeral rites. It also apparently caused the King's chamber to be offset from center to accommodate its length. This offset's effect on the relieving chamber as a vibration damper is unclear.

Much comment occurred after a "great void" was discovered in the Great pyramid above the Great Gallery. However, it is possible the great void is just stone rubble, placed there to fill in oddly shaped space above the Great Gallery. Such stones would appear less dense to muon tomography and could be interpreted as a void.