The Second Pyramid (Pyramid of Khafre)
It is said that, at the time of completion, the group of pyramids in Giza, being covered with smooth surface stones, appeared as if they were made of one plank, but most of the surface have come off due to earthquakes and other conditions that have occurred in the past. Among the three, the Second Pyramid has been damaged least severely, and is bearing its original state better than other two. There still are some surface stones remaining on the top and bottom parts.

The Second Pyramid is positioned in the middle among the three lining side by side, and 143.5m high and 215m wide at the base that is 2.5m higher and 15m narrower than the Great Pyramid. Thus it is built slightly smaller than the First Pyramid, but as the foundation part, which has been made by scraping a rocky hill, is larger than that of the Great Pyramid, it is the tallest among the three, making it looks the largest as well. Though it is about the same size as the First Pyramid, its interior structure is quite simple having one space at the base part in the middle with only one passageway going into that space. Yet, strangely enough, the passageway has two openings that meet each other at one point to make the passageway leading into the space in the middle. Since the information about this pyramid discovered so far is very little for such a large construction, it has been considered that there must be some undiscovered space. It is said that an investigation was carried out in the past to discover such an undiscovered part by measuring cosmic rays existing in the pyramid, but the results of measurements that have been attempted several times were inconsistent, and consequently, the interior structure remained undiscovered. There is a theory saying that this pyramid has something to do with the King Khafre. The King Khafre is a pharaoh two reigns after the King Khufu who is believed to be related with the First Pyramid. The ratio of height and base of this pyramid is 4:3.

The Third Pyramid (Pyramid of Menkure)
It is positioned at the southernmost among the three, and 66.5m high and approximately 102m wide at the base, which is only half the size of other two. A historian of Greek Period, Herodotus, has written that it is because of the merciful king who did not like to work his people hard that this pyramid is only half the size of other two, but the real reason is still unknown. Being placed together with such huge pyramids of the First and the Second Pyramids, it looks small, but it actually is a colossal construction itself. The interior structure is far more complicated than that of the Second Pyramid, having four spaces that are placed in two layers and connected with each other with a passageway, but it is quite difficult to describe in words. There are three satellite pyramids remaining on the south of this pyramid. These satellite pyramids have been considered as tombs of pharaoh's families, but there also is an opinion arguing that their entrances are too small for tombs. The ratio of height and base of this pyramid is 5:4.

Translated by Maiko Noda