The image below is what the Pyramid of Khafre looked like right after it was completed in 2560 BCE. The original was encased in white limestone, and the peak was made of solid gold.
For thousands of years, the pyramid stood nearly unchanged. However, in 1303, a powerful earthquake struck the area, dislodging much of the limestone. This earthquake also triggered tsunamis that caused severe damage and loss of life in Crete and Alexandria.
The local inhabitants used their rudimentary tools to take apart the limestones, which were now easier to pull out due to the damage they had sustained from the earthquake.
The limestones that were stripped from the pyramid were used to build mosques and fortifications on the order of a local Sultan. The gold cap at the peak of the pyramid was also taken away, never to be seen again.
With the absence of its white limestone shell, the pyramid was no longer able to reflect the sun, making it visible from miles away.