When you take the name of the Egypt, the first thing that you can relate with both literally and visually are the famous Giza Pyramids. The size of the pyramids is what impresses tourists every year and according to the Egyptian Tourist Institute, millions of people come to watch these structures constructed by the Kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The structures are so huge that despite their fame they only represent a particular period of the Ancient Egyptian history.
History:
The three great Giza Pyramids along with the secondary pyramids standing next to them belong to the fourth dynasty of the Ancient Egypt Old Kingdom. The Old Kingdom has gained significance during the 2686-2181 BC. It is the start of the major eras of is one of the three prominent eras Ancient Egypt’s history. According to the Archaeologists, the 4th dynasty period starting from 2613-2493 BC is also known as the ‘Golden Age’ because of the famous constructions in terms of quality and size at Giza during the time.
Construction:
However, later many subsequent pyramids were developed, but none of them came close to these great period rivaling the quality or the size. The construction is made of huge limestone blocks which have stood tall on test of the time making them more beneficial than all the other 100 pyramids that were built both before and after them. When you reach Giza, the Giza Pyramids dominate the view but there are many other burials, tombs of nobles including the Tomb of Tutankhamun, the Valley Temple which is the processional entrance.
Things to Do:
Additionally, you can go to the Solar Boat Museum to understand how the transportation was through water in the past. THe bodies of the pharaohs were shifted to Giza through boats, thousands of years back. Lastly, there is this giant statue of Sphinx which is like a logo for Egypt. The Great Sphinx Statue was made before 5000 years and ever since has been guarding the Giza Pyramids.
Giza Pyramids Complex Range:
The Pyramids of Giza has the Great Pyramid also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops (2560-2540 BC), The Pyramid of Khafre or the Pyramid of Chephren, and the Pyramid of Menkaure or the Pyramid of Mykerinos. The Great Sphinx statue lies on the east of the pyramid complex and according to the Egyptologists, the Sphinx is the head of the King Khafre. There are many other queen pyramids, valley pyramids and satellite edifices.
- Khufu Pyramid: It consists of the famous Valley Temple, the village of Nazlet-el-Samman and many nummulitic walls. The second Temple is the Mortuary Temple which was connected to the inside of the pyramid. The king’s pyramid is made of three smaller queen pyramids and 5 boat pits.
- Khafre Pyramid: This range consists of the king’s pyramid, the Great Sphinx, a causeway and also a valley temple with many statues of Khafre. This period appears larger than Khufu because of the elevation but if you observe it in steeper angle, it is smaller both in volume and height.
- Menkaure Pyramid: Being the third pyramid and constructed in 5th dynasty, it has three subsidiary pyramids and four monuments with limestone casing.
The other two major monuments are the Great Sphinx, A chapel located adjacent to it, the Huron-Haremakhet. One more famous construction is the Tomb of Khentkaus buried in Giza near the valley temple of Menkaure.
