Giza Pyramids & Necropolis - Cairo
Giza Necropolis is an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau in al-Giza part of Cairo. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one which has survived. It is believed that Sneferu 2686 – 2667 BC, was the first to create the pyramid shape in the Egyptian architecture. When visitors come out of a bus or cross the ticket area, one is surrounded by touts who offer all sorts of services including horse, camel and buggy rides.
Pyramid of Khufu (Pyramid of Cheops)
It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. This pyramid was built between 2580-2560 BC and it took 20 years to complete. The original height of this pyramid with its pyramidion (cap) was 146.5 meters but now its present height is 138.8 meters. Each base side of this pyramids was 230.4 meters (755.9 ft) long, the mass of the pyramid is estimated at 5.9 million tonnes.
The construction of the Great Pyramid took 5.5 million stone blocks, 8000 tons of granite and 500,000 tonnes of mortar, which was used to encase the pyramids. Inside the Great Pyramid, there are two chambers, one is called King’s Chamber and second one is the Queen’s Chamber. This pyramid was closed on the day because the Egyptian government only opens two pyramids on any given day. The Queen’s Chamber is exactly half-way between the north and south faces of the pyramid.
Pyramid of Khafre
This pyramid is also known as the Pyramid of Chephren is the second largest pyramids on the site. t belongIs to Khafre, who was son of Khufu.This pyramid is 136.4 meters in height and it sits on higher ground and if seen from the distance it appears to be taller than the Pyramid of Khufu.
This pyramid has a base length of 215.5 m, Khafre’s pyramid retains some of its original limestone casing at the apex. Two entrances lead to the burial chamber, one is located at the base while other is 11.5m above it. The burial chamber is located at the centre of the pyramid.
Pyramid of Menkaure
It is the smallest among the three pyramids of the Giza Plateau. This pyramid had an original height of 65.5 meters but now it stands at 61 m. At the end of the twelfth century, the attempts were made to demolish the pyramids, starting with this one. To the right of the pyramid, a hole points out to the damage sustained by this pyramid.
Solar boat museum can be seen on the left, it displays the reconstructed Khufu solar ship. The Queens’ Pyramids are located next to the Great Pyramid. It originally stood 30.25 meters high, but lost its outer casing and about two-thirds of its height. Stone blocks of this pyrmaid had been used in other buildings as well in the past, such as the Mosque of Sultan al-Nasir, the Cairo Citadel and the Muhammad Ali Pasha Mosque.
When I was walking beside the Queens’ Pyramids, I saw that path was used by the horses and the camels as well and they were moving around with brisk speed. The area between the pyramids and the Great Sphinx was full of dust because lots of horse riders were racing randomly.
A group of students came and all of sudden this side of the pyramid was engulfed by their joy and colours.
