Giza pyramid complex - Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
Gizeh, Egypt
22.10.2023
The Pyramids of Giza - A Wonder of the Ancient World
The Pyramids of Giza, located in Giza, Egypt, are one of the most famous and awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These ancient structures, built more than 4,500 years ago, continue to fascinate and amaze people from all over the world.
The Pyramids of Giza consist of three main pyramids - the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. These impressive structures were built as tombs for the pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. They are the only remaining structures of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Pyramid of Cheops, is the largest and oldest pyramid in Giza. It is estimated that it took around 20 years and tens of thousands of workers to complete its construction. The Pyramid of Khafre, built by Khufu's son, is slightly smaller in size but is known for its unique limestone casing. The smallest of the three, the Pyramid of Menkaure, was built by Khafre's son and is notable for being the only pyramid to have retained some of its original casing stones.
The construction of the Pyramids of Giza is a testament to the advanced knowledge and skills of the ancient Egyptians. These impressive structures, built without the use of modern technology, continue to baffle scientists and historians to this day. Theories about the construction techniques and purposes of the pyramids abound, adding to their mystique and allure.
Visitors to the Pyramids of Giza can not only marvel at the impressive structures, but also explore the surrounding complex which includes the Great Sphinx and various smaller pyramids and tombs. The site also offers a stunning view of the nearby city of Cairo and the Nile River.
With its rich history and enduring legacy, the Pyramids of Giza are truly a wonder of the ancient world and a must-visit destination for anyone interested in ancient civilizations.
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The capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas, temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the site was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Giza pyramid complex (also called the Giza necropolis) in Egypt is home to the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx. All were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, between c. 2600 – c. 2500 BC. The site also includes several temples, cemeteries, and the remains of a workers' village.
The site is at the edge of the Western Desert, approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, and about 13 km (8.1 mi) southwest of the city centre of Cairo. It forms the northernmost part of the 16,000 ha (160 km2; 62 sq mi) Pyramid Fields of the Memphis and its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1979. The pyramid fields include the Abusir, Saqqara, and Dahshur pyramid complexes, which were all built in the vicinity of Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis. Further Old Kingdom pyramid fields were located at the sites Abu Rawash, Zawyet El Aryan, and Meidum.
The Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre are the largest pyramids built in ancient Egypt, and they have historically been common as emblems of Ancient Egypt in the Western imagination. They were popularised in Hellenistic times, when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is by far the oldest of the Ancient Wonders and the only one still in existence.
The Memphite Necropolis (or Pyramid Fields) is a series of ancient Egyptian funerary complexes occupying a 30-kilometer (19 mi) stretch on the Western Desert plateau in the vicinity of the ancient capital of Memphis, Lower Egypt, today in Giza, Egypt. It includes the pyramid complexes of Giza, Abusir, Saqqara and Dahshur, and is listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Memphis and its Necropolis. Most of the pyramids of the Old Kingdom were built here, along with many mastabas and other tombs.
