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Giza Pyramids Complex

Information About Giza Pyramids | Ancient Egypt | Egypt Tours Portal

The Giza Pyramids Complex

The Giza Pyramids Complex is a symbol that sheds some light on the ultimate level of human innovation and unbreakable will. This article's main purpose is to offer everyone all the information and facts about the great Giza pyramids complex. This article was written by a group of very knowledgeable, professional, and skilled individuals of tour operators, tour guides, and travel consultants who have decades of experience. There is no monument on earth that can reflect the true definition of the word glory than the Majestic Giza Pyramids Complex. The ancient Pharaohs preserved the pyramids as a magical ladder leading to the heavens to take their rightful place next to the gods.

The complex contains the last remaining monument of the seven wonders of the ancient world the great pyramid of Giza next to two other pyramids each impressive in their unique manner and representing the level of political and economic stability plus unimaginable knowledge and skill in the art of construction and architecture. The complex became a true symbol of the ancient Egyptian civilization showcasing all the elements that made this land the reason behind the innovation in every aspect of mankind. The Giza necropolis is known to be a heavenly royal burial ground for the kings of ancient Egypt. The Sphinx holds the three great pyramid complexes of Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx, the noble worker's village which holds a number of small industrial complexes, and several cemeteries. Also within the complex smaller “queen pyramids”, the village pyramids, and many causeways.

History

The complex is one of the last remaining prehistoric monuments on the planet which was built in Egypt's old kingdom (2686 – 2181 BC) during the 4th dynasty (2613 – 2493 BC) over 4000 years and is still able to capture the hearts and souls who ever see it. It contains three massive pyramids of Khufu, Khafra, and Menkaure who desired to stand the test of time and immortalize their names and heritage through the ages. Each pharaoh built a pyramid to be his final resting place and help his soul ascend to the heavens. Next to the pyramids in the valley temple where the kings and Queens were mummified and prepared so they can be able to cross to the other side.

Location

The complex is located in the western desert of 9 km (5 mi) west of the Nile River, 13 km (8 mi) southwest of Cairo city Centre not far away from the legendary city of Memphis.

The Purpose of The Giza Pyramids Complex

The main purpose of constructing the Giza pyramids complex is to preserve and protect the mummies of the ancient Pharaohs so their spirit known as "Ka" can remain with the pharaoh's corpse so later on it could return to the body once again and fully transform and ascend to the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians including the kings believed that death was part of a journey to the other world known as the fields of reeds. The pyramid acted as a safeguard for the body and spirit of the Pharaoh in order to be the new king of the dead. The Pyramids of Giza were stored with all the items needed in the afterlife.

Layout

The Giza Pyramids Complex necropolis area is16,203.36 ha (62.5615 sq mi) which contains the three great pyramids of Giza which each one having one smaller complex filled with their wives and children. The complex is famous for housing the Great the sole heavenly guardian of Egypt the Great Sphinx on the east. Many scholars believe that the arrangement and layout of the Pyramids can be traced back to the Orion constellation correlation theory. Along with the pyramids, there are a number of smaller satellite edifices known as the queen's pyramids, valley pyramids, and causeways. All the three pyramids were the subject of theft and tomb robbers which explain the damaged interior and exterior and missing treasures and mummies. The Giza Pyramids is surrounded by a large stone wall that housed the pyramid workers which became known as the worker's village which dates across the middle 4th dynasty (2520 – 2472 BC).

Construction 

How the pyramids were built is a very important and complex question as most answers will be based on the concept which states that the pyramids were built by transporting huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into the area that holds the Giza complex. Many brilliant architects came up with very advanced techniques to survey the site and laying down the first level of stones across the right spot and constructing the pyramids in horizontal levels, each 2.5-ton limestone block on top of the other in a perfectly symmetrical and balanced manner even to the point that all sides of the three of the Giza pyramids were astronomically oriented to the east-west and north-south within a small fraction of a degree as detailed in the Orion constellation correlation theory. And the result was that after more than 4500 years the Giza pyramids complex is still standing its ground and attracts travelers from all over the world.

The Great Pyramid of King Khufu

The last remaining wonder of the ancient world is the Great Pyramid, built for King Khufu in the old kingdom between 2580 BC and 2560 BC which took 20 years. It is also known by the Greek name Cheops. It became the tallest structure in the world at the height of 147 m (481 ft.) for more than 3,800 years until the construction of the Lincoln Cathedral in 1311. It was built using 2.3 million blocks of limestone each block weight 2.5 tons which climbs to 57.5 million tons and a free working force of 100,000 who worked in shifts. Its sides rise at an angle of 51°52′ which are accurately oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass.  

It was designed by King Khufu’s vizier Hemiunu who created a true masterpiece of miraculous architecture using all the resources the golden age of the old kingdom had to offer. The most captivating aspect of the pyramid is the interior design which consists of three elements, the King's chamber made entirely from granite, the Queen's chamber, and the Grand gallery. The Solar boat of king Khfuf was transported from the complex to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Pyramid of King Khafra

The second-largest pyramid in Egypt was built by King Khafra (2558-2532 BC) during the 4th dynasty in 2540 BC. Khafre is the son of Khufu so he desired to create a structure similar to his father’s. The pyramid is known by the Greek name Chephren. It reaches the height of 136.4 (448 ft.) on a base of 215.5 m (706 ft.), and is also made out of limestone, also has an angle of 51°50’24”. It is known that Khafre's pyramid appears to be larger than Khufu's pyramids due to the elevated location and the steeper angle of the inclination. The summit of the pyramid is also a bit unique as it is able to retain a majestic display of casing stones. In front of the pyramid is the sphinx statue in the west which resembles a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of King Khafre measuring 73 m (240 ft) long from paw to tail, 19 m (62 ft) wide and 20 m (66 ft) high from the base to the top of the head.

Pyramids of King Menkaure

The smallest of the three pyramids was built by king Menkaure the sixth ruler of the 4th dynasty in 2510 BC to be his tomb-like his two predecessors. It is constructed using limestone on the exterior and red granite on the interior and stands at the height of 61 m (204 ft.) on a base of 108.5 m and has the angel of the incline is 51°20′25″. The interior of the pyramid is made of red granite.

The Sphinx

The Great Sphinx is a living miracle and an important historical-cultural treasures that date back to the old kingdom in the 4th dynasty (2558 – 2532 BC) as it was built in the reign of Pharaoh Khafre. It was known as Hor-em-Akhet which means Horus of the horizon.  It is famous for being the oldest and biggest monolith statue on earth as it was carved from an enormous limestone rock into a statue into the shape of a mythical creature known as the sphinx that has the body of a lion and the head of a man, probably king Khafre himself to showcase his wisdom and power and stands at the Length of 73 meters (240 ft), the Width of 19 meters (62 ft), and the height of 20 meters (66 ft). A great deal of speculations and mysteries has surrounded the many aspects of the sphinx-like how old is the Sphinx really, what is the original design, and what is the true purpose of the sphinx.

The Worker's village

The Worker's village is a very important location dating to the middle 4th Dynasty (2520–2472 BC) that acted as the home for more than 10,000 workers of quarry workers, metalworkers, architects, carpenters haulers, and masons who for more than 30 years working on constructing the great pyramids of Giza. It is located west of the city of Giza, at a distance of 500m. They worked on three months shifts and this place was their headquarters. It holds countless tombs of most of the workers who constructed the pyramids which stand as evidence that the workers were free paid workers, civil servants, and well-fed and treated.

The village can be found in the southeast of the Khafre and Menkaure complexes and is non to hold communal sleeping quarters, breweries, bakeries, and kitchens with remains of bread, beef, and fish that was the main part of their diet, a hospital, and a cemetery. The worker's village and the Giza pyramids hold a number of tomb art which holds depictions of the life in ancient Egypt during this time period such as farmers working on their fields, tending livestock, plus fishing and fowling, and scenes of carpentry, metalwork, religious rituals, and burial practices.

Tours

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