The Pyramids of Giza
The traffic in Cairo makes it difficult to get anywhere, but it only took about half an hour to get the pyramids as we left very early. The sun hadn't been up long when we arrived and it was cold!
It was hard to take in the fact that we were really there. It has been my dream my whole life to come to Egypt and it didn't seem real. The pyramids are colossal and awe inspiring. The massive blocks of stone are so finely crafted that they join together like pieces of a jigsaw, without needing any cement to keep them intact. They are so well built that they are still standing 4500 years later.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) to show the might and power of Egypt. About 2.3 million blocks of stone were cut, transported, and assembled to create the massive 5.75-million-ton structure. It is a masterpiece of technical skill and engineering. It's four corners are precisely aligned with the four compass points.
His son, Khafre (Chephren) built the second great pyramid. As respect for his father it is not quite as big. But when you look at the pyramids from the viewing platform, his pyramid appears to be the largest. The third great pyramid was built by his son, Menkaure (Mykerinus) at a time when Egypt's fortunes were not flourishing as much, so his pyramid is smaller.
The pyramids were built by paid builders, with support teams of physicians, priests, cooks, etc, not by slaves. Each pyramid was built during the rule of the pharaoh and each took about 20 years to build. The pyramid had to be completed by the time of his death as they were built as monumental tombs to house the pharaoh's mummified remains and all the treasure and food he would need on his journey to the afterlife.
Our guide was amazing, he knew heaps of facts which mostly entered and left my head, probably due to the fact that we were all chilled by the cold morning wind that was blowing.
It was hard to take in the fact that we were really there. It has been my dream my whole life to come to Egypt and it didn't seem real. The pyramids are colossal and awe inspiring. The massive blocks of stone are so finely crafted that they join together like pieces of a jigsaw, without needing any cement to keep them intact. They are so well built that they are still standing 4500 years later.
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) to show the might and power of Egypt. About 2.3 million blocks of stone were cut, transported, and assembled to create the massive 5.75-million-ton structure. It is a masterpiece of technical skill and engineering. It's four corners are precisely aligned with the four compass points.
His son, Khafre (Chephren) built the second great pyramid. As respect for his father it is not quite as big. But when you look at the pyramids from the viewing platform, his pyramid appears to be the largest. The third great pyramid was built by his son, Menkaure (Mykerinus) at a time when Egypt's fortunes were not flourishing as much, so his pyramid is smaller.
The pyramids were built by paid builders, with support teams of physicians, priests, cooks, etc, not by slaves. Each pyramid was built during the rule of the pharaoh and each took about 20 years to build. The pyramid had to be completed by the time of his death as they were built as monumental tombs to house the pharaoh's mummified remains and all the treasure and food he would need on his journey to the afterlife.
Our guide was amazing, he knew heaps of facts which mostly entered and left my head, probably due to the fact that we were all chilled by the cold morning wind that was blowing.
We climbed up some of the huge stones. I was actually standing on a Pyramid in Egypt. It was a dream come true at last.
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The viewing platform for the pyramids is great for photo opportunities including yoga and camel rides. If you are a Chinese tourist you can capture yourself on film jumping in front of the pyramids.
