The Awesome Pyramids

The Pyramids of Giza, The sun is just beginning to set.

We have all seen books, photo's, and TV programs about the pyramids, but believe me until you actually stand in front of them you cannot understand their magnificence, they are totally awesome and take your breathe away. To actually be able to touch these ancient monuments is humbling and uplifting at the same time. They may have lost their original smooth surfaces and be crumbling, chipped and broken in places, but stand before them, touch them then close your eyes, and you will see them as they once were. Extraordinary monuments to a great an ancient civilisation.

The Pyramids of Giza are over 4500 years old. They were built as the burial places for the Kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, three Pharaohs during the Old Kingdom (4th Dynasty).

Each pyramids at Giza has a name; "Khufu's Horizon", Khafre is Great", and "Menkaure is Divine." As divine places, all the pyramids are believed to have had names, even the small ones, and there are over 100 pyramids scattered around Egypt.

They were not the first pyramids, but are the most recognized and held in great awe by most people.

Some Egyptologists believe it took 10 years just to build the ramp that leads from the Nile valley floor to Khufu's pyramid (the Great pyramid), and 20 years to construct the pyramid itself. It is estimated that over two million blocks of stone were used to build Khufu's pyramid each weighing approximately 2.5 tons, and the heaviest blocks, that were used as the ceiling of Khufu's burial chamber, weigh an estimated nine tons.

Egyptologists believe that gradually sloping ramps, built out of mud, stone, and wood were used as transportation causeways for moving the large stones to their positions up and around the four sides of the pyramids.

The Sphinx

Khufu's son, Khafre, built not only his pyramid but also the world recognised Sphinx. The Sphinx represents Khafre reborn as the sun god. A sphinx is considered a guardian statue of great power. Carved out of a natural limestone outcrop, the Sphinx is 19.8 metres (65 feet) high and 73.2 metres (240 feet) long.

Menkaure's tomb is the smallest of the 3 large Giza pyramids, and near to Menkaure's tomb are 3 small pyramids (tiny when compared to the 3 large ones) which belong to the queens.

The Giza pyramids are the only remaining example of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

They are located across the River Nile from Cairo on the West Bank. But can be clearly seen rising above apartment blocks on the outskirts of Cairo.

At night there is a sound and light show at the Pyramids which is worthwhile seeing. The Pyramids and spinx look quite ethereal lit up, and booming voices tell the story of the Pyramids and Sphinx.

Part of the history of the Sphinx is told on a Stele called the Dream Stele. Tutmosis a son of Amenhotep II had a dream while he was out on a hunting trip, he stopped to rest under the head of the Sphinx, which was buried up to the neck in sand. He soon fell asleep and had a dream in which the Sphinx told him that if he cleared away the sand and restored it he would become the next Pharaoh. After restoring the Sphinx to its former glory, he placed a carved stone tablet, with the dream carved on the tablet, (now known as the Dream Stele), between the paws of the Sphinx. The restoration of the Sphinx and the text of the Dream Stele very likely was meant to bestow legitimacy upon his unexpected kingship., as he was not next in line and he had somehow ousted his older brother.

I don't know where the Dream Stele is now, as i didn't see it but we were unable to get very close to the Sphinx as they are doing some restoration work.

The Pyramids Lit up at Night