Egypt / Egypt Sightseeing / The Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx
Egypt Sightseeing
THE GIZA PYRAMIDS - THE SPHINX
Ancient Egypt Sightseeing Tour Packages - Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, Great Pyramid of Giza, Sphinx, Excursions, Package Tours Greece to Egypt
The Giza Pyramids, the most famous of all ancient sites in Egypt, are the burial structures of the 4 th dynasty. They are located on the Giza Plateau - the necropolis of Memphis, the Pharaoh's capital city - near Cairo city and the West Bank of the River Nile and were built between 2613 - 2494 BC, out of huge stone blocks. A visit to the Pyramids will leave you absolutely stunned, due to their sheer size. The largest of them originally stood at approximately 147 meters high. They have been visited by the likes of Herodotus, Alexander the Great, Mark Anthony and Napoleon.
In Giza, you can visit the large pyramids of King Cheops, his son King Chephren - which still contains his sarcophagus - and King Mycerinus, as well as several smaller pyramids and burial vessels that belong to members of the royal family, noblemen and important officers of the Kings. It is believed by many Egyptologists that the stone bricks were hauled up ramps with the help of twine ropes. The Nile was used to transport the building materials to Giza, some of which were brought from Aswan, Sinai, Tura and Lebanon. Each of the three large pyramids had a mortuary temple, a valley temple and a causeway leading up to each individual pyramid. In pits near King Cheops' and King Chephren's pyramids archaeologists also discovered a cedar wood boat, which was most probably put there to transport the King to the afterlife.
THE PYRAMID OF KING CHEOPS
The Pyramid of King Cheops was the first to be built between 2589 - 2566 BC and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was originally 147meters high and 230 meters wide, although today, due to the passing of time and human intervention, it stands at 137 meters height and 227 meters width. It is amazing that its sidelines are so precise, each facing the four points of the compass: north, south, east and west. The pyramid is constructed of approximately two million stone blocks, each of which weighs more than two tons. The entrance of the pyramid is on the north side, while indoors there are many chambers, corridors and galleries. The red-granite burial chamber is located in the center of the pyramid. The King's sarcophagus is perfectly aligned with the four points of the compass. It is possible that the sarcophagus was constructed inside the chamber, as the entrance to the room is a mere centimeter wider than the sarcophagus.
THE PYRAMID OF CHEPHREN King Chephren was the son of King Cheops. He commissioned his pyramid to be built next to his father's between 2558 and 2532 BC. King Chephren's pyramid complex is comprised of the Pyramid, the Sphinx, the Mortuary Temple and the Valley Temple. King Chephren's is the only existing pyramid that still has a layer of smooth casting stones on the top. It was originally 143 meters tall, but erosion has reduced its height to 136 meters. The pyramid is approximately 215 meters wide and is built with 2.5-ton limestone and red granite blocks. Inside the burial chamber, visitors can see King Chephren's black granite sarcophagus.
THE PYRAMID OF KING MYCERINUS King Mycerinus is believed to be the the son of King Chephren and the grandson of King Cheops. His is the third and smallest of the three large pyramids in Giza. King Mycerinus' pyramid was originally 65,5 meters high, but now stands at 62 meters, while its width is 150 meters. The materials used to build the pyramid were limestone and red granite blocks. King Mycerinus' pyramid is quite intricate, with a number of passages and chambers
THE SPHINX The Sphinx, another world famous monument of Egypt, is a giant statue of the head of a pharaoh in his headdress with a lion's body, made out of soft limestone. It is believed, due both to its location and its resemblance, that it is the face of King Chefren. It is said that the statue is the guardian spirit of his pyramid complex. It was built between 2558 and 2532 BC, as part of King Chephren's pyramid complex.
The poor quality of limestone, passing of years, pollution and weather conditions have resulted in its extensive corrosion and disintegration. The Sphinx is 20 meters high in total, while the pharaoh's face and the lion's body are 6 meters wide and 57 meters long, respectively.
THE PYRAMID OF KING CHEOPS 
