Egypt is a middle eastern, diverse destination due to its interesting and rich history. The country is one that’s both tourist and travel-friendly, which is mainly due to its accommodating climate that supports travel during any month of the year, as well as its welcoming residents. Some of the more popular reasons visitors choose to visit Egypt is to explore its statures, tombs, temples, and its 4500 year-old ancient pyramids.

Demystifying The Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramids of Giza are one of the more significant symbols Egypt offers, of which there are a total of 3. These fascinating structures were built by human strength, which is amazing as they were all built using flawless symmetry. The Pyramids are located near the top of the Giza Plateau, which is above Nile River Valley, an area very near Cairo, Egypt’s capital. All 3 Pyramids together make up multifaceted pathways that lead to funeral temples, as well as smaller pyramids for each of the Pharaohs Queens to reside.

The 1^st pyramid is the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the 7^th wonder of the 7 Wonders of the World. The building of this largest of the 3 pyramids began in 2540 B.C., which took 20 years to build, and is at a height that is close to that of a 48-story building. The number of blocks to build the Great Pyramid is estimated to be at 2.3 million, of which many were made using limestone. Pharaoh Khufu ordered the Pyramid to be built, who is #2 of the 8 rulers who reigned during the Fourth Dynasty.

The 2^nd pyramid is about 1000 feet to the south, and was built by the son of Pharaoh Khufu, Khafre. While most of the interior of this pyramid is much simpler than the interior of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the mortuary temple is much more complex. Khafre also built The Great Sphinx, which is the most famous part of Khafre’s Pyramid. While the Sphinx was built to symbolize the sun god, the face of the Sphinx is said to be a depiction of Khafre. The Sphinx has weakened over time, and has thus been renovated to keep it as close as possible to its original creation.

The 3^rd and smallest pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu’s grandson, Menkaura, and is at a  height that is less than half the height of The Great Pyramid. The bottom part of this Pyramid was mainly made using red granite, while the upper part used white limestone. While it’s believed that the Pyramids were built by dragging the blocks using ropes and sleds from the nearby quarry, then using ramps to place the blocks in their chosen positions, this is only a best guess to how these impressive structures were built.

Jody’s Travel Inc