[Pic] The Great Pyramids of Giza and three smaller ones known as the Queen's pyramids - all in a straight line.
This post describes an interesting portion of my Cairo trip. For a glimpse of the complete trip happenings, please go here, here, here and here.
This is the last post in the series of posts about Cairo. I know I have written quite a few posts describing the trip..there is just so much to share and write about when you have been to a place, and I have made sure that each of these posts represent a different shade of Cairo, thus together representing the various hues of this wonderful place.
[Pic] The Pyramid of Khufu behind the Great Sphinx.
Pyramids - Who in this world is not familiar with this awe inspiring and mysterious wonder. Pyramids have been built by many ancient civilizations including but not limited to the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Roman, North American and the Indian civilizations.
But the most famous of these are the Egyptian Pyramids. Egypt is the land of pyramids, and you can find them almost all over - in Giza, Dashur, Saqqara, Memphis, Abu Rawash etc. Out of these, the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the tallest and the most famous of them all, the only one of the "Seven Ancient Wonders of the World" still remaining.
[Pic] The Great Sphinx - in all its glory.
This pyramid along with two other pyramids and a massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx is a located in the Giza Necropolis. The Giza Necropolis stands on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo. The three pyramids together known as the Great Pyramids consist of :- Researchers have long been impressed with the precision with which the pyramids of this complex were created. The work of quarrying, moving, setting, and sculpting the huge amount of stone used to build the pyramids might have been accomplished by several thousand skilled workers, unskilled laborers and supporting workers. (Wikipedia)
When Greek historian Herodotus visited Giza in 450 BC he was told by Egyptian priests that "the Great Pyramid had taken 400,000 men 20 years to build, working in three-month shifts 100,000 men at a time". (Wikipedia)
[Pic] The Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre.
But what was the need to build such huge structures demanding so much of time, money and energy? - you may ask.
The Pyramids were constructed to house the remains of the deceased Pharaohs who ruled over ancient Egypt. A portion of the Pharaoh's spirit called his ka was believed to remain with his corpse. The people of Ancient Egypt believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world. The embalmed body of the King was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife. (Wikipedia)
[Pic] The Pyramid of Menkaure.
We went to see the pyramids at Giza early in the morning, one of the best times to see this beauty against the backdrop of the sunrise. And it was a sight to behold - three magnificent pyramids standing spectacularly tall, providing a kind of window to the ancient Egyptian times. On the other side was the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert.
A potent mixture of history and beauty - we had a great time observing the way they were built, the rocks, the ambience..everything. And of course clicked a lot of pics!!
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