27/01: Pyramid Day
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
This morning was an early morning.... we were up, ate breakfast and were in the bus on our way at 7:30 am.
First stop of the day was Memphis. Around 3100 BC, the legendary pharaoh Narmer (Menes) unified the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt and founded Memphis, symbolically on the spot where the Nile Delta met the valley. For most of the Pharaonic period, Memphis was the capital of Egypt. (Borrowed from Lonely Planet Egypt).
All that is left of the ancient city of Memphis is an open air museum built around a fallen statue of Ramses II.
A more interesting spot is Saqqara, the huge cemetery of ancient Memphis. Saqqara was an active burial ground for 3500 years and is Egypt's largest archaeological site.
The highlight is the Step Pyramid, the prototype for the pyramid.
A closer look at the building to the left of the step pyramid.
There are a number of pyramids and many tombs at Saqqara.
Most of the group went into a pyramid that was mostly rubble on top but had a good interior. Some of us who are claustrophobic (me) opted to stay outside and hold the cameras.
Our guide has never been to Dahshur, a site with 2 intact and interesting pyramids, so he asked if we would mind going to see it. No one objected.
First we enjoyed a drive through a farm area with many date trees and fields growing a variety of things.
The first pyramid (the Bent Pyramid) at Dahshur started being built at the wrong angle ---- I think 54 degrees ---- half way through the angle was readjusted. When this pyramid was completed a 2nd one (the Red Pyramid) was built using the new angle of 51.5 degrees and it was perfect.
The king was buried in the Red Pyramid, the oldest true pyramid.
The next stop were the pyramids at Giza, the ones near our hotel and the ones everyone visits. Four famous sites can be found here The Great Pyramid of Khufu (the father), the Pyramid of Khafre (the son), the Pyramid of Menkaure (the grandson) and the Sphinx. There are a number of other pyramids for lesser people on the grounds.
Starting from the left the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaur.
The Pyramid of Khafre
And for a bit of fun
The Sphinx is a statue carved from the bedrock at the bottom of the causeway. It was restored not using original methods.
The token camel photo.
First stop of the day was Memphis. Around 3100 BC, the legendary pharaoh Narmer (Menes) unified the two lands of Upper and Lower Egypt and founded Memphis, symbolically on the spot where the Nile Delta met the valley. For most of the Pharaonic period, Memphis was the capital of Egypt. (Borrowed from Lonely Planet Egypt).
All that is left of the ancient city of Memphis is an open air museum built around a fallen statue of Ramses II.
A more interesting spot is Saqqara, the huge cemetery of ancient Memphis. Saqqara was an active burial ground for 3500 years and is Egypt's largest archaeological site.
The highlight is the Step Pyramid, the prototype for the pyramid.
A closer look at the building to the left of the step pyramid.
There are a number of pyramids and many tombs at Saqqara.
Most of the group went into a pyramid that was mostly rubble on top but had a good interior. Some of us who are claustrophobic (me) opted to stay outside and hold the cameras.
Our guide has never been to Dahshur, a site with 2 intact and interesting pyramids, so he asked if we would mind going to see it. No one objected.
First we enjoyed a drive through a farm area with many date trees and fields growing a variety of things.
The first pyramid (the Bent Pyramid) at Dahshur started being built at the wrong angle ---- I think 54 degrees ---- half way through the angle was readjusted. When this pyramid was completed a 2nd one (the Red Pyramid) was built using the new angle of 51.5 degrees and it was perfect.
The king was buried in the Red Pyramid, the oldest true pyramid.
The next stop were the pyramids at Giza, the ones near our hotel and the ones everyone visits. Four famous sites can be found here The Great Pyramid of Khufu (the father), the Pyramid of Khafre (the son), the Pyramid of Menkaure (the grandson) and the Sphinx. There are a number of other pyramids for lesser people on the grounds.
Starting from the left the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaur.
The Pyramid of Khafre
And for a bit of fun
The Sphinx is a statue carved from the bedrock at the bottom of the causeway. It was restored not using original methods.
The token camel photo.