The entire tour group was excited today as we visited the iconic pyramids of Giza.The complex consists of the Great Pyramid of Giza (the pyramid of Cheops or Khufu) the somewhat smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Chephren) a few hundred metres to the south-west and the relatively modest-sized Pyramid of Mekaure (or Mykerinos) a few hundred metres further south west. The great Sphinx lies on the east side of the complex. Current consensus among Egyptologists is that the head of the Great Sphinx is that of Khafre. Along with these major monuments are a number of smaller satellite edifices known as 'queens' pyramids, causeways and valley temples.
The Great Pyramid Complex
Khufu's pyramid complex consists of a valley temple (now buried under the village of Nazlet el Samman). This was connected to a causeway which was largely destroyed when the village was constructed. This led to the Mortuary Temple of Khufu and only the basalt pavement remains of this temple. This was connected to the pyramid.
We did go inside the great pyramid, and what an experience to actually be inside, however, the climb became too much for me and we did not reach the burial chamber. This pyramid maintains a limited collection of the casting stones at its base. These casting stones were made of fine white limestone quarried form the nearby Muqattam Range. The great pyramid has three smaller queen's pyramids associated with it and five boat pits. Two pits on the south side of the pyramid still contained intact ships one of which has been fully restored. We would visit the display later in the day.
Khafre's Pyramid Complex
This complex consists of a valley temple (sometimes known as the Sphinx Temple), a causeway, a mortuary temple and the king's pyramid. Khafre's pyramid appears larger than the adjacent Khufu pyramid by virtue of its more elevated location and the steeper angle of inclination of its construction. It is in fact smaller in both height and volume. It retains as prominent display of casting stones at its apex and gives you a glimpse how wonderful the pyramids would have looked before the casting stones were removed.It is believed the removal happened in the Middle Ages to build houses in Cairo.
Menkaure's Pyramid Complex
This also consists of a valley temple, a causeway , mortuary temple and the king's pyramid. The king's pyramid has three subsidiary queen's pyramids. It is the most modest pyramid and the last to be built here.
Impressions
It was an amazing experience to see first hand the size and might of these structures. They were even more impressive than I had ever imagined. The hawkers and the locals trying to get you to take camel rides do somewhat spoil the experience. It is a pity they could not be educated in dealing with tourists fairly and without hassling as it would make the experience so much better; however, I practised my bartering skills and faired fairly well.
Khufu's Funeral Boat (Solar Boat)
After some time at the pyramids, we visited the solar boat museum which houses the amazing Solar Boat found at the base of the Khufu pyramid. The Khufu Boat Museum is a small modern facility resting alongside the Great Pyramid. The first floor of the museum takes the visitor through visuals, photographs and writings on the process of excavating and restoring the felucca. The ditch where the main felucca was found is incorporated into the museum ground floor design. To see the restored felucca, you must climb a staircase leading to the second floor. Floor to ceiling windows allow for much sunlight and the wooden walkway takes you around the felucca where you can get a close view of its impressive size.
The Khufu ship is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved vessels from antiquity. It measures 43.6 m (143 ft) long and 5.9 m (19.5 ft) wide.
It was thus identified as the world's oldest intact ship and has been described as "a masterpiece of woodcraft" that could sail today if put into water.[1] However, the vessel may not have been designed for sailing (no rigging) or paddling (no room).
The ship was one of two[2] rediscovered in 1954 by Kamal el-Mallakh – undisturbed since it was sealed into a pit carved out of the Giza bedrock. It was built largely of Lebanon cedar planking in the "shell-first" construction technique, using unpegged tenons of Christ's thorn. The ship was built with a flat bottom composed of several planks, but no actual keel, with the planks and frames lashed together with Halfah grass, and has been reconstructed from 1,224 pieces which had been laid in a logical, disassembled order in the pit beside the pyramid. It took years for the boat to be painstakingly reassembled, primarily by the Egyptian Department of Antiquities’ chief restorer, Ahmed Youssef Moustafa (later known as Haj Ahmed Youssef).
The history and function of the ship are not precisely known. It is of the type known as a "solar barge", a ritual vessel to carry the resurrected king with the sun god Ra across the heavens. However, it bears some signs of having been used in water, and it is possible that the ship was either a funerary "barge" used to carry the king's embalmed body from Memphis to Giza, or even that Khufu himself used it as a "pilgrimage ship" to visit holy places and that it was then buried for him to use in the afterlife.
The Khufu ship has been on display to the public in a specially built museum at the Giza pyramid complex since 1982. Its discovery was described as one of the greatest Ancient Egyptian discoveries in Zahi Hawass's documentary Egypt's Ten Greatest Discoveries.
The Sphinx
After visiting the Solar Boat Museum we were taken to the best vantage point for viewing the sphinx with its lion's body and man's head minus its nose and beard. The nose was shattered supposedly by Mameluke Turks who used the monument for target practice.
With a length of seventy-three meters, a height of twenty meters and a width of four meters 2 , the Sphinx of Giza is a sculpture carved from a natural promontory of rock. His head is carved from a limestone outcrop of hard plaque Mokattam which are built on the three pyramids, a peak already revered in pre-pharaonic times . It is in front of the large quarry that supplied number of blocks to the pyramid. Her head is turned towards the east . The body of the Sphinx is that of a lion and the head of a sovereign with the nemes , forehead adorned with a uraeus (there are still the place of the front where it was fixed).
Long identified with the pharaoh Khafre , son of Khufu , his face might actually represent Cheops himself, as asserted by Vassil Dobrev . Several indices have enabled him to develop his theory, such as observation of his cap , the width of his chin, the shape of his ears or his ceremonial beard .
It would Djedefre , son of Khufu and Khafre's brother, who had built the sphinx (or restore his head) to the glory of his father. Moreover, inscriptions indicate that it is Djedefre which would also dismantle and bury the solar boats in trenches, on the south side of the pyramid of Cheops his father so that it can travel to the other world.
It is believed that the Sphinx assured as gatekeeper of the site, or perhaps more precisely solar temple built next to the pyramid of Cheops.
What a magnificent sight! I could not believe that we were actually standing looking at this wonderful monument that I had wanted to see in person for so long. Everyone, of course, took many photos.
Afternoon and evening
We returned to the hotel for a very late lunch, early evening meal and then returned in the early evening to see the light and sound show in front of the pyramids. Even though many people thought the show was a little touristy I enjoyed the wonderful spectacle of lights illuminating the pyramids and sphinx as the history of Egypt was told.
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