Giza Pyramids Plateau

Giza Pyramids Plateau

The Giza Pyramids  refers to a group of tombs in Giza, Egypt. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and was selected as an honorary wonder among the New Seven Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007. The tomb complex was built in the first four dynasties of Egypt and mainly consists of three pyramids. The largest excavated one is the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the "Great Pyramid")"), which is also the oldest and only surviving building among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Now there is also a Solar Boat Museum next to it; the second largest Pyramid of Khafre; the smallest Pyramid of Menkaure. In addition, next to these three main pyramids are the famous Sphinx and three small pyramids belonging to the queen. The Giza Pyramids are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Memphis and its necropolis pyramids.

Pyramid of Khufu

Main destination: Pyramid of Khufu

The Pyramid of Khufu is the tallest and oldest of the three pyramids. It is also the largest pyramid in the world. It buries the pharaoh Khufu from the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt. Its four sides correspond to the four directions of southeast, northwest, and northwest. Due to the wind and sun all year round, the tower is high. It has changed from the intuitive 146.5 meters to 137 meters, and the side length is close to 230 meters. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is built with 2.3 million huge stones. The heaviest stone is 50 tons, and the smallest is 1.5 tons. However, the Great Pyramid of Khufu is not simply stacked with these 2.3 million stones. The hard supporting walls and soft filling stone layers form a pyramid structure similar to the tree rings. Therefore, if part of the pyramid collapses, it will not cause the collapse of the whole. These huge stones are all limestone, which were mined and transported from the Tula quarry on the east bank of the Nile. Because there were no wheels, the Egyptians at that time may have used logs for transportation. There is also white limestone on the outside of the pyramid. Due to earthquakes, thefts and other reasons, the exterior is now The stones no longer exist. According to the records of the ancient Greek scholar Herodotus in the 5th century, it was estimated that it would take 100,000 people 20 years to build such a pyramid. [1]

The interior of the Pyramid of Khufu has three burial chambers. The first is located underground and is carved out of the rock foundation. The second is on the ground level. The first group of explorers called it the Queen's Chamber. However, according to later research, it was found that this chamber did not bury Khufu's wife, but may have been used to house the pharaoh's own statue. The third is the pharaoh's burial chamber, which contains a red granite sarcophagus and occupies almost the center of the pyramid. [2]

Pyramid of Khafre

Main route: Pyramid of Khafre

Khafre is the second largest pyramid after the Pyramid of Khufu. It was built by Khufu's successor, Khafre. The Great Pyramid of Khafre was built by the late Khafre. Although it is only 136 meters high and is not as tall as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, it is built on a high ground and seems to be taller. At the same time, the surrounding ancillary facilities are more complex. [3] It is estimated that it swallowed 4.88 million tons of stone at one time. Its slope is 53°, which is greater than the 51° of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. There is a sarcophagus in the main burial chamber of the pyramid, but there are no marks inside the pyramid, and it is even impossible to determine whether there is anyone buried in the burial chamber. This pyramid has two entrances arranged one above the other and located in the same direction. The corresponding one is 15 meters above the ground and is now the exit. The angle of the entrance burial chamber is 25°, and the walls are covered with red granite. The lower passage once had a portcullis that could be used to close the entrance. The angle of this passage is exactly the same as the one above it. There is a burial chamber carved into the rock foundation in the lower passage. However, this burial chamber is not damaged, and there is still some limestone on the top of the Pyramid of Khafre. Like the Pyramid of Khufu, it was stolen before modern explorers entered the interior of the pyramid in 1818. [4]

The famous Sphinx stands in front of the Khafre Pyramid. It is 73.5 meters long and 20 meters high. However, the significance of the Sphinx and its maker remain a mystery. [5] The Sphinx was actually a Greek export product. In Greek mythology, it is a cute creature with a lion's head and wings. The head of the Sphinx is not proportional to its body. Some people think that this is because the current head was re-carved later. However, the multiple gaps in the body of the Sphinx are likely due to the fact that the craftsmen had to lengthen the body to create the current proportions. The beard that supported its head is now in the British Museum. However, it is difficult to figure out when and how its nose disappeared. According to portraits of French explorers in the 16th and 17th centuries, it still had a nose. Some later image authors did not actually see the Sphinx in person. By the time Napoleon came to Egypt in the 19th century, its nose had disappeared. [6]

Pyramid of Menkaure

From near to far, there are three small pyramids, Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu Pyramids

Main route: Pyramid of Menkaure

Menkaure was the 16th pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. The Pyramid of Menkaure is much smaller than the previous two pyramids. It is only about 65 meters high and its total volume is only about 1/10 of the Pyramid of Khafre. The Pyramid of Khufu is covered with limestone on the outside, while the bottom of the Pyramid of Menkaure is covered with granite. The inner tomb is also made of granite, and the amount of limestone mined is much higher. Menkaure died suddenly, and his pyramid was forced to stop construction. It may be that his successor completed the remaining construction work with adobe bricks. 7]

There are three other small pyramids around the Pyramid of Menkaure, but none of them seem to have been destroyed. The largest one is equivalent to the completion level, and like the Pyramid of Menkaure, it is also made of partly granite.

It is generally believed that the pyramid is the tomb of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh. However, due to its vast engineering, precise construction and calculation, and many designs that match astronomy and calendars, some people speculate that it has other uses, such as oracle and even communicating with aliens. .

The Sphinx

The Sphinx, which is 50 meters long and 22 meters high, still has different opinions on its construction year and purpose. One theory is that it is an image of King Khufu or Khafre, but others believe it is the face of a god.

The Sphinx was buried under the sand for a long time. According to legend, when King Tuthmosis IV (1401-1391BC) of the 18th Dynasty was still a prince, he dreamed of the sun god Ra and said to him if he could restore the Sphinx. Now, he can become Pharaoh, and it really works out later.

Due to long-term erosion of the neck, the head of the Sphinx almost fell off. Through the efforts of all parties, it is now barely preserved.

 Giza pyramids Sound and Light Show

 The content of the show is to introduce the history of Egypt and the story and structure of the pyramids. The gorgeous spotlights make the pyramids more beautiful than in the daytime. The most special thing is to use lasers to project the internal structure of the pyramid on the pyramid and explain it.

Sphinx