The Royal Necropolis
Giza pyramids, the exquisite monuments that have survived for thousands of years, are the marvelous reminder of the skills that were executed in the creation of the pyramids. They stand as one of the world’s unsolved mysteries, and a secret that no one was able to find out the truth behind it. If you haven’t visited them yet, and still relying on what you studied in your school text book or what you encountered in any travel brochure, then you are missing a giant part of the world, as the thrill of standing beneath these magnificent constructions cannot be described in mere words. You will be astonished by the Pyramids’ astronomically significance and their mathematically flawless position. In addition, that sense of awe is bound to remain with you, irrespective of your interest in archeology or engineering. They just happen to cast their ancient spell on anybody who tries to uncover their secret.
The Pharos, the founders of one of the world’s ancient wonders, believed that death isn’t their final port in life; on the contrary it’s the embarkation point of a new journey that will take place in the next world. Due to that belief, they embalmed and entombed the kings’ bodies within the pyramids in order to protect them and allow their ascension to their afterlife among gods. A mortuary temple and a valley temple were built for each Pyramid. Tombs of the king’s family members and royal attendants, known as matabas, were built in the area surrounding the pyramids.
The valley of Giza, a true marvel of architecture prowess, consists of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramid of Khafrea, and Menkaura. These kings’ tombs agreed on the period that they where constructed in, which is the third and fourth dynasty but varied on the tale that each on of them tells. King Khufu ruled at the peak of culture and prosperity. He commissioned the building of a pyramid from limestone granite. It’s now among the Seven Wonders of the World. Three smaller auxiliary pyramids were built south of this pyramid, where each of Khufu’s three wives was buried. King Khafrae, King Khufu’s son, decided to follow his father’s path and carry on what he has started, and commissioned the building of a complex that would include a pyramid with its supplementary temples, and the Great Sphinx. The Sphinx or the guardian spirit of Khufu’s burial complex embodied the body of a loin and a head of a pharaoh. King Menkaura was believed to be the grandson of Khufu. During his reign, a third and smaller pyramid was built in the complex for his burial.
Before leaving the pyramids of Giza, don’t forget to jump on a camel and be snapped posing in front of the famous landmarks. You also can’t miss an opportunity for a photo of three pyramids rising from the sand, with Cairo skyline in the background.
The World’s Riddle
A short drive to the city side of the plateau finds you standing at the feet of the Sphinx, one of the greatest enigmas and most studied ancient monument of mankind’s history. It’s the only place in the world that is teeming with so many researches looking into the mysteries of mankind’s past, which may cause history to be rewritten.
The Tale’s Cradle
Your next stop is Sakkara, home of Egypt's oldest pyramid, and one of the most extensive archaeological sites in Egypt! It was the cemetery for Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, yet it is still one of the virgin archaeological sites. The first Egyptian Pyramid and the world’s oldest step pyramid was that built in Sakkara by king Djoser. Tombs of the 5th dynasty in Sakkara were decorated with the Pyramids Texts, and religious spells delineating a pharaoh’s route and ascent to the heavens in his afterlife. When your there, don’t deprive your soul from tracing back the history one of the kings who contributed in shaping the world’s civilization, and visit the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, and it surrounding complex; the Pyramid of King Titi, the tomb of Mereruka and the tomb of Kagimni, in addition to the Mastaba tomb of Ti, and the tomb of Ptah-Hotep .
The Legendary Capital
Your final stop is Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt. There, you will have the chance to discover artifacts from many of the great rulers of Egypt, including the fallen statue of Ramses II. You will also have the chance to visit a Papyrus Institute to see how the famous artwork is made.