Pyramids of Giza Demistified!

In the afternoon of our Pyramids tour day, we did the Giza. This is the pyramids i see everyday when i go to work. It's magnificant, just in the fringe of cairo. It's amazing to suddenly see a pyramid and vast dessert sitting side by side a city.

The largest of the pyramids at Giza is that of King Khufu (The one above), or Cheops (2589-2566 BC). To the right of the pyramid is a modern structure protecting a solar-boat (Building in white colour), one of several wooden boats that were buried next to each pyramid in pits. The boats were either the boats on which the king’s body reached the pyramid, or they were there in case the king needed them in his journey through the next world. On of these boats were salvaged from the "boat toomb" and is in a boat museum, picture given below.

This is the chalengging track going into the pyramid of Khafre (Picture not by me). Inside this insame track is Khafre's burial chamber (Sarchofagus). We were not allowed to go into Khufu's chamber, closed for now i guess.

Before going further, one should first look at the entire Giza area and see the layout. Based on that you can match the pictures, which i will label a,b,c,d.

a. Pyramid of Khufub.
b. Pyramid of Khafre.
c. Pyramid of Menkaured.
d. Khufu Satellite Pyramidse.
g.Khafre Pyramid Templeh.
h.Khafre Causewayi.
i. The Great Sphynxj.
k.Khafre Valley Templel.
l.Pyramid Khentkawesm.
m.Khafre Satellite Pyramidn.
n.Khafre quarry markso.
o.Menkaure Satellite Pyramidsp.

The following picture is the pyramid of khafre. The pyramid of Khafre still retains the original limestone cover which once covered the pyramid making them into towers of gleaming white on which the sun-god Ra must have reflected his glory. Also, as you can notice, me and my fellow tour mates, Diana and Hennah on our faithfull camels, Mosses, banana & whiskas friskas.

The following picture is yet another of both the biggest and 2nd biggest pyramids in the world (Khufu's & Khafre's pyramids). FYI, there are 9 pyramids in Giza.

The picture below is the pyramids of Menkaure with 3 sattelite pyramids of Menkaure, i cant seem to recollect what the Sat. Pyramids are, if i'm not i mistaken its for the queens.

This is the ancient boat used to carry the King Khafre on the nile river to the toomb here on the pyramids! The found it in the burial chamber below (picture linked to external site). Dug it up and put it back togather to form the above boat. Amazing to know this pieces of wood lasted 1000 over years.

The following picture i think is labelled as 's' in the above picture, which is the central mastaba field. Mastaba is pretty much like graveyard, and if i'm not mistaken this was for either the nobles or the craftsman that built the pyramids.

So, if you have been following the plan, we will be reaching the valley temple of khafre next, where the king's body will be prepared for mummification. Beofre that, more picture of us on the camel and our camel guide on the phone :) . What an irony, pyramids, dessert, camels PLUS MOBILE PHONES! Thanks to vodaphone, and their network supplier ERICSSON :D.

I'm skipping the valley temple pics, borin :). Now for the dessert, here's Mr Sphynx. I never really got a good shot at it, due to the crowd around the platform.

The below picture was taken from inside Pizza hut, which is right opposite Sphynx, again, what an irony of old meet new. as you can see from this picture, there is a platform beside the Sphynx which is actual "h" in the above picture, khafre causeway, to take the mummified body from the valley temple to the toomb beneath the pyramid.

Finally, a sunset picture. This was taken outside the Giza complex, infront of pizza hut. You see the Sphynx, cuaseway, Khafre's pyramid and Khufu's on the back.

COMING SOON: SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW @ GIZA