Egypt: Day 2
September 17, 2022
|
After breakfast on Day 2, the first major day of touring started at the Pyramids of Giza.
The Giza pyramid complex includes the Pyramid of Khufu (Great Pyramid of Giza and the largest, and tallest building in the world for 3800 years), the Pyramid of Khafre,
Khufu's son (originally slightly smaller but now the largest), and the Pyramid of Menkaure, Khafre's son, several small Queen pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza, plus
lots of tombs and several buried boats of the kings.
All were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, between 2600 and 2500 BC. on the edges of the Western Desert,
about 9 kilometres west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, and about 13 kilometres southwest of the city of Cairo. The Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre are the
largest pyramids built in ancient Egypt. The Great Pyramid is by far the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World and the only one still in existence.
The pyramids of Giza and others were constructed to house the remains of the deceased pharaohs who ruled over Ancient Egypt. A portion of the pharaoh's spirit was believed to remain
with his corpse. Proper care of the remains was necessary in order for the "former Pharaoh to perform his new duties as king of the dead". The tomb for the pharaoh also served
as a storage pit for various items he would need in the afterlife. "The people of Ancient Egypt believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world."
Our morning ended at the Key of Life Papyrus Institute, which makes it's own papyrus paper, and has artists their create Egyptian scene paintings on the papyrus, which visitors,
unsurprisingly, can purchase. Here are some pictures.
|
Above: Future home of the new Egyptian Museum of Civilization, soon to be opened to the public.
1 and 2 show the view of apartment buildings behind the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cairo, from my hotel window.
3 to 5 shows breakfast and the lobby of the Radisson Blu Hotel.
7 and 8 show our tour guide for the entire tour, Ahmed Wahab, who received his degree studying Egyptology for four years at the Egyptian Museum.
10 and 11 show homes and buildings on the way to Giza.
|
|
|
