Giza Necropolis is located on the west bank of the Nile River, where the west bank is dedicated to burying the dead people according to the ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Giza Necropolis or Giza Pyramid Complex contains nine royal pyramids of the fourth dynasty, old kingdom as the great pyramid of King Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Besides, the Great Sphinx, the guard of the royal cemetery.
1 – Khufu Pyramid or Cheops Pyramid Although this pyramid did not fulfill its purpose, which was the protection of the king’s corpse, it immortalized his name throughout history. Khufu pyramid was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World by Antipater of Sidon, because of the genius of ancient Egyptians in both engineering and design fields that appears in its construction. It is the oldest of the Ancient Wonders and the only one still in existence.
The burial chamber was placed in the middle of the pyramid, housing the sarcophagus of the king. The burial chamber is topped up with five relieving chambers for relieving pressure on the burial chamber.
Khufu’s pyramid complex consists of a valley temple, now buried beneath the village of Nazlet el-Samman. Then the valley temple was connected to a causeway leading to the mortuary temple.
The establishment of this pyramid took 20 years, but the whole complex took 30 years.
2 – Khafre Pyramid or Chephren Pyramid The complex of King Khafre is considered the most complete complex in Giza Necropolis, as it contains the valley temple, the causeway, the mortuary temple, and the king’s pyramid. There are several statues of King Khafre were discovered in a well on the floor of the temple by Mariette in 1860.
3 – Menkaure Pyramid or Mykerinos Pyramid The complex of King Menkaure contained the valley temple, the causeway, the mortuary temple, and the king’s pyramid. The pyramid is the only element that remains until now but without its limestone casing. There are several statues of King Menkaure that were discovered in the mortuary temple.
4 – The Great Sphinx of Giza Plateau The sphinx takes the shape of the human head and lion’s body. It is owned by king Khafre. It is the guard of the royal cemetery according to ancient Egyptian beliefs. The statues of the sphinx refer to the physical and mental power of the living king.
5 – Solar Boat Museum In 1954, Kamal El Malakh discovered beside the pyramid of Khufu a wooden boat made from cedar.
The aim of this boat was transferring the corpse of the king from the east bank of the Nile River to his final destination on the west bank, the bank of the dead.
