Grandeur and eternity of the pyramids of Giza: Our touch with the past

We are one of those families who lived briefly in Egypt, so we were lucky enough to visit the Great Pyramids three times. I will never forget when the eldest daughter exclaimed, "Wow, how enormous the pyramids are, like mountains", it was her first memorable visit at the age of eight. The year was 2012, shortly after the Arab Spring, tourism in the country was generally at a stand still due to the uncertainty from the political events, but despite everything there was no lack of tourists, so many people dream of visiting this magical place, that is considered the origin of human civization. Well, it was dream come true for me, too.

One of the most frequently asked questions is how the pyramids were built. There is a lot written and discussed about this mystery, which I will not go into here, for me as a visitor one thing is most important - the pyramids seem to have been created to last forever, to connect us with the past and to drive the history of human civization. And they do. The majestic, monumental tombs are relics of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, built about 4,500 years ago, even more. 

Egyptian pharaohs believed that they would become gods after their life on earth was over. They built temples to the gods and massive pyramidal tombs for themselves, filled with all the necessities of a rules. Their importance is so far reaching and significant that the historian and archaeologist Zahi Hawass says that in a sense the pyramids built Egypt, probably the most famous Egyptologist is right. The pyramids are undoubtedly a historical memory of Egypt, revealing to us wonderful scenes of the life and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians, through drawings, images and hieroglyphs, making us empathize with a bygone era. In this sense they are eternal.

The pyramids are located on the desert plateau of Giza, on the west bank of the Nile River. They are located exactly 9 km from the city Giza and 15 km southwest of Cairo. They are recorded as the oldest and only preserved monument of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. The pyramids are part of Giza Necropolis, also known as Memphis Necropolis. The archaeological complex includes the Great Sphinx and remains of ancient settlement. The monuments are surrounded by ancient tombs, temples, mastabi, which testify to the greatness of bygone civilization. The largest pyramid is the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), located in the northwestern part of the complex, which was built over 20 years. Built in the early 26th century BC, the largest pyramid is a tomb of Fourth Dynasty pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and it is the most famous monument of the complex, in the Pyramids Fields of Memphis and it's Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site in Giza. Majestic and large-scale, we feel awe in front of the Great Pyramid. The ancient Egyptians believed that the survival of the world depended on the pharaoh's successful passage to the afterlife. In fact, the pyramids was a huge launch pad from where the spirit of the late ruler began his afterlife.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu was surrounded by temples and smaller pyramids, and later two more gigantic tombs were added to the temple complex - the pyramids Khafra (Khephren), the second tallest and largest of the group and Menkaure (Mykerin), which is the smallest of the three. Pyramid of Menkaure was the most beautiful. Once covered in pink granite from Aswan, now it has a huge hole in its north face, made in the 12 th century by the son of Saladin, in the hope of finding thresure inside the building. An interesting fact was that Saladin ordered many of the smaller pyramids in Giza to be destroyed as he needed stone for his massive building program in 1176-77. 

There are three smaller pyramids in the complex in addition to the biggest three. They are believed to belong to queens and are position as satellites. The small tombs are known as mastabi that is Arabic word for "bench", they are located around the Pyramid of Khufu, they are arranges in a grid and we're built for prominent members of the Kingdom. Being buried near the pharaoh was a great honor. The Great Sphinx of Giza is an idescribable monument that impresses with its grandeur and cannot be missed. He stays as an eternal quardian of history in the complex. One of the most mysterious and enigmatic building on the planet, no one has so far been able to determine the exact date of its construction. A curious fact is that the latest scientific findings claim that the Sphinx date back to 800000 years ago. Now, I'm leaving these studies to the scientists of this field, but the truth is that the monument is one of the oldest of the Earth's surface, a testimony of the great era. The moment when you see the Sphinx, you can be impressed by its grandeur, majesty and eternity. The entire culture complex is a testimony of a great age, mysterious and unknown to modern man. History witnesses its course on the territory of Egypt, intertwining past and present. 

Take a selfie with Sphinx and you will immortalized youself. You can "hold" the pyramids in your hands or "burn" all of them, even, it will give you unforgettable memories for a lifetime. The resort also offers horseback riding and camel riding are amazing experience, if you haven't done it, do it. The camel may even kiss you as a courtesy. Of course, you should be careful with camel, and follow the guides instructions. In addition you should know that the local guides, photographers and sellers on the territory of complex offer services and goods with non-fixed prices, for this purpose it is good to bargain, they love this kind of "game". Be sure also to go to the Valley Temples near the Sphinx. Very impressive is the sound and light show at dusk, when the Sphinx "tells" its story to the pyramids. In the minds of children, the meeting with a foreigner culture leaves a track. The whole place exudes magnetism, majesty and eternity. Do not forget to wear comfortable shoes, due to the climatic condition of the country, it is a desert over all. Take at least one day, so you can enjoy this journey in past. Don't hesitate, grab your bags and enjoy an amazing journey with unforgettable moments.


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