Pyramids

If you go to Egypt people always ask if you saw the Pyramids. Here's some that we saw - click the images to enlarge.

Egypt has 106 pyramids but the best known are those at Giza (now part of Cairo).

Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqarra
The oldest pyramid is the Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqarra. This was built about 2650 BCE by Imhotep and is 60m high.

Pyramids at Giza
There are nine pyramids at Giza - three large ones and six Queens' Pyramids. Originally these were covered in polished limestone but this covering was removed over the years. Some of it was used to build the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Contrary to popular belief there is evidence that the pyramids were built by workers not slaves.

The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the largest in Egypt and the oldest on the Giza plateau. It is 146m high and was completed in 2570BCE. It is made up of 2.3 million limestone blocks averaging about 2.5T each. The photo on the left gives you a feel for how big it is. The one on the right how large the blocks are.

The postcards make the pyramids look smooth - it is an illusion.

The Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) is 136m high and was built by Khafre - Khufu's son.

In turn Khafre's son and successor - Menkaure (Mycerinus) built the third pyramid. The Pyramid of Menkaure is a mere 62m high. Most of us on the tour took advantage of going down inside this third pyramid.

Egypt has 106 pyramids but the best known are those at Giza (now part of Cairo).
Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqarra The oldest pyramid is the Step Pyramid of Zoser at Saqqarra. This was built about 2650 BCE by Imhotep and is 60m high.
Pyramids at Giza There are nine pyramids at Giza - three large ones and six Queens' Pyramids. Originally these were covered in polished limestone but this covering was removed over the years. Some of it was used to build the Mohammed Ali Mosque. Contrary to popular belief there is evidence that the pyramids were built by workers not slaves.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is the largest in Egypt and the oldest on the Giza plateau. It is 146m high and was completed in 2570BCE. It is made up of 2.3 million limestone blocks averaging about 2.5T each. The photo on the left gives you a feel for how big it is. The one on the right how large the blocks are.
The postcards make the pyramids look smooth - it is an illusion.
The Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren) is 136m high and was built by Khafre - Khufu's son.