Egypt

Egypt is known for its fascinating history. Everyone knows the great Pyramids. After all, they are the only "Wonder of the World" that is kept today. These monumental pyramids exist in a place known as Giza. Giza is located in Lower Egypt (which is actually northern Egypt) near the Nile River. It is next to the present-day capital city of

Cairo. The history of Giza goes back to over 5,000 years ago. During the time in which the pharaohs lived, they built fascinating temples and the three great pyramids. For many centuries, it was not known that the pyramids were the tombs of early Egyptian pharaohs. These great pyramids were tombs built for three rulers: Menkaure, Khafre, and Khufu. These three rulers were of the 4th dynasty, (2601-2515

BC.) The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest pyramid. This pyramid was probably built by the cousin of Khufu, named Hemiunu. The Great Pyramid of Khufu covers 13 acres at its base and is 137 meters (450 feet) in height. When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top.

It was the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is less than 0.1%. The pyramid of Khafre is smaller than Khufu. Menkaure’s pyramid is smaller than the other two. The pyramids were built with huge red granite blocks.

The workers probably transported these blocks with small logs as rollers or by pouring water on the sand. How they were raised is still a mystery. The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. The structure consists of 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3 m (10 ft) high,

0.3 m (1 ft) thick wall around France. The area covered by the Great pyramid can contain St Peter's in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St Paul's in London united in one structure. The designers of the pyramids tried to make sure that the king and the tomb "home" were never disturbed. In the

Great Pyramid of Khufu, the builders (who were slaves) placed his tomb chamber in the heart of the pyramid. A long, narrow, steeply rising passageway led to this tomb chamber. The Giza plateau also includes the Great Sphinx. To the Ancient Egyptians, the sphinx was a lion. The lion had the head of a pharaoh who wore the royal headdress. Today his nose is missing. All the pyramids can be seen from thirty miles from

Giza itself. The site is truly marvellous. The walls are covered in extraordinarily wrote hieroglyphics. From the outside, if you are standing right next to the pyramid, you will not be able to see the top. It is a pity to see that the Great Pyramids are in danger because of its neighbour, the ever-growing metropolitan city of Cairo. The pollution is causing the pyramids and the Great Sphinx slowly destroys. When Napoleon arrived in 1798 in

Egypt, he said his famous quote,"Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us.” MAP OF GIZA