of Egypt III --- Pyramids by Day, Light & Sound Show by Night (continued)

Going to the light and sound show doesn't at all mean you've seen the Pyramids, so naturally I headed there the next day in the morning. The pyramids were constructed by kings of the fourth dynasty, Cheops (the first and the largest pyramid, it is one of the seven wonders of ancient world), Chephren (second pyramid, the only one with some of its decorative limestone remaining at the tip) and Mykerinos, the third and the smallest pyramid. The pyramids are situated at Giza, outside the Giza city. The location actually has 11 pyramids, the remaining eight are much much smaller, grouped around their respective bigger pyramid and belong to the kings' mother or wife or daughter. The pyramids are flanked by temples (The Valley Temple and the Sphinx Temple), where the embalming process of the dead king was done by the priests and the entire area is guarded by the sphinx located in the centre right in front of Chephren's pyramid.

Cheops' Pyramid:Covering an area of 13 acres, the sides are oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass and the length of each side at the base is 755 feet (230.4 m). They rise at an angle of 51 52'14.3" to a height , originally, of 485 feet (147 m) but nowadays 450 feet (138 m). It was constructed using around 2,300,000 limestone blocks, weighing, on average, 2.5 tons each. Although some weigh as much as 16 tons. Until recently, relatively speaking, it was cased in smooth limestone but this was plundered to build Cairo.

Chephren's Pyramid:Built smaller than Cheops' Pyramid as a mark of respect, the height is 447.5 feet, length of each side at the base is 707.5 feet and the slope of the sides is 52 20'. Some limestone still remains at the top.

Mykerinos' Pyramid: The smallest of the three pyramids, it has a height of 204 feet, length of each side at the base is 356.5 feet and the Slope of each side is 51°

I don't think I've seen a white camel before

Left to Right: Cheops, Chephren, Mykerinos, and a few satellite pyramids. Cheops seems smaller as it is farther away

The North African Desert

The Sphinx

The Valley Temple, all the statues and artifacts have been removed to the Cairo Museum

The Valley Temple, another view

Final installment next ....