Pyramids and Sphinx

Egypt is known with their pyramids and sphinx. There are more than 110 pyramids in Egypt. In old days, the pyramids were built to hide Pharaoh's tomb and protecting the Pharaohs from flood, animals and robbers. Till now, the most well known pyramids in Egypt are The Pyramids of Giza (The Pyramid of Khafre, The Great Pyramid of Khufu, The Pyramid of Menkaure). These three great pyramids were built for three Pharaohs known as Cheops, Chephren, Mycerinus).

The Great Pyramid of Khufu

The Pyramid of Khufu is known as 'The Great Pyramid' due to it is the largest and oldest of the three Giza pyramids.Pharaoh Khufu,son of Snefru is the second ruler of 4th dynasty. According to the Greek Historian Herodotus, Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) enslaved his people to build his pyramid. This pyramid is built entirely with limestone. 2.3 million stone blocks were used and each of them weighed an average of 2.5-15tons. The height of the pyramid is 146.5m (488ft) but time has worn down the pyramid to 138m (455.4ft) due to corrosion. The length of four side of the pyramid base is 755 feet and the sides are carefully positioned. This Great Pyramid was accurately designed and built.

The Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second great pyramid which belongs to Pharaoh Chephren. Chephren is the son and successor of Khufu and Hensuten. This second pyramid lies to the southwest of Great Pyramid. It has a 'snow peak' on top of the pyramid. The pyramid is 136m (446ft) tall, and the side of base is 214.5m (704ft). The Khafre pyramid appears to be bigger than his father's pyramid due to rising ground and its steeper angle of slope.

The Pyramid of Menkaure

Menkaure, son of Khafre built the third pyramid. The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest pyramid in Giza plateau; the third pyramid. This pyramid lies at southwest of Chephren's pyramid. The height was only 62m (203ft) and each of the sides was 105m (344ft). The Menkaure's pyramid is different from his father and grandfather pyramid because his pyramid is not entirely built with limestone; the bottom was sheathed in granite and uppermost portions of the pyramid are brick. The pyramid was not complete when Menkaure died, and his son Shepseskaf completed the pyramid.

Sphinx

Apart from pyramids, Sphinx is another most famous feature in Giza. Sphinx was carved over 4,500 years ago. The name Sphinx which means 'Strangler' was given to a creature which had the head of a woman and the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. Whereas, this Egyptian Sphinx has the head of a human and a body of a lion. It was carved out of a huge big stone; guiding Khafre's pyramid. The Great Sphinx also considered as a sun god and was worshiped. The body of the Sphinx is 200ft in length and 65ft tall; the face of the Sphinx is 13 ft wide and its eyes are 6ft high. Besides that, a legend story says that when King Thutmose IV was a prince, he went for hunting and fell asleep in the shade of the Sphinx. He had a dream, the Sphinx spoke to Thutmose and told him to clear away the sand because the it was choking the Sphinx. The Sphinx also told him that after he done this, he would get rewarded as a king. Finally, Thutmose done the request and became a king.