THE GIZA NECROPOLIS

The word Necropolis is derived from the Greek word “nekropolis” meaning “city of the dead”. Located on the Giza Plateau on the outskirts of Giza town, the Necropolis houses 9 pyramids including the wonder of the ancient world and the Great Sphinx.

Towering over the Western Desert, this monumental tomb is a relic of Egypt’s Old Kingdom era. Although the most famous monument at Egypt’s Giza Necropolis, it’s not the oldest one. It is however the largest one which stands intact.

This pyramid project started circa 2550 BC by Pharaoh Khufu, and took 20 years to complete.  There is just a very tiny entrance into the pyramid and then a long congested pathway leading to the area which was the resting place of the pharaoh. 

Khufu’s son, Pharaoh Khafre, built the second pyramid at Giza circa 2520 BC. His necropolis also included the Sphinx, a mysterious limestone monument with the body of a lion and a pharaoh’s head. The Sphinx may stand sentinel for the pharaoh’s entire tomb complex.

The third of the Giza Pyramids is considerably smaller than the first two and was built by Pharaoh Menkaure circa 2490 B.C., it featured a much more complex mortuary temple.