Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization. Its also a top destination for some of the worlds most famous sights and monuments. Get the scoop on the seven wonders of Egypt. Great Pyramid of Giza Giza, Egypt The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the 3 pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering Cairo, Egypt. It is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the World and is believed to have been built as a tomb for Fourth Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu, constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid is the main part of a complex or set of buildings that include 2 mortuary temples in honor of Khufu. There are also 3 smaller pyramids for Khufus wives, an even smaller satellite pyramid, a raised pathway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles. Khufus vizier, Hemon, or Hemiunu, is believed by some to be the architect of the Great Pyramid. The Great Sphinx Giza, Egypt The Great Sphinx of Giza is a large half-human, half-lion statue in Egypt, on the Giza Plateau at the west bank of the Nile River near Cairo. The commonly used name Sphinx was given to it based on the Greek creature with the body of a lion, the head of a woman and the wings of an eagle, though this sphinx have the head of a man. It is one of the largest single-stone statues on Earth, and is commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians in the 3rd millennium BC. Temple of Luxor Luxor, Egypt The Luxor Temple was dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun-Re, his wife Mut, and his son Khonsu. The large ancient Egyptian temple complex is located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city once known as Thebes, but today it is known as Luxor. Many festivals were celebrated in Thebes and the Temple of Luxor was the center of the most important one, the festival of Opet. Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, the temples purpose appears to have been suitable for the rituals of the festival that sought to reconcile the human aspect of the ruler with the divine office. Cairo Cairo, Eygpt Cairo, which means The Vanquisher or The Triumphant, is the capital city of Egypt. It has a population of about 15.75 million people, making it the seventh most populous metropolitan area in the world. Old Cairo was founded in 648 AD near other Egyptian cities and villages, including the old Egyptian capital Memphis, Heliopolis, Giza and the Byzantine fortress of Babylon in Egypt. However it was a new city built as a military garrison for Arab troops and was the closest central location to Arabia that was accessible to the Nile. Today, Greater Cairo encompasses various historic towns and modern districts. Abu Simbel Southwest of Aswan, Egypt Abu Simbel is one of Egypts Seven Wonders. The archaeological site is comprised of two massive rock temples that were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his Queen Nefertari. The Great Temple at Abu Simbel took about 20 years to build and after its completion, it was dedicated to the gods Amun Ra, Ra Harakhti, and Ptah, as well as the deified Ramesses himself. It is generally considered the grandest and most beautiful of the temples commissioned during the reign of Ramesses II, and one of the most beautiful in Egypt. Saqqara South of Cairo, Egypt Located about 30 km south of Cairo, Saqqara or Sakkara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. While Memphis was the capital of Ancient Egypt; Saqqara served as its cemetery. Although it was eclipsed as the burial ground of royalty by Giza and later by the Valley of the Kings in Thebes; it remained an important place for minor burials and cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years. Temple of Karnak Al-Karnak, Egypt The temple area is a vast open-air museum and the largest ancient religious site in the world, and is probably the second most visited historical site in Egypt, second only to the Giza Pyramids near Cairo. It consists of 4 main parts, of which only the largest temple is accessible by tourists and the general public. Further Reading: Clayton, P. (2006) Chronicle of the Pharaohs Tyldesley, J. (2006) Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt Shaw, I. (2004) The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt Mieroop, M. (2010) A History of Ancient Egypt The Teaching Company: (thegreatcourses/) Origins of Great Ancient Civilizations - Professor Kenneth W. Harl Ph.D. - Tulane University History of Ancient Egypt - Professor Bob Brier Ph.D. - Long Island University Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt - Professor Bob Brier Ph.D. - Long Island University
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 05:16:08 +0000
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