The big pyramid at Cairo (Giza), Khufu's pyramid. It's missing it's top (some rumours say the top used to be solid gold, unlikely). Also, the outer casing of limestone has been stripped off - possibly to make Muhammed Ali's mosque in Cairo.
Viewed: 218 times.
|
Detail of Khufu's pyramid. Each of the blocks is massive! Apparently they used (hundreds of years ago) to have a race to the top, the record was three minutes, bottom to top (we all guessed about twenty).
Viewed: 165 times.
|
The smaller pyramid, Khafre's (Khufu's son) pyramid. The original casing is still on the top.
Viewed: 191 times.
|
Another shot of Khafre's pyramid with the blocks of Khufu's pyramid (and one of the ubiqutous guards) in the foreground.
Viewed: 182 times.
|
Proof that I was actually at the pyramids. I also went inside Khafre's pyramid. It was very hot and not at all decorated (that came later). There was however a fair bit of graffiti, mainly dating from around the 1800's when the entrance was rediscovered.
Viewed: 180 times.
|
Scenic shot of the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre.
Viewed: 194 times.
|
Another scenic shot of the pyramids. The middle sized pyramid is Khufu's son's pyramid (Menkuare) and the really little one belongs to his Queen (I think).
Viewed: 204 times.
|
Self-obvious, the Spinx.
Viewed: 210 times.
|
And again...It's actually bigger than it looks, and way longer. It has a stellae (tablet of stone with hieroglyphics on) put there in about 1500 BC about someone who dreamed they would be Pharoah if they dug the Sphinx out of the sand - it worked (he became Thutmoses IV).
Viewed: 184 times.
|
And again...
Viewed: 162 times.
|
The boat that was used to transport the Pharoah's mummy from the East bank to the West bank of the Nile.
Viewed: 161 times.
|
The temple at Philae, dedicated to Isis. Built by the Ptolemy's (post the invasion of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 300BC) in about 100AD.
Viewed: 186 times.
|
Philae temple again. This is one of the temples that had to be moved (chopped into 40,000 peices) when they built the dam at Aswan.
Viewed: 177 times.
|
One of the "side" temples at Philae. The Kiosk of Trajon.
Viewed: 183 times.
|
Some of the columns at the front of Philae temple.
Viewed: 161 times.
|
Detail of the columns.
Viewed: 150 times.
|
The inner altar where all the serious worship was done.
Viewed: 182 times.
|
Camels in Aswan.
Viewed: 192 times.
|
Me on my camel. We went for a half hour ride through the desert which was surprisingly relaxing.
Viewed: 185 times.
|
The desert to the west of Aswan.
Viewed: 195 times.
|
A camel and it's handler.
Viewed: 177 times.
|
