Today we visited the great pyramids of Giza. They are the last remaining ancient wonders of the world. Located several miles from school and right out of town is the Giza Plateau. The Giza Plateau is a large area of bedrock which they used to build the pyramids on. There are 3 great pyramids, 3 lesser pyramids (for the queens) and the statue of the Sphinx. The 3 pyramids are successive in size. The first built and the largest was for King Khufu. The next pyramid, smaller in stature, but best preserved was built for Khufu's son Khafre. Then the smallest of the 3 was then built for Khufu's grandson Menkaure. The really interesting thing about the pyramids is that they are not smaller in stature to denote lesser important kings, but merely because they were running out of bedrock on which to build them. They couldn't be built on sand due to their weight, so they had to place them on the bedrock itself. All of the pyramids entrances face the west, with a temple in the east. The ancient Egyptians believed that the west was the burial place of the Sun God (or something like that... I wasn't really listening THAT well to the guide). The temples for the pyramids were all built on the east facing side.
They pyramids were the largest buildings in the world for thousands of years, right up until the Eiffel Tower was built.
The sphinx was is a pretty impressive state that is 25 meters tall and 80 meters long. It is the largest stone carved statue in the world according to the guide. The sphinx was buried under sand many times and uncovered many times. It is also known that the sphinx has had many reconstructive surgeries over the years, from ancient Egyptian times til today. The nose is missing because it was believed to be a pagan statue and they wanted to destroy it, but since it was buried up to the nose in sand, the breaking of the nose was all that occurred.
One of the most interesting things I think is that the pyramids were built on that spot not only for the bedrock that they sit on, but also due to the fact that the Nile river, when they were built, flowed alongside them. It has since changed course in the 4,500 years or so since construction began and was finished.
If you have ever been to a developing country and encountered a true tourist trap, you know exactly what the experience of visiting the Giza Plateau is like. Lots of people selling lots of things, mostly junk. Most of it is cheap-ish, considering that the exchange rate is basically 6 Egyptian pounds to 1 US dollar. I picked up a little nomad riding a camel statue for 50LE, which is about $8. Not bad at all. Interesting to see all kinds of people selling out there, from young kids who can't be more than 5 to old men who have to be more than 80. One kid struck up a conversation with some of the people in our group when we first entered and then we met up with him over by the sphinx where he talked to us a bit more. A few of our teachers took camel rides, which meant they REALLY got taken for a ride. Some of them were forced to pay exorbitant prices, I say that with a tiny smirk because they paid 100LE or about $15 for rides which they didn't necessarily know they were taking. The vendors there can be very very pushy and it's a lot to take in. I bargained with this kid for the camel statue for about 5 minutes and he kept saying 60LE and I kept saying 50LE. In then end, I won out, since the adults he was with said ok ok. He wasnt giving up and neither was I! I wouldn't have minded paying the 60LE ($10) except I didn't have a 10LE not on me and didn't want to have to break a 20LE note with him for change.
A good day all in all. Our tour guide, Salah, didn't get to give us nearly half the information he wanted to because we being teachers didnt listen, or go where he asked us to go haha. I figure he'll be a good guide when I go back and actually go IN the pyramids.
Should you care to read more about the Giza Plateau visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramids_of_Giza
They pyramids were the largest buildings in the world for thousands of years, right up until the Eiffel Tower was built.
The sphinx was is a pretty impressive state that is 25 meters tall and 80 meters long. It is the largest stone carved statue in the world according to the guide. The sphinx was buried under sand many times and uncovered many times. It is also known that the sphinx has had many reconstructive surgeries over the years, from ancient Egyptian times til today. The nose is missing because it was believed to be a pagan statue and they wanted to destroy it, but since it was buried up to the nose in sand, the breaking of the nose was all that occurred.
One of the most interesting things I think is that the pyramids were built on that spot not only for the bedrock that they sit on, but also due to the fact that the Nile river, when they were built, flowed alongside them. It has since changed course in the 4,500 years or so since construction began and was finished.
If you have ever been to a developing country and encountered a true tourist trap, you know exactly what the experience of visiting the Giza Plateau is like. Lots of people selling lots of things, mostly junk. Most of it is cheap-ish, considering that the exchange rate is basically 6 Egyptian pounds to 1 US dollar. I picked up a little nomad riding a camel statue for 50LE, which is about $8. Not bad at all. Interesting to see all kinds of people selling out there, from young kids who can't be more than 5 to old men who have to be more than 80. One kid struck up a conversation with some of the people in our group when we first entered and then we met up with him over by the sphinx where he talked to us a bit more. A few of our teachers took camel rides, which meant they REALLY got taken for a ride. Some of them were forced to pay exorbitant prices, I say that with a tiny smirk because they paid 100LE or about $15 for rides which they didn't necessarily know they were taking. The vendors there can be very very pushy and it's a lot to take in. I bargained with this kid for the camel statue for about 5 minutes and he kept saying 60LE and I kept saying 50LE. In then end, I won out, since the adults he was with said ok ok. He wasnt giving up and neither was I! I wouldn't have minded paying the 60LE ($10) except I didn't have a 10LE not on me and didn't want to have to break a 20LE note with him for change.
A good day all in all. Our tour guide, Salah, didn't get to give us nearly half the information he wanted to because we being teachers didnt listen, or go where he asked us to go haha. I figure he'll be a good guide when I go back and actually go IN the pyramids.
Should you care to read more about the Giza Plateau visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramids_of_Giza
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