Giza pyramid complex

Welcome to the Giza Plateau, home to the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. Standing before you are the monumental tombs of three great kings of the Old Kingdom: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. …

We begin our exploration at the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three and a masterpiece of ancient precision. It measures 700 feet on each side and originally stood 480 feet tall. …

If you choose to enter the Great Pyramid, you will find yourself in the Grand Gallery, a soaring ceremonial passage that is one of the most remarkable spaces in all of ancient architecture. It is 45 meters long and nearly 9…

At the end of the Grand Gallery lies the King's Chamber, the heart of Khufu's pyramid. This room is constructed entirely of red granite brought from Aswan, hundreds of miles to the south. …

Descending from the Great Pyramid, we reach the mysterious Sphinx, the giant statue with the body of a lion and the head of a king. Carved directly out of a natural outcrop of limestone that stood above the plateau, the Sphinx…

Surrounding the great pyramids are the extensive cemeteries of Egypt's elite—the governing classes of the Old Kingdom. These are the mastaba tombs, rectangular superstructures with flat roofs that housed the families and…

Each pyramid was part of a larger complex that included a pyramid temple adjacent to the main structure, a causeway leading down the hill, and a valley temple near the Nile. These temples were the sites of daily rituals and…

As the sun begins to set over the Giza Plateau, the drama of this site becomes even more apparent. The pyramids, which have stood silent for four thousand years, continue to unfold their secrets to modern technology. …