Showing 1-8 of 8 results
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Eastern Cemetery
The tombs of Qar, Idu and Queen Meresankh III, in the Eastern Cemetery, are accessible, although it's sometimes difficult to find the guard who has the keys.
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Nilometer
Built in AD 861, the Nilometer was designed to measure the rise and fall of the Nile, and thus predict the fortunes of the annual harvest. If the Nile rose to 16 cubits (a cubit is about the length of a forearm) the harvest was likely to be good, giving people reason to celebrate, though also to fear the higher taxes that came with abundance. The conical dome was added in a 19th-century restoration.
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Pyramid of Menkaure
At 62m (originally 66.5m), the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the trio. A gash in the north face is the result of an attempt by Saladin's son Malek Abdel Aziz to dismantle the pyramid in AD 1186. He gave up after eight months, having achieved little. Outside the pyramid you'll see the excavated remains of Menkaure's funerary temple and, further east, the ruins of his valley temple, less excavated.
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Pyramids of Giza
The sole survivor of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza still live up to more than 4000 years of hype. Their extraordinary shape, geometry and age render them somehow alien constructions; they seem to rise out of the desert and pose the ever-fascinating question, 'How were we built, and why?'.
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Roman Towers
The main entrance to the Coptic compound lies between the remains of the two round Roman Towers of Babylon's western gate. Built in AD 98 by Emperor Trajan, these were part of riverfront fortifications: at the time, the Nile would have lapped right up against them. Excavations around the southern tower have revealed part of the ancient quay, several metres below street level.
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Sphinx
Legends and superstitions abound about the Sphinx, and the mystery surrounding its long-forgotten purpose is almost as intriguing as its appearance. On seeing it for the first time, many visitors agree with the sentiments expressed by English playwright Alan Bennett, who noted in his diary that seeing the Sphinx is like meeting a TV personality in the flesh - always smaller than had been imagined.
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Western Cemetery
The Tomb of Iasen, in the Western Cemetery, contains interesting inscriptions and wall paintings that offer a glimpse of daily life during the Old Kingdom.
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Wikala al-Bazara
The fully restored - yet empty - Wikala al-Bazara is one of about 20 remaining wikala s (merchant hostels) in the medieval city, down from about 360 in the 17th century, when this one was built. The Gamaliyya was the medieval warehouse district, with many of these wikalas , all built to the same plan: storerooms and stables surrounding a courtyard, with guestrooms for traders on the upper floors; heavy front gates protected the merchandise at night.
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Showing 1-8 of 8 results
