The last surviving members of the Ancient Wonders and other Cairo, Egypt Things to Do Tips

The over 4500 years old Pyramids of Giza are the last surviving members of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The Great Cheops Pyramid is by far the best-known and most impressive of all the Egyptian Pyramids. Its original height was an astounding 146 metres, as high as a 40 story skyscraper and its base covers about 50000 square meters of land and divides the Lower Kingdom into exactly two parts.
Interesting fact, that the history of science considers the pyramid the evidence of the high-level mathematical knowledge. The Pyramid contains approximately 2,300,000 limestone blocks, the average weight of each about 2.5 tons, the heaviest weighing over 15 tons.
French scientists calculated that with its stones, a wall could be built around all of France that would be 0.30 metres wide and 3.0 metres high.
When it is open, the number of people that can enter, is limited to 150 visitors in the morning and an additional 150 in the afternoon.

It stands with two other pyramids, one for Cheops' son, Chephren and the smallest for his grand son, Mykerinos. The second largest Chephren pyramid appears taller due to the simple fact that it was constructed on higher ground.

The Great Sphinx stands nearby, facing due east, with a small temple between its paws. Its face is believed to be the face of the pharaoh Chephren. This immense sculpture, with the body of a lion and the head of a king or god, usually that of a pharaoh, acts as the guardian of the tombs of the great kings according to the Ancient Egyptians.
The best time of day to see the Pyramids is the early morning, just after sunrise. There is a cool breeze off the desert and most of the other tourists are having breakfast.

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Address: Al Haram Str., Gizeh, Cairo
Directions: Sited on the Gizeh Plateau on the west bank of the River Nile, cca. 12 kilometres from centre of Cairo
Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/explore/

In the remains of Memphis, near the yellow concrete pavilion, which houses the thirteen meters high colossus of Ramses II, stands the massive limestone Alabaster Sphinx. It was carved probably in honor of Hatshepsut, between 1700 and 1400 BC. during the New Kingdom. Although there is no inscription, the facial features suggest that it was Hatshepsut.

The Alabaster Sphinx is 8 metres long and 4 metres tall and weighs around 90 tons. The statue may have been destroyed after Hatshepsut’s death and has corroded over the centuries, but remains very impressive. It may have stood outside of the Temple of Ptah along with the Colossus of Ramses II.

Sphinx is a cultural import in archaic Greek mythology, where it received its name.
There was a single Sphinx in Greek mythology, a unique demon of destruction and bad luck, according to Hesiod a daughter of the Chimaera ( a three-headed creature, lion-snake- goat) and Orthrus ( a two-headed dog ). She was famous by her riddle: "What animal is that which in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two, and in the evening upon three?" It was solved by the mythical Greek king of Thebes, Oedipus and then she cast herself from her high rock and perished.

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Address: South of Cairo
Directions: Located within the open-air site, about 24km south from Cairo, near the modern village of Mit Rahineh.
Website: http://www.touregypt.net

Saqqara was the cemetery of ancient Memphis. The most famous tomb in the area is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the second king of third Dynasty. It is probably the earliest major structure in Egyptian history.

The Pyramid is 60 metres high, stands on a base of 121 by 109 metres. It is built of local sandstone, which is said to be a poor quality stone. The burial chambers in the interior served partly for the burial of close relatives of the King, such as his son and on the other hand for storing goods for the use of the dead. All that is left of of the King's mummy are in the main chamber of the pyramid.
If you are claustrophobic, do not go in the chambers.

Examinations identify six changes of plan during its construction. The building of the pyramid is ascribed to Imhotep, the first known polymath, who was also the chief architect of Djoser and invented the method of construction with dressed stone.

The everywhere usual local superstition you may face here too, which says, if you make a wish and walk around the pyramid, your wish will come true.

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Address: 15 km South of the pyramid of Cheops
Directions: From remains of Memphis cca. 3km
Website: http://www.touregypt.net