25 Places to visit before you die: No. 2 The Great Pyramids of Giza

Today, we know that each limestone block weighing about 2.75 tonnes was manoeuvred into place by an army of 20,000 men, it is thought that earthen ramps were used at least in the initial stages of construction. The ramps were built up as the pyramid progressed upward, and removed as the pyramid was finished downward. (Some Egyptologists propose a straight, gently sloping, linear ramp, some propose a steep staircase ramp, and others propose a ramp that spiralled up the four sides of the pyramid).

Even with modern techniques to build the Pyramids today would be a monumental project of engineering and man power, but 5,500 years ago, a staggering logistical feat: choreographing teams of foremen, multitudes of workers, and a profusion of supplies, all within the rigid constraints of a blueprint for design and a timetable for completion.

The Great Pyramid of Cheops, or Khafu, is the largest Pyramids in the world, built circa 2500 B.C. with 2.3 million limestone blocks. Its image is perhaps the most recognised and photographed not perhaps because of its size but because it seems to be guarded by the Father of Terror that sits nearby. The Father of Terror is better known to the world as the Sphinx.

I was told prior to my visit to Egypt, and indeed have read in many books, that the Sphinx is fearsome looking, with a human face wearing a royal beard and the body of a lion. The passage of time has eroded the sharper edges so today he is less of a terror but equally awe inspiring as I am sure he would have been 5000 years ago. 

Every evening after sundown the booming sound and light show takes place around the Pyramids. The show is a surprisingly entertaining crash course in the history of the Pharaoh's interrupted from time to time with the groaning noises of the camels waiting to be the transport back  for those that didn't mind sharing their ride with a few fleas.

A few facts:

The Great Pyramid of Giza, is one of the three pyramids situated in Giza and is believed to have been built as a tomb for Fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh - Khufu (Cheops in Greek).

It is believed to have taken around 20 years to build the Pyramid and the construction came to an end around 2560 BC.

The site of Great Pyramid of Giza is large enough to be visible even from the Moon.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid - King's chamber, Queen's chamber and unfinished chamber.

The Great Pyramid is one of the most comprehensively studied buildings in the world.

The temperature inside The Great Pyramid remains constant at 68 degrees F, the same as earth's internal temperature.

The Great Sphinx:

The Great Sphinx, or as the ancients knew it, "Shesib Ankh" or "the living image", was sculpted from soft sandstone,  it is probable that 'he' would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried in the sand for so many long periods since its construction. Because of the soft sandstone, the Sphinx has been repaired many times; sometimes the repairs causing even more damage! Also, due to the wind, humidity, and pollution from modern Cairo, its condition is still deteriorating, and the present renovations are a never-ending task.

The body is 60m (200ft) long and 20m (65ft) tall. Its face is 4m (13ft) wide with eyes measuring 2m (6 ft) high. It faces the rising sun, and was revered so much by the ancients, that they built a temple in front of it.

In 1378, upon finding the Egyptian peasants making offerings to the Sphinx in the hope of increasing their harvest, Sa'im Al-Dahr was so outraged that he destroyed the nose!