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Giza
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Of all the icons of Ancient Egypt, nothing quite captures the
imagination quite like the Pyramids. The monuments which survive at Giza, Dashur
and Saqqara stand as proof of the amazing achievements of the craftsmen who
built these astounding structures 4000 years ago.
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The most famous of all the pyramid sites is found at Giza.
Almost surrounded by an ever expanding Cairo the Giza necropolis somehow
maintains it's impact amidst the insanity of the largest city in Africa.
There are three main pyramids at Giza, as well as a number of smaller
'queens' pyramids and literally dozens of Mastaba tombs which were the
last resting place of the nobles who served the Pharaohs |
| More has probably been written about the largest of the
pyramids at Giza, the Great Pyramid, than about any other ancient monument
in the world. The Ancient builders took elaborate steps to protect the
burials contained in the pyramids. In the Great Pyramid massive blocks
were slid down the entrance passage to seal up the tomb. Unfortunately
even this didn't work as the robbers merely burrowed through the body of
the pyramid going round the hard blocking stones. |
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Although the impact of seeing the pyramids can not be
understated there are some things which are a little disappointing. For
example the air shafts which originate in the burial chamber, and have
been the source of so much conjecture and controversy are now little
more than a convenient place to dump rubbish. |
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