Fascination Egypt: The Pyramids of Giza
Why the Pyramids of Giza are worth a visit: Interesting facts about one of Egypt's greatest historical and cultural highlights!
Buildings from other eras hold an immense fascination. Looking at them means experiencing history at first hand - and being able to bear witness to it. Knowing how old a building is can amaze and leave you speechless: knowing that some buildings stand the test of time.
Among such monuments are the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. They have defied the passage of time for thousands of years and are proof of the existence of an ancient high culture. Egypt and its history have always fascinated many. Even schoolchildren talk enthusiastically about Cleopatra and the pharaohs, and with growing age the magic does not diminish. A good reason to put Egypt on your travel bucket list!
A (time) trip to Egypt
Anyone planning a trip to Egypt should not only think about sun, beach and sea, but should definitely also consider visiting the pyramids. Live and in colour, they are indeed even more impressive than on photos.
When people talk about the pyramids of Giza, they are referring to three pyramids that stand close to each other. They are of different sizes and were built by three different, successive pharaohs. The first one was built by Pharaoh Cheops (or Khufu). He had the largest of the three pyramids built in the 26th century BC, which is also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Pyramid of Cheops. So, in the 26th century BC, means the construction happened about 2,500-2,600 years before the beginning of our calendar. As we are now writing the year 2023, it was more than 4,500 years ago.
After the era of Cheops, it was the pharaohs Khafre and Mykerinos who had their pyramids built next to the Pyramid of Cheops. As is generally known, they had the pyramids built as their own burial sites. The Egyptians believed that the soul ascends to heaven after death and the pyramids were the "stairways to heaven" for the souls of the Pharaohs, so to speak.
How, where, what
The Pyramids of Giza can be reached by car from Cairo's city centre, the capital of Egypt, in about half an hour. Anyone who would like to learn more about the buildings should book a guided tour. It is even possible to visit them from the inside. Only people with a tendency to claustrophobia would be advised not to do so, as the corridors are mostly very narrow and sometimes quite low. Those who are generally interested in culture can also explore other sights and places in the area, such as the Great Sphinx of Giza or the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Did you already know? Interesting facts with which you can impress on a holiday in Egypt
- The pyramids of Giza are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- According to recent findings, the colossal structures were not built by slaves, but by thousands of craftsmen and workers who were allegedly paid for their work.
- The construction time of a pyramid was over 20 years.
- The stone blocks from which the pyramids were built weighed tons.
- The pyramids used to be white, due to a layer of limestone that is no longer preserved.
- The largest of the three pyramids, the Pyramid of Cheops, is 139 metres high.
