| Recorded October 31, 2009. The best known Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Giza is the location of the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the "Great Pyramid" and the "Pyramid of Cheops"); the somewhat smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Kephren); the relatively modest-sized Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinus), along with a number of smaller satellite edifices known as "Queen's pyramids"; and the Great Sphinx. Of the three, only Khafre's pyramid retains part of its original polished limestone casing, near its apex. This pyramid appears larger than the adjacent Khufu pyramid by virtue of its more elevated location, and the steeper angle of inclination of its construction — it is, in fact, smaller in both height and volume. The Giza Necropolis has been a popular tourist destination since antiquity, and was popularized in Hellenistic times when the Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today it is the only one of those wonders still in existence. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a statue of a reclining lion with a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau in front of the Pyramid of Khafre. It is the largest monolith statue in the world, standing 240 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 66 feet high. It is the oldest known monumental sculpture, and is commonly believed to have been built by ancient Egyptians in the third millennium BCE. Also see my other Egypt videos... "Cairo, Egypt" @ www.youtube.com "Driving ... |
