The Giza Plateau, which is home to some of the most striking ancient monuments in the world, including a complex of sacred buildings and royal tombs from ancient Egypt, including the Great Sphinx, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and several other sizable pyramids and temples, is what makes Giza most famous. Memphis, the former pharaonic capital of the Old Kingdom, lies close to Giza, which has made it a focal point in Egypt's history.
The Giza Pyramids are the only extant wonder of the ancient world. Their remarkable design, perfect geometry, and enormous volume have raised apparent questions about how and why they were erected for nearly 4,000 years. Centuries of study have provided us with some of the solution. The pharaohs ordered these enormous tombs to be built, and tens of thousands of laborers built them. They still serve as a magnificent monument to the power, structure, and accomplishments of ancient Egypt. The four most well-known sites are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure, and the Sphinx, and most tourists will head directly for them. However, the desert plateau around the pyramids is dotted with tombs, temple remains, and tiny pyramids for those who wish to explore farther.
You approach the Sphinx via this temple, which was originally situated at the bank of a little man-made lake that was connected to the Nile by a canal. This is how building materials were initially transported to the region, and subsequently, it is how worshippers arrived at the temple. The stout structure has alabaster floors and exquisite pink-granite columns throughout. Examine the corners, where the facing stones, which are pink-granite, are arranged like jigsaw puzzle pieces. The first version of mood lighting was used at the temple to illuminate the twenty-three sculptures of Khafre that were situated between the flat roof and the top of the wall.
The Wissa Wassef Art Centre's open-studio artists are renowned for their unique tapestries that feature rural landscapes. Simple replicas are common in gift shops; the ones here in the museum, for sale and display, are of a totally different class entirely, like wool paintings. Pottery and batik fabric are also available, both executed well. It feels like a sanctuary, peaceful and surprisingly green, especially after a visit to the dusty Pyramids. The center's founder, architect Ramses Wissa Wassef, designed a stunning mudbrick edifice that houses it. Its elegant, traditional style earned it an Aga Khan medal.
Giza
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt
