Giza Necropolis
The famous Egyptian pyramids are in Giza, a city about 40 minutes west of Cairo by car. In Giza Necropolis (cemetery), there are 9 pyramids and the biggest and the most famous one is the one for King Khufu, with a height of 146 meters. The pyramids are big and tall enough so that as you approach the city of Giza, you can already see them. (The well-known secret is that you can have a great view of the Pyramids at the Pizza Hut right across from the entrance).
As you enter, you are greeted by the famous Sphinx, a conjoined being between King Khafre’s head and a lion’s body, who is spiritually protecting the Necropolis, although with mere 160 Egyptian Pounds, anyone can enter these days.
The Pyramids are, of course, huge and imposing. I was told that the surface of the Pyramids used to be covered by limestone, but over time they disappeared due to erosion and people, etc., but you can see the remaining limestone cover around the peak of the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
In Giza Necropolis there are 3 pyramids for Kings and 6 for Queens. But the size and the ‘quality’ of the Queens’ pyramids were so much less impressive, I almost felt sorry for them. You can enter one of the Queens’ tomb for free. The passage was not too narrow so I did not suffer from claustrophobia, unlike what I read from some reviews. The tomb and all other treasures are stored in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, so visitors only get to experience the internal design and space.
As many people are aware of these days, the Necropolis is right next to the city of Giza, so you can see the bustling city landscapes from the inside of the Necropolis. But in the opposite direction, you can still see an authentic desert starting from there.
After having stayed a whole day until I had to be kicked out when the site closed, I have to say that I was not particularly ‘overwhelmed’ by it, although I did enjoy the experience. Part of it was because I’ve already been to many scenic and historical sites during the past year’s traveling, and part of it was that I started to want not to fall for too much the pleasing sensation created by our perception usually when we are faced with imposing structures and scenic landscapes. I think I am on a journey for thinking about more fundamental values beyond the pleasing sensations. Maybe I’ll share more about this later.
@ Giza Necropolis, Egypt, February 16, 2019
