Pyramids

Giza
Giza is the location of the most important and famous pyramids: Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with a number of smaller satellite edifices, known as light bulb pyramids, and the Great Sphinx.

The Giza Necropolis has arguably been the world's most popular tourist destination.

The Giza Necropolis lies on the outskirts of Cairo, 8 km into the desert from the Nile, and 25 km SW of Cairo. The pyramids are the only remaining monuments of the 7 Wonders of the World.

The pyramids of Giza are generally thought of as lying in a remote, desert location, in reality they are located in what is now Greater Cairo. Consequently, urban development reaches right up to the perimeter of the pyramids site, including restaurants and gift shops surrounding the area. 

This Ancient Egyptian necropolis consists of the:
- Pyramid of Khufu known as the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Cheops;
- The somewhat smaller Pyramid of Khafre or Chephren;
- and the relatively modest-size Pyramid of Menkaure or Mykerinus,
- along with a number of smaller satellite edifices, known as "queens" pyramids, causeways and valley pyramids
- and most noticeably the Great Sphinx.
- Current consensus among Egyptologists is that the head of the Great Sphinx is that of Khafre. And he is believed to have been the guard of the Pyramids, with the head of a man and the body of a lion.

Associated with these royal monuments are the tombs of high officials and burials and monuments, signifying the reverence to those buried in the necropolis.

Of the three, only Khafre's pyramid retains part of its original polished limestone casing, towards its apex. Interestingly 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 Pyramids are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today it is the only one of the ancient Wonders still in existence.

Abu Sir
There are a total of 57 pyramids at this site, which served as the main royal necropolis during the fifth Dynasty. The quality of construction of the Abu Sir pyramids is inferior to those of the Fourth Dynasty — perhaps signaling a decrease in royal power or a less vibrant economy. They are smaller than their predecessors, and are built of low quality local limestone.

The three major pyramids are those of Niuserre (which is also the most intact), Neferirkare Kakai and Sahure. The site is also home to the incomplete Pyramid of Neferefre. All of the major pyramids at Abu Sir were built as step pyramids, although the largest of them — the Pyramid of Neferirkare Kakai — is believed to have originally been built as a step pyramid some 70 m. in height and then later transformed into a "true" pyramid by having its steps filled in with loose masonry.
 
Saqqara
Major pyramids here include the Step Pyramid of Djozer — Egypt's oldest stone monumental building — the Pyramid of Userkaf and the Pyramid of Teti. Also at Saqqara is the Pyramid of Unas, which retains a pyramid causeway that is amongst the best-preserved in Egypt. This pyramid was also the subject of one of antiquities' earliest restoration attempts, conducted under the auspices of one of the sons of Ramesses II.

Saqqara is also the location of the incomplete step pyramid of Djozer's successor Sekhemkhet, known as the Buried Pyramid. Archaeologists believe that had this pyramid been completed it would have been larger than Djozer's.