Today, we have a full day tour to Sakkara, Memphis and Dahshur. I arranged this tour thru Ramses Tours. I had a lot of trouble getting people to join us for this tour as there were concerns regarding safety in Cairo.
The day started very early with a LONG drive in to the Cairo area. We will not actually be going in to Cairo as we have previously been there....done that!!!!
Our last stop is Memphis. Not much remains of the ancient city of Memphis, the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. It is thought to have been founded about 3100 BC by King Menes, the ruler who united Upper and Lower Egypt. From historical accounts we know that it was a city of grand palaces and temples, which were all torn down by foreign invaders from the Romans onwards, and the ruins were buried. What remains today is gathered in a small open-air museum, the centerpiece of which is a colossal statue of Ramses II, which lies in its own special viewing pavilion.
The colossus of Ramses II...12.8 meters long of fine quality limestone
The Alabaster Sphinx of Amenhotep 1
Granite statue of Ramses II
We then visited Dahshur. The two pyramids at Dahshur were built by the 4th-Dynasty king Sneferu, father of Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The Bent Pyramid, thus known because its sides start steeply, then switch part way to a shallower slope, is considered to be Egypt's first proper pyramid, as before this all pyramids were stepped. The other monument is known as the Red Pyramid due to its ancient red graffiti.
The Red Pyramid
Charlie climbing to the entrance of the Red Pyramid.....I watched!!!!
The Bent Pyramid
Our first stop was Saqqara. One of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt, Saqqara was the royal burial ground for some of the earliest rulers and their courtiers. This is the site of Egypt's prototype pyramid, a stepped structure built for King Djoser. The necropolis remained in use for some 3,000 years throughout the Pharonic era, with additions being made as late as the Greco-Roman period.
The Step Pyramid of Zoser
Monroe Church, Bob & Jane Lorrey, Ching-der & Anne Chang and me & CB
The camel is on the left....
no pictures allowed inside of tombs.....
Oops!!!! Somehow, the camera had this picture on it....
Remains of the necropolis.
Very nice lunch stop
Charlie didn't find a cat but did find a dog he wanted to take home.
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