Introduction
On the outskirts of Cairo is the bustling suburb of Giza, best known as the location of one of Egypt's star visitor attractions - the Great Pyramids of Giza. The pyramids lie on the edge of the Western Desert and are the only monument of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world still standing today. When the Greek chronicler Herodotus visited them in 450 BC they had already been standing for two millennia.
The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest and oldest of the three pyramids, at just over 140 metres. It was the tallest building in the world for 3,000 years and its scale is truly phenomenal - comprising 2.3 million blocks, each almost as tall as a man, and the whole structure aligned perfectly to the points of the compass.
The Pyramid of Chephren, built for the son of Cheops, and the Pyramid of Menkaure complete the trio. But there's also a fourth monument close by that should be seen. The sandstone Sphinx - half human, half lion - stood guard beside Chephren's tomb and remains impressive despite being weathered over the centuries.
A more modern structure is being built a few kilometres from the pyramids of Giza. When complete, the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza will house some of the many priceless artefacts currently displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
