The Giza Pyramid complex, also known as the Giza necropolis, is located in Egypt and is home to the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure, along with their associated pyramid complexes and the Great Sphinx. They were all built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, between approximately 2600 and 2500 BC. The site also includes several temples, cemeteries, and the remains of a workers' village.
Situated at the edge of the Western Desert, the site is approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the Nile River in the city of Giza, and about 13 km (8.1 mi) southwest of the city centre of Cairo. It forms the northernmost part of the 16,000 ha (160 km2; 62 sq mi) Pyramid Fields of Memphis and its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1979. The pyramid fields include the Abusir, Saqqara, and Dahshur pyramid complexes, which were all built in the vicinity of Egypt's ancient capital Memphis. Other Old Kingdom pyramid fields were located at the sites of Abu Rawash, Zawyet El Aryan, and Meidum.
The Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of Khafre are the largest pyramids built in ancient Egypt, and they have historically been common as emblems of Ancient Egypt in the Western imagination. They were popularized in Hellenistic times when Antipater of Sidon listed the Great Pyramid as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is by far the oldest of the Ancient Wonders and the only one still in existence.
Pyramids and Sphinx
The Giza pyramid complex includes the Great Pyramid (also known as the Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu, constructed around 2580 – 2560 BC), the slightly smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Chephren) situated a few hundred meters to the southwest, and the relatively modest-sized Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinos) located a few hundred meters farther southwest. The Great Sphinx is situated on the east side of the complex. It is widely agreed among Egyptologists that the head of the Great Sphinx is that of Khafre. In addition to these major monuments, there are several smaller satellite structures, known as "queens" pyramids, as well as causeways and temples. In addition to the archaeological structures, the ancient landscape has also been extensively studied.
Khufu's complex
The pyramid complex of Khufu includes a valley temple that is currently buried beneath the village of Nazlet el-Samman. Although diabase paving and nummulitic limestone walls have been discovered at the site, it has not been excavated yet. The valley temple used to be connected to a causeway, which was mostly destroyed during the construction of the village. This causeway led to the Mortuary Temple of Khufu, which was linked to the pyramid. Today, only the basalt pavement of this temple remains. Khufu's pyramid is accompanied by three smaller queen's pyramids and three boat pits. The boat pits contained a ship, and the two pits on the south side of the pyramid contained intact ships when they were excavated. One of these ships, known as the Khufu ship, has been restored and was originally displayed at the Giza Solar Boat Museum, and has since been moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum. Furthermore, Khufu's pyramid still retains some of its original casing stones at its base. These casing stones were crafted from fine white limestone quarried at Tura.
Khafre's complex
Khafre's pyramid complex includes a valley temple, the Sphinx temple, a causeway, a mortuary temple, and the king's pyramid. The valley temple produced several statues of Khafre, some of which were discovered in a well on the temple floor by Mariette in 1860. Additional statues were uncovered during excavations by Sieglin (1909–1910), Junker, Reisner, and Hassan. The complex also had five boat pits and a subsidiary pyramid with a serdab. Although Khafre's pyramid looks larger than the nearby Khufu Pyramid due to its higher location and steeper construction angle, it is smaller in both height and volume. Khafre's pyramid still showcases prominent casing stones at its peak.
Menkaure's complex
Menkaure's pyramid complex includes a valley temple, a causeway, a mortuary temple, and the king's pyramid. The valley temple originally housed several statues of Menkaure, and during the 5th Dynasty, a smaller ante-temple was added to it. The mortuary temple also contained several statues of Menkaure. The king's pyramid, finished around 2510 BC, has three subsidiary or queen's pyramids. Of the four main monuments, only Menkaure's pyramid remains today without its original polished limestone casing.
Sphinx
The Sphinx dates back to the reign of King Khafre. During the New Kingdom, Amenhotep II dedicated a new temple to Hauron-Haremakhet, and this structure was later expanded by subsequent rulers.
Tomb of Queen Khentkaus I
Khentkaus I was buried in Giza. Her tomb is known as LG 100 and G 8400, and it is located in the Central Field, near the valley temple of Menkaure. The pyramid complex of Queen Khentkaus includes her pyramid, a boat pit, a valley temple, and a pyramid town.