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The
Pyramids The Pyramid Complex
and Sphinx ~~~~~Site Menu~~~~~ Other
Related Pages : The Pharaohs Who
Built Them
| Here
is a side view with all the pyramids named. The
pyramids were just one part of a complex of
buildings that were used to bury and memorialize
the dead pharaoh. The Sphinx sits close to the
Chephren pyramid complex. Everyone
knows of the Sphinx. Unfortunately it was under
restoration when we were there. However this
picture illustrates an important feature of the
pyramid complex often missed by tourists. Here is a view from the Chephren Pyramid showing
the remains of the causeway. It is
believed that the mortuary temple was used for
the ritual mummification of the Pharaoh. His body
was then placed in a full sized boat (perhaps used
originally to bring his body to the mortuary
temple). The boat was then pulled up to the
mortuary temple through the closed causeway
symbolizing the passage through the underworld.
Last rites before entombment and yearly memorials
were then held in the funerary temple. The mummy
was taken from the mortuary temple into the
pyramid for entombment. Here is a
scale model of a complete pyramid complex from the Egyptian
Museum. The Sphinx
(not shown in this model) was carved out of a
natural outcrop of rock much earlier than the
construction of Chephren's pyramid complex, so
the funerary temple had to be squeezed in beside
the Sphinx temple. Here is a link to two books
about the Pyramids. The Orion Mystery refers to the
orientation of the three Pyramids of Giza whose placement
seems to reproduce the relationship of the stars in the
constellation Orion. Other
Related Pyramid Pages The Pharaohs
Who Built the Pyramids | Where are the Pyramids
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Pyramids
Named
Chephren Complex
The
Sphinx
Model
of Complex
Related
Books
Pyramids at Giza | Solarboat Museum | Tourist Attractions
| Perfume Oils- From Pharaoh to
France |
Timeline of Dynasties | Plan Your Visit
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| Introduction
to Pyramids Site
Pyramids
Queen Tetsheri
Egyptian
Wallpaper for your PC
From Pixel
Paradox $4
more Egyptian wallpapersView of
Great Pyramids of Giza from desert. The small
pyramids on right are unfinished burial pyramids
for the queens of Mycerinus, who was buried in
the adjacent large pyramid. The pyramid of
Chephren (Khafre) is shown on the left and the
third and largest pyramid, the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) is only slightly visible behind it. The
pyramid of the Pharaoh Cheops was built first,
the pyramid of Chephren was built for his son,
and the pyramid of Mycerinus (Menkaure) was built
for his grandson. All were Pharaohs in their
time, click here to see
pictures of Pharaohs. As you can see
the pyramids have several names. I have used
Greek names and have shown other names in
parentheses, and guide books differ in what they
call them.
F16 Over Pyramids
Egyptian
Wallpaper for your PC
From Pixel
Paradox $4
more Egyptian wallpapers
Where are the
Pyramids |
Composition of
Blocks | How Blocks were
Lifted
Each
pyramid had a funerary and mortuary building with
a covered causeway connecting the two. The dark
building on the left is the Sphinx temple. Just
beside it on the far left, out of view, is the
mortuary temple of Chephren. You can see the
white walls of the partially restored causeway
behind the dark building. The Funerary Temple of
Chephren is not visible as there are only a few
remaining stones of the structure at the base of
the pyramid.
Order The Complete Pyramids Today!
Order The Orion Mystery Today!
Composition of Blocks | How Blocks were Lifted
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