Pyramids of Giza, Cairo, Egypt, Solarboat Museum, Cheops' Funerary Boat.

A model of the solarboat.

Actual, reconstructed boat that was used in the funerary ceremonies of Cheops over 4000 year ago. This boat was probably used to carry the body across the Nile. Several boats were used in the ceremonies. Five boat pits have been found around the Pyramid of Cheops.

Funerary ceremonies would have included rituals carrying the body along the Nile to the Funerary Temple to be mummified, rituals during the mummification period, the ritual journey up the darkened causeway, entombment ceremonies and the actual placement of the body in the sarcophagus in the pyramid.

During the burial portion of the ceremony, a boat carrying the mummified body was dragged up a covered causeway that connected the funerary temple with the mortuary temple. Following the entombment ceremonies, the boat was buried beside the pyramid in a large pit, along with others connected with the ceremonies.

Model of typical Pyramid complex showing covered causeway and the mortuary and funerary temples.

This model of a pyramid complex shows the causeway that connected the funerary temple with the mortuary temple.

	The Solarboat Museum is climate controlled to protect the boat, and is therefore a pleasant site to visit toward the middle of the day as the heat increases. The walkways are built beside the boat, allowing good views of all aspects of the boat.
the boat pit
	The Solarboat Museum is built over the pit that contained the boat. The boat was discovered after World War II. This is the pit and the cover stones. You can see another excavated pit, outside, in front of the pyramid.