|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Giza – |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Grand Egyptian Museum – A new museum complex will have amazing Tutankhamun treasures (some artifacts never seen before), massive ancient Egyptian statues, mummies and more. Check for latest info: Grand Egyptian Museum. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inside
the pyramids at Giza – At Giza, kids will never forget going
inside the pyramids of Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren) and Menkaure. The ramps
leading down into the pyramid are kid size (an adult has to bend over).
Inside, you emerge into the galleries, some with very high ceilings. The
sensation of being inside these huge piles of stone is awesome. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ride
around the pyramids – Rent horses (or donkeys) for an hour or two. Camels are also a popular option, if kids haven't hopped up on one before. On horseback
you are less likely to be approached by all the souvenir sellers and self
appointed guides. Our boys said, "It's the best way to see the Giza pyramids." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pyramids Sound and Light show – Your kids may not care about the narrative,
but lighting effects are amazing! Also, it begins early
in the evening and there is something wonderful about seeing the pyramids
in the dark. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Khufu's Boat Museum (Solar Boat Museum) – In addition to all the stuff inside his great pyramid, Cheops funerary goodies included two full size "sun boats" to ferry the pharaoh through the afterworld or across the heavens. In the museum, you'll see an amazing reconstruction of one boat, re-assembled from over 1200 pieces. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Editor’s note – Giza is a circus. Sometimes I wanted to make
all the souvenir sellers and camel drivers just disappear. A sense of
humor helps. When I’d been accosted for the gazillionth time, "Want
to ride a camel?" and I’d replied, "We’ve ridden camels
and they aren’t comfortable," one guy wittily responded, "Want
to buy a camel." The kids loved the idea. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Saqqara (Sakkara) – Saqqara is close
to Cairo, but fewer tourists. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Step Pyramid is impressive, the first stone pyramid, over 4,600 years old, is now open to explore inside, climb down to see the burial chamber of King Djoser, with huge stone sarcophagus. Kids will like low ceilings in the passageways, and carved reliefs on the walls. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Our favorite tombs were Prince Unas tomb and and Mastaba of Ti, with lovely painted reliefs, scenes of daily life. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
At the Mastaba of Ti, inside we saw a live scarab beetle. Our guide caught it in a plastic bag
and asked if we wanted to take it home. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dashur – Dashur is just
a little further than Saqqara, and well worth a visit. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
The Red Pyramid is as large as the Great
Pyramid at Giza and the interior rooms are very impressive.
My son said, "We squeezed through a narrow stone doorway and came out
into a room. Not just any room, but a huge stone room with vaulted ceilings
that looked like it has upside down steps in it. I stared there for awhile
with my nose and mouth hanging open, just staring." |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
Illustrated history of the world's oldest and largest buildings – the pyramids at Saqqara and Giza, how the pyramids were built, preserving the pharaoh for the afterlife, new discoveries about the pyramids. (Illustrated chapter book)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
When
the magic tree house whirls Jack and Annie into ancient Egypt, they
go deep inside the great stone pyramid. Will they decipher the hieroglyphs
on the pyramid wall to find the Book of the Dead and discover a
way out? (Easy reader)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
1464 BC. Nakht, studying to be a scribe, keeps a journal of his adventures in Memphis, site of the great tomb pyramids. Along with a hippo hunt, visiting Giza, meeting Hatshepsut, Nakht and his sister discover a tomb robbery in progress. Wonderful illustrations and historical details. (Chapter book)
|
|
