Egyptian Monuments

Step Pyramid of Djoser

2630 BCE

Pharaoh Djoser's Step Pyramid begin as a traditonal flat-roofed tomb but by the end of his reign, stood 62m tall in 6 tiers as a step Pyramid. Djoser's Pyramid was the largest of it's time, built of stone instead of mud brick. There are burial chambers hidden in a series of underground tunnels although he was not buried there. A painted limestone statue of Djoser found his step pyramid
is the oldest known life-sized Egyptian statue. [Link text](www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/djoser.html)

Bent Pyramid

2600 BCE

This pyramid was built in the Old Kingdom by Pharaoh Snefru. The pyramid rises from the sands at 54 degrees but midway up, it changes to 43 degrees. The bent pyramid reaches 105 metres to the sky and represents the transition from step pyramids to smooth sided pyramids. The pyramid contains 2 burial chambers, and the cult of Snefru was centered there although he was never buried.Link text

Red Pyramid

2600 BCE

The Red or North Pyramid named for the red hue of the limestone, built in the Old Kingdom, is Pharaoh Snefru's 3rd attempt at a smooth-sided pyramid. It stands 104m tall and had two small chambers alongside a single burial chamber. Snefru died before the pyramid was completed and his son, Khufu had it finished. Snefru is not suspected to have been buried in the Red Pyramid but in a red sarcophagus in a tomb, however, the remains went missing.Link text

Great Pyramids of Giza

2560 BCE

The Great Pyramids were built over 3 generations - Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. The Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest and largest of the pyramids of Giza, standing 146m high. It is took 20 years to construct and is made of over 2 million stone blocks. The great sphinx is carved in front of Khafre's temple, which also has all elements of pharaonic mortuary temples. Menkaure is 1/10 the size of Khafre's pyramid but with a very elaborate temple.Link text

Great Sphinx

2500 BCE

The Great Sphinx is one of the largest and oldest monuments in the world with the head of a king/god and the body of a lion. Much of the sphinx remains unknown such as; who built it, when it was built, it's purpose, who's face is on it and what happened to it's nose. It is 45m long, carved from bedrock in the Giza plateau. The Great Sphinx aligns with the Great Pyramid of Giza (Khafre), so many theorize the sphinx was built for Khafre.Link text

Karnak Temple Complex

1600 BCE

Karnak is the largest ancient religious preservation in the world. It was a main place of worship and was deemed the most hallowed of places. Karnak contains four main temples; Amun-Re, Opet, Khons and Mut as well as smaller temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings. Each Pharaoh altered, added or destroyed aspects of Karnak in their image throughout their reign. Building at Karnak began in the Middle Kingdom and lasted until the Greco-Roman period(300BC).Link text

Valley of the Kings

1539 BCE

The Valley of the Kings is the hidden valley constructed of the tombs of kings and nobles of the New Kingdom for 500 years(1539-1075BC). It contains 63 tombs varying from pits to tombs with 120 chambers. The tombs help identify beliefs and funeral rituals and how they changed over 5 centuries. The tomb of King Tutankhamen is the last discovered tomb in the Valley of Kings, which remained hidden until 1922.Link text

Temple of Hatshepsut

1496 BCE

Hatshepsut was the first female Pharaoh, who's reign lasted over 21 years. She was very successful, Egypt flourished and her people loved her. The temple built in her honour took approximately 15 years to complete, built 30 metres into the cliff side of Deir el Bahari. The temple itself has 3 terraced courtyards, gardens, fountians and many chambers, statues and carvings in honour of herself, the Gods and her family. [Link text](http://www.sacred-destinations.com/egypt/luxor-temple-of-hatshepsut

Luxor Temple

1400 BCE

The Ipet Resyt or Southern Harem was founded in the New Kingdom, dedicated to Amun, Mut, Khonsu and acted as shrine of the king's cult. I was the focus of the Opet Festival-one of the most important religious festivals of Egypt.The temple is divided into 10 sections including chapels, chambers and courtyards. Nectanebo I, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, Tutankhamen, Ramesses II, Horemheb, Nubian kings, and Seti I added to the temple. Link text

Malkata (Malqata) Palace

1375 BCE

The Palace, built by Amenhotep III spanned 30 hectares and contained separate apartments for himself, his principal wife and eldest daughter, a large temple dedicated to Amun, as well as quarters for the other members of the royal family and royal officials. The palace had an artificial lake built for sailing and was connected with Amenhotep's mortuary temple. It was built of mud bricks walls painted with murals and lavishly decorated.[Link text](www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/malkatapalace)

Abu Simel

1284 BCE

The temples of Abu Simel was built by Ramses II in his 67 year reign. There are two temples at Abu Simbel; the Temple of Ramses II-dedicated to Ra-Harakhty, Ptah and Amun, and the Temple of Nefertari- dedicated to the goddess Hathor. The Temple of Ramses II is considered the most impressive temple by Ramses II. It is carved 33m into the cliff side, the interior of both temples features carvings and statues in honour of the gods.Link text