The somewhat smaller Pyramid and the tomb of Fourth-dynasty pharaoh Khafre (or Chephren), the son of Khufu, a few hundred metres to the south-west and the relatively modest and smallest Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinos, pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt c 2620 BC – 2480 BC) a few hundred metres further south-west along with a number of smaller satellite edices, known as ‘queens’ pyramids (two of Khufu’s wives and his mother), causeways, and valley pyramids.

The Great Sphinx of Giza – is a huge statue of a reclining lion with a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile, near modern-day Cairo. It is the largest monolith statue in the world standing at 73.5m (241ft) long, 6m (20ft) wide, and 20m (65ft) high. It is the oldest known monumental sculpture. The Great Sphinx faces due east and houses a small temple between its paws. It is commonly believed that the Great Sphinx was created by the Pharaoh Khafra (Chephren) and that the Sphinx therefore dates to his reign (2520 BC – 2494 BC), and that the face is that of Khafra. This famous Sphinx is looking east has greeted the rising sun for 4500 years, guarding the pyramid of Khafre, the second largest pyramid.

Egyptian museum. The Pharaohs were the political and religious rulers of ancient Egypt. Their time and their decendents in power where known as dynasties. There where pharoahs for the different regions of the ancient Egypt e.g. Upper Egypt, Lower Egypt.

Cairo

Cairo, is the modern capital of Egypt is famous for its own history, preserved fabulous medieval Islamic city and Coptic sites in Old Cairo. This ancient city started to take its present form in 641. Cairo is the oldest and largest city in Africa and the Arab World being one most populous in the world.

Old Cairo

The oldest part of ancient city is known as Old Cairo which is the home of Cairo’s 12 million Coptic Christian community. This is the worlds oldest Christian denomination tracing its foundings to St Mark the Apositle in 42 AD. The Copts use the Julian calender, so Christmas falls on January 7th and Easter is celebrated 12 days behind the Gregorian dates.

Ben Ezra’s Synagogue – Egypt’s oldest synagogue dating back to the 9th century and was establised in 1115, in what was previously a Coptic Church. The famous Geniz Documents, discovered in the synagogue basement are of great interest to modern scholars of the medieval period in Egypt.

Coptic Museum – Established in 1908, houses Coptic Art and artifacts from Late Antiquity from the late Roman empire through to the Islamic era and beyond. The building itself is spectacular with elaborate wooden screens called mashrabiyya on the windows and ornately carved wooden arabesque ceilings.

The Hanging Church or Saint Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church – Built in 690 is situated on two basions of the Roman Babylon Fortress and its nave is suspended over a passageway. It is the most famous Coptic Christian Orthodox Church in Cairo and the first built in Basilican style. The history of a church on this s ite dates to the 3rd century. The Hanging Church has 100 icons, the oldest of which dates back to the 8th Century.

The Saladin Citadel (Castle) of Cairo is a very populare attraction for tourist. The citadel is located on part of the Muqattan Hills near the centre of Cairo and was once famours for its fresh breeze and grand view of the city. It was fortified by the Ayyudid ruler Salah al Din (Saladin) between 1176 and 1183 AD to protect it from the crusaders. Saladin built a wall that would suround both Cairo and Fustat making it difficult to attack, which was still under construction in 1238 long after his death. The effacacy of the Ctiadel’s location is further demonastated by the fact that it remained the heart of Egyptian government until the 19th Century.

The mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha is situated in the Citadel and was built between 1830 – 1848 on the site of old Mamluk buildings. This Ottoman mosque was the largest to be built and the 1st of the 19th century. The mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s oldest son who died in 1816. This mosque alongside the Citadel is a famous landmark and tourist attraction of Cairo and is one of the first freatures to be seen when approaching the city from any side.

The Citadel also contains Al-Gawhar Palace, The National Military Museum and The Police Museum.