Giza Necropolis, Archaeological site in Giza Governorate, Egypt.
The Giza pyramid complex is a necropolis in Giza Governorate, Egypt, containing three large limestone burial monuments along with smaller tombs and temples on a raised plateau. Each of the three main pyramids is surrounded by temples, courtyards, and tombs built for members of the royal families and high officials.
Three rulers of the Fourth Dynasty built these tombs between the 26th and 25th centuries before the common era, beginning with Khufu and followed by his son and grandson. Construction took decades and employed thousands of workers who brought material from quarries in the area and from the Nile valley.
The complex takes its name from the nearby city and was built for three rulers and their families, with temples for rituals after death. Priests carried out ceremonies here for generations, while stonemasons and workers lived and worked in settlements at the edge of the site.
Visitors who come to the site should arrive early in the morning to avoid the heat and wear sturdy footwear because the ground is uneven and dusty. Some areas are accessible via ramps and pathways, but the interiors of the monuments can have narrow passages and steep steps.
The site is aligned so that the sides of the largest pyramid face almost exactly toward the four cardinal directions, with a deviation of less than one tenth of a degree. Those who walk through the grounds often notice traces of old ramps and quarries that show how material was processed on location.
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