Memphis and its Necropolis the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshu
Abstract
Extraordinary funeral monuments were found in the old Kingdom of Egypt capital which included the ornate mastabas, pyramids, rock tombs and temples. Historically, the Memphis and its Necropolis was recognized as among the Seven Wonders of the World since a number of exceptional monuments which contained great antiquity are embraced by the ensemble at Memphis. The oldest of the pyramid was constructed in limestone from a regular cut stone and it was of the first pharaoh of the Memphis period. Around the pyramid of Cheops, a discovery of a boat which is one of the oldest preserved boats today was made at Giza. In this paper we intend to look at the importance of the Memphis and Necropolis the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshu and also at their history in Egypt. The paper also intends to look at the location of this site and how it has benefitted the country of Egypt. The most brilliant civilization of the earth is bore witness by the exceptional artistic, historic and sociological interests of the monuments The Saqqara archaic necropolis is traced back to the period of the configuration of the Pharaonic Empire. The paper will clearly analyze on the benefits these pyramids have brought in Egypt and Africa as a whole and explain in details the current state of the monuments. It is said that only few of them exist and others have been destroyed.
Site Location
Memphis and its Necropolis the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshu is an archeological site which is located on the Plateau of Giza outside Cairo in Egypt. The complex of the ancient monuments is inclusive of the three complexes pyramids which are recognized as the great pyramids, massive sculpture known as the great sphinx and a Memphis of industrial complex. Memphis which is recognized as the historic capital of Egypt is said
Fig. 1. A map of the location of the site
In the world heritage property there are four types of pyramids which are included and they are scarcely spread in the desert near the Nile west bank over an estimated distance of thirty kilometers. Depending with the unique temples, mastabas and tombs assemblance and also relating to a precise period each group is said to be different. The Giza pyramids are situated at the northern high end of the field with the distinctive Sphinx. They are very close to the city of Cairo and they pose a great risk of being engulfed by the highly modern metropolis. Going further into the south you will find complexes at Saqqara, Dahshur and Abu Sir whereby in between them there are about thirty five more pyramids.
History
The construction of a new capital in Egypt in the location near the Nile Delta, Mennufer and the City of Menes was ordered by Menes the first unified Egyptian kingdom sovereign. Mennufer was also recognized as the dwelling of the Ka of Ptah which was the most significant sanctuary ever dedicated to the creative force god shaped as a ram-headed artisan who was portrayed to be shaping humanity on his potters wheel.
Fig.2. Photo of Sphinx
Summary
The pyramids of Egypt hardly require an introduction since they are the only historic members of the Wonders of the World that exist and the highly recognized monuments in the whole of Africa. The relic of these enormous structures including the pharaoh’s tombs is purely mind boggling. The first of the
Fig.3. Picture of a pyramid in Egypt
pyramids which was also recognized as the earliest monument made of stone was built in 2650 BC in Saqqara which is more than four thousand six hundred and fifty years back. Around 3100BC the ancient Memphis capital was built which was situated in the point where river valley was met by the Nile Delta and it thus served as a effective bridge which was normally known to unify the lower and upper Egypt lands. Today, the ancient Memphis is a very tiny village which is twenty four kilometers on the south of Cairo and almost three kilometers from the Saqqara pyramids which are said to be the most ancient. Sphinx is said to have faced various restorations over the centuries and the first one was conducted in 1400 B.C.by pharaoh Tuthmosis IV. According to him he claimed to have had a dream of the Sphinx requesting him to do away with the sand that surrounded it in return he will be given the crown of the lower and the upper Egypt. Currently the monument has undergone a major modernized restoration.
Memphis and its Necropolis – the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur has highly recognized the pyramids universal admiration due to their highly representation of the exceptional and antiquity civilization. This is the reason why the site was named among the Seven Wonders of the World. Memphis stopped being the Old Kingdom of Egypt capital in 2200BC. The city’s ruins lies on the south of Cairo about nineteen kilometers on the Nile’s west bank. However, there still are some very extraordinary monuments in forms of tombs and temples.
Giza is located twenty five kilometer southwest of Cairo and it consist of its three pyramids recognized as the industrial complex, a workers village and great sphinx. On the west Nile’s bank approximately forty kilometers from the city of Cairo lies a royal necropolis described as Dahshur. This is a place that is highly recognized due to several pyramids two of which are the biggest preserved and oldest in Egypt and they include the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. A lot of historians believe that Memphis was the major administrative center for most of the history of pharaonic. This is because Memphis was one of the major important cities in the region after the city of Alexandria. The city went ahead in being the key population center in Egypt until the Roman Empire conquest Importance
Memphis and its Necropolis – the pyramid fields from Giza to Dahshur are one of the major places that have highly attracted tourists from all over the World to Egypt. The pyramids are historical sites that have developed an established name in the world and people from all corners of the earth have had great interest in the site. Egypt is one of the countries worldwide that is highly recognized with tourism due to its ancient construction arts. The country has acquired a lot of revenue from the tourism industry which has enabled in its growth in certain areas such as infrastructure, economy and political sector thus enabling the country to achieve modern standards as other countries of Africa. Egypt has become one of the highly developed countries in Africa with a well established economy, high standard infrastructure and others and tourism is said to be the highly revenue producing sector in the country.
The Pyramids of Egypt are also said to have acted as tombs for the ancient pharaohs and the country’s most famous monument which is the Sphinx has enabled researchers to carry out research on the site. A lot of people have visited the site including politicians, journalists, men of God, Students, scientists and others in order to have a view of the monuments. Though the monuments tend to
Fig.4.Pyramids in Egypt
be located in the desert they are not very far from Cairo the capital city of Egypt and they are likely to be affected by the expansion that is continuing in the country. These pyramids have made Egypt become one of the highly recognized countries in Africa. A lot of literatures articles have been written by scholarly authors regarding the ancient pyramids and the beauty of the pyramids have led to creation of great pictures which are found in so many places including the internet. The pyramids have also enabled film makers to make frequent visits in the country since it has been claimed as a very attractive sport for movies including historical movies.
Work Cited
Muckle, Robert James. "Introducing Archaeology." Muckle, Robert James. Introducing Archaeology. Carlifornia: University of Toronto Press, 2006. 59.
Shackley, Myra. Visitor Management. Burlington: CRC Press, 1998.
UNESCO. Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur. n.d. 2012. 27 November 2012
World Heritage Site. Pyramids (Memphis). n.d. 2011. 27 November 2012
