Surroundings of Cairo
It is enough to enter the terrace of the Cairo citadel next to the Alabaster Mosque, to see the silhouettes of the Giza pyramids through the smog over the city, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, which has stood the test of time. Many people associate the word "pyramid" with mystery and eternity. Some people attribute the unknown to these buildings, mysterious powers and calculate to the nearest micron the distances between their various points, forgetting, that they were originally devoid of lime cladding. Others believe, that their location on earth corresponds exactly to the arrangement of the stars in the sky (the so-called. not Oriona). However, nothing for certain is really known about the pyramids, nor about the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, who raised them up. There are no inscriptions on the oldest ones – to, who they were intended for was determined after long research, inferring on the basis of, inter alia,. graffiti of workers putting them up.
Therefore, the revelations of Robert Bauval cannot be finally rejected or confirmed, the author of the book Pyramids. Gate to the stars, or the even more fantastic theory of Graham Hancock (The gods' fingers sit), who sees the work of a lost civilization in the pyramids, damaged approx. 12 thousand. years ago (perhaps the Atlantis). These and other hypotheses make archaeologists and experts in Egyptian history smile with pity. Zahi Hawass, head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, longtime director of the Giza pyramids area, he considers, that only those can say so, who don't believe in human genius and this, that deeply religious people are capable of such worship to their ruler.
Egypt is the land of the pyramids. They are located not only in the vicinity of Cairo, but also in the south, e.g.. in al-Kola north of Edfu. The most famous and the biggest ones can be found near the capital: in Giza, w Zawijat al-Arjan,
Abu Ghurab, Sakkarzc, w Abu Sir, Dahshura and further south in al-Liszta, Mazghunie and Majduie (Meidum). The ones in Giza are the most popular – there is always a crowd around them. People who want to enter the interior of the Great Pyramid must hurry, so that there is no shortage of tickets. Many tourists also visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, interiors of the 5th Dynasty pyramids and mastabas of dignitaries in Sakkarc.
Only groups of enthusiasts reach the rest (a trip to the further area must be reported to the tourist police due to numerous check points). Some pyramids, as in Abu Rawwasz (Abu Rawwash, dim. Roash) interesting only for specialists. In Abu Sir and Abu Rawwasz, excavations are underway and it is not known yet, what will be made available to tourists. Archaeological work is also carried out in Saqqara and Giza (but the monuments can be visited).