Day 3: PYRAMIDS! Sphinx, Papyrus Factory, Memphis, Saqqara, Sarcophagus of Ti, and Plane Ride

Yipee!! 

Oh, they are fantastic. Jacqueline kept leaning over to me and saying, "Guess what? we're at the pyramids!" We got giddy each time she mentioned it. We got to go into the very middle of the biggest pyramid, Khefrens pyramid. It was  a little claustrophobic when we traveled in there because it was about 3x3 feet tunnel into the burial chamber. The actual chamber had peaked roofs, with plain cement walls. The actual burial tomb was huge and a lot more plain than I expected. It was a little toasty, sweaty  and humid inside with about 100 people jammed into a room. It was totally worth it though.

The oldest and Largest pyramid is that of Khufu measuring 756 feet on the side and originally stood 481 feet high. It has about 2,300,000 limestone blocks. each weighing an average of 5,000 pounds. The other two pyramids are owned by Khafre and Menkaure.

We got outside and were attacked by vendors. We had to almost be rude to get them to leave us alone. We had so much fun taking pictures and playing around the grounds. James organized and choreographed a dance to Waka Waka It's Time For Africa and we danced in front of pyramids! Now, who can say they danced infront of the pyramids?! I'll post the videos on facebook.

Giza Pyramids and Sphinx
1. The first and largest of the great pyramids was built for which paroah and dynasty?
            A)Khufu of the 4th Dynasty.
2. Judd said this was a bad/dumb question.
3.  Describe the components of a buriel complex. State them in the order of the ritual entombment after the death of a Pharaoh.
            A) Ritual of entombment began with a valley mortuary temple, a causeway to an upper mortuary temple, culminating with a pyramid-shaped tomb.  
4. Whose temple is located next to the Sphinx?
            A) The templ for Khafre
5. What is the significance of a solar boat?

A) It is the boat that the pharaoh traveled from mortality to the afterlife in.  

 MASSIVE!!!!!

 The sphinx is carved out of a single mass of rock laying 240 feet long and 66 feet high! It was massive! It's from the body of a lion and the head of Khafre. I am so so grateful for the hard work those that built these put forth. It would have been a task i would have never tackled.

 Stone lips... I don't suggest it.

We got to visit a papyrus factory! They showed us how to make it: 1. take the root of papyrus 2. cut in strips 3. soak in sugar water for 8-15 days depending on the color of papyrus you want 4. lay in criss-cross pattern 5. press for 10 days and you get a waterproof unbreakable sheet of papyrus!

Amy, Megan, Myself, Megan, meredith, Jacqueline and Cherysh all enjoying our papyrus!

 We went to lunch in this beautiful place right next to the nile! It was such beautiful farm land, I couldn't believe the night and day contrast of the land from the pyramids to the land next to the nile. I loved driving through the town and seeing a different life than i have ever seen before and such hard workers these Egyptians were.They get paid meagerly and work so so hard. While driving through the small towns It made me want to live there. I want to get to know the people, see what their culture is like. I tried to talk to people but little success. I hope one day I can come back here knowing the language.

 matthew and I!

The statue of Herod II!
We headed to memphis which was the only capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom (3100-2200 BC) The whole city symbolized the unification of upper and lower Egypts.  These statues were massive and so so cool to think that thousands of years ago people just like me built these.

Memphis

1. What was symbolic about Memphis during the old kingdom?

symbolized the unification of upper and lower egypt. 

what age coincides with the old kingdom? 

Early bronze age 

who was the founder of Memphis? 

menes

2. name the patron god of memphis

Ptah, the universal creator god. headed the trinity of memphis 

who formed the trinity of memphis? 

included Sekhmet (wife) and Nefertum (their son)

3. what likely took place in memphis regarding Sarah? joseph? moses?

the pharaoh who took sarah into hsi court was likely in memphis. joseph posibly served in memphis under a Hyksos pharoah. moses spent time there. 

4. who is represented in the large sculpture in the museum at memphis?

Ramses 2 

what is significant about this person in relation to how he is often depicted? 

put his name on other peoples statues. 

5. describe the fate of memphis after 300 bc. 

in 321 memphis became the first capital of ptolemy 1, who later built a new capital at alexandria. memphis declined as alexandria replaced its economic functions and as the nile shifted eastward. 

The forward right leg meant this statue was built in the time they were in reign.

Desert wasteland to Ti's tomb.

This picture I told Cherysh to be excited about the camel "Creepin" over the wall and this is what I got.

The tomb we visited was a famous hair stylist in his day. He made enough money to build a burial chamber for his wife, son and himself! I think this was one of the best, because of the people i was with. We walked inside his VERY stuffy tomb to see all these really great pictures that he had painted. They would involve everyday life in the pictures along with political times. These were probably the best preserved i'd seen and loved to hear the story that clearly made sense on the wall. We were getting slap silly in the heat and movin so so much in the day we decided to have a staring contest. Exhaustively laughing for 10 straight minutes as I would NOT lose to Cherysh. We were sweating probably more than i ever have. 40 people squished in this tiny room with no ventilation. Funny experiences in that place. We got to hike down underneath the building to see the actual Sarcophagus. I saw the biggest beatle i've ever seen in my life. Someone yelled, "It's like the one in the mummy! I think it will eat people from the inside out!" I bolted for the door. I've never seen the movie or knew if it was true and didn't want to risk it! Cherysh wouldn't let that one down. We get out on top and walk out the entrance while Cherysh yells, "Hit me sariah desert!" Amy says, "Do you mean Sahara?" Yeah, I love my life with these two cute girls in it.

Charles and I roastin and toastin in the desert!

Saqaara
1. What was the function of Saqqara in ancient Memphis?
It was a cemetary.
2. Describe the Step Pyramid of Zoser and how it was constructed?
Mastabas constructed on top of mastabas.
3. Explain what is inscribed on the walls inside the Fifth Dynasty pyramid of Unas, and what it entails.
A religious document that described and facilitated the Pharaoh’s successful passage to the afterlife.
4. What do we learn from the relief carvings on the walls of numerous tombs at Saqqara?
1) Egyptians practiced circumcision.
2) They made offerings of oil and cereal.
3) They sacrificed animals.
4) They believed in a separation of body and spirit after death.
5. What is the Serapium?
The underground tomb with many passageways and chambers for sacred apis bulls.
6. Describe what took place here and what it represented.

It was the largest burial complex in Ancient Egypt. 

Next was Saqqara, where the first pyramid ever built! Saqqara was founded at the same time as Memphis and remained central longer than Memphis did. It was the largest burial complex in ancient Egypt. It's called Mastaba which in Arabic means Bench and refers to the box-like structure built above the ground over a tomb. This was built by Zoser burial chambers in the third dynasty when Imhotep (His architect) added five increasingly Mastabas atom the unusually large one thus creating a step pyramid. 

 We were pretty tired at this point and just wandered. There was a lot to see around the area!

 Cherysh, Myself, Amy, Jamie and Lexie

 We hopped on the plane to Luxor! We Meg, Chelsea and I kinda felt like movie stars getting to walk up a ramp so we had to document. The plane ride was a blast. I sat by cute Hannah and swapped boy stories the whole ride.

On our way from the plane into the airport meg and I had too much fun. We took a jumping picture on the tram. I love that woman!

 We got to Luxor! Our hotel was INCREDIBLE. I felt like a queen and way too spoiled. We were pooped and went to bed as soon as possible.