First published: 09/04/19.

Alexander Barabanov 5.0

Pyramids (Memphis)

Pyramids (Memphis) (Inscribed)

Pyramids (Memphis) by Alexander Barabanov

Visited this site in March 2019. I voted for a guided tour in order to skip the hassles of bakshish boys and distances between Giza, Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis. With early departure (07:00) and (unfortunately) skipping of certain Mastabas in Saqqara it was possible for me and my friend to cover all four sites, including interior visits to Red Pyramid; Teti Pyramid, Khufu (Cheops) Great Pyramid + Solar Boat Museum. 

There is probably not much could be added to decribe the iconic pyramids. For me the most amazing things are that in thousands of papyruses nothing is written about pyramid construction process and another thing that there is only one 3-inch tiny rough figurine of Cheops is left and known (to be compared with numerous colossal statues of Ramses II, who, in turn, saved GDP spendings of one more pyramid).  

I would recommend to arrange the guided tour in advance in order to be "protected" from sellers, trouts, bakshish boys, helpers, camel riders, etc. With our tour we were also able to enter with the car inside all 4 key sites and save a lot of time. Dahshur was the most deserted site. In Saqqara Djoser pyramid is still in scaffolding, but only on one side. I like interior chamber of Teti Pyramid covered with hieroglyphs (but looking suspiciously new).

There is no any queues for the interior chamber of Khufu (Cheops) Great Pyramid nowadays (as I understood in the past it was quite difficult to get inside with morning and evening limits of tickets sold very quickly). However, there are still many people in Giza area. And yes, when staring at these unbelievable structures you have a very strange feeling of eternity and desire to understand how all this was possible 5,000 years ago.

The current prices as of March 2019 are: Dahshur - 60 EGP (includes Red Pyramid); Saqqara - 150 EGP; Memphis - 80 EGP; Giza - 160 EGP; Great Pyramid Interior - 360 EGP. No visit to Cairo could be counted without visiting Egyptian Museum. Now it can be visited on evenings 17:30-21:00 on Sunday and Thursday. Evening price is higher (there are student discounts): Entrance 220 EGP; Mummy Rooms - 225 EGP and finally yesss! Photo - 50 EGP (become possible only a couple of years ago). 

Comments

No comments yet.

Log in to post a comment