Throwback Thursday – 32

In the coming weeks, I will be exploring Egypt, so here’s a taste from last year’s trip.

This week’s throwback is very much focused on some of the upcoming photography that I will share with all of you! During the coming 2 weeks, I will be spending some more quality time in the wonderful country of Egypt, a place rich in history and culture that has always captivated my imagination. I will explore some iconic sites that I have not been to before, including serene landscapes and the bustling city of Alexandria. Additionally, I will return to some of my favorite locations that I have previously visited, where I hope to capture new perspectives and experiences through my lens.

For today, I present you with a throwback to both last year’s visit, and antiquity…

Ancient and Modern

The pyramids of Giza are probably the best-known monuments of the ancient world, standing as towering symbols of a civilization that has long since passed but continues to captivate the imagination of people worldwide. These massive structures, built thousands of years ago, are truly impressive testaments to human ingenuity and engineering skills, showcasing remarkable precision and planning that would astound modern architects. Dating back to a time when simple machines were all that was available, the construction of the pyramids involved a complex organization of labor, resources, and knowledge that highlights the extraordinary capabilities of the ancient Egyptians. Each pyramid, meticulously designed and constructed, served as a grand tomb for pharaohs, reflecting both their wealth and status, while also demonstrating their belief in the afterlife and the importance of preserving their legacy for eternity. The incredible alignment of the pyramids with celestial bodies further illustrates the advanced understanding of astronomy that the ancient builders possessed.

Thursday Throwback – 16

In this week’s post, we explore the historical significance of Djoser’s Step Pyramid, built during the Third Dynasty.

I hope you don’t mind that I do something a bit different for this week’s installment of this series… Rather than going back into my archive of images captured over the past quarter century, I’d like to go way back into antiquity.

Here’s that jump back in time…

Djoser’s Step Pyramid

In the Third Dynasty, King Netjerykhet (c.2667-2648 BCE) [better known as Djoser] ordered his chief official Imhotep to build him something spectacular for his burial tomb. Imhotep created a funerary structure that would lead to the smooth-sided pyramids used by future pharaohs. Rather than the mastabas that were used by royals and elite Egyptians for their burial, he created a stacked form of mastabas that became this step pyramid.

I hope you enjoy this significant moment in Egyptian history.

Giza – A Taste of Egypt

Today’s exploration covered the remarkable sites of Saqqara and Giza, famous for their pyramids. A view of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure.

Today’s stops were the amazing sites of Saqqara and Giza, both know for their pyramids. The Saqqara location is truly outstanding, as it has access to a couple of tombs with amazing hieroglyphs and decorations. Not to be overlooked are the tomb of Kagemni, a vizier under pharaoh Teti, and the tomb of Teti. The latter is under a crumbled step-pyramid, where the burial chamber is accessible through a rather confining underground passage. Lots more to be feature about the Saqqara complex.

Today, let’s take a look at the rather well-known pyramids at Giza…

Giza Plateau Pyramids

In this image you can see the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure from left to right. Each of these are imposing structures within their own right, and seeing all of them together is magnificent with Greater Cairo in the background.

The Giza site is incredibly busy, as it is the biggest magnet for pyramid enthusiasts; Saqqara was not as busy and for my money more enjoyable!

More features on all of these are to come!