The first thing people think of with Egypt are the iconic pyramids. After Memphis, we visited the location of the first “pyramid”, the step pyramid of Djoser. This structure was the architectural transition point from the old mastaba (bench) style of tombs to the pyramids. The complex around it is among the oldest surviving structures in the world. Columns were carved to look like trees bound together. The goal was to make a lasting world. Wood rots, but stone remains. (and those stones have remained nearly 5,000 years) This kicked off the pyramid fad of the Old Kingdom, a period […]
Tag Archives: Giza
Pyramid Scheme
Teti has purified himself:May he take his pure seat in the sky!Teti endures:May his beautiful seats endure! Pyramid Texts, Utterance 407 Probably what Egypt is most famous for are the pyramids. Our first stop on our second day was the pyramids at Dashur, which is south of the more famous ones at Giza. Two main pyramids are located there that are well intact: the “bent” pyramid and “red” pyramid (from its color). They were built around 2600 BC by Pharaoh Sneferu. We went inside the red pyramid, climbing up some steps to the entrance and then descending a ramp with […]
Chasing the Sun
Greetings from Egypt! Tonight’s hotel has free WiFi in the lobby, so here’s a quick update. The week has been quite incredible. A typical day includes leaving before 7:00, lunch around 2:00, supper around 8:00. Itineraries generally are described as, “We’re doing this and that and the other thing…” (enough to sound tiring) “…and then after lunch we’re doing this other long list.” Egypt is quite the place. The distance between lush, fertile land and complete desert is a few feet. Our teacher (Dr. Paul Wright) often says we’re “chasing the sun”. In other words, we’ve got a lot to […]