Exploring Jordan and Egypt

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Wednesday, 9 March 2022 - Visited the royal necropolis at Dahshur including the Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid with detailed stonework and unique architectural history, then continued on to Saqqara to explore tombs and reliefs including the Tomb of Kagemni before returning to the pyramids at Giza for photos and ending the day with panoramic views of the Great Pyramids and camel scenes near sunset.

The tour with Uniworld was over and for two days we were on a tour of Cairo with 4 others from Austin, TX. Arranged by Crisney Lane our tour agent in Austin for this trip.

egypt2022 — Our first stop was to the Dahshur royal necropolis which is south of Giza. This is the home of the Bent Pyramid (2613-2589 BC), built under the rule of King Sneferu. The Bent Pyramid was the first attempt at building a smooth sided pyramid, but proved to be an unsuccessful build. This was due to the miscalculations made on the structural weight being placed on the soft ground of sand, gravel, and clay, which tended to subside.

egypt2022 — Cal and Virginia Ann on the blocks of the Bent Pyramid.

egypt2022 — The corner of the Bent Pyramid showing the exposed blocks under the limestone covering.

egypt2022 — The stones at the base of the Bent Pyramid.

egypt2022 — A satellite pyramid near the Bent Pyramid - likely did not have anyone buried in it.

The Bent Pyramid rises from the desert at a 54-degree inclination, but the top section is built at the shallower angle of 43 degrees, giving the pyramid a visibly 'bent' appearance.

egypt2022 — As your travel away from the Nile there is not a lot of green - it drops from lush green to sand abruptly. When we saw this little patch of flowers Cal had to incorporate them into a picture.

As the first geometrically "true" pyramid in the world, the Bent Pyramid shows its uniqueness from the method of construction.

egypt2022 — Our crew - note the left legs are forward, as with all the pharaoh statues, in a sign of power. Jana Collins, Crisney Lane, Cal and Virginia Holman and Jan and Steve Wilson. Jana, Crisney, Jan, and Steve are from Austin.

It was a great group to travel with. All planed by Crisney who was also on the trip with us.

egypt2022 — The Bent Pyramid was not a "success" so using the final angle of the Bent Pyramid (43 degrees) they erected the Red Pyramid. This is the Red Pyramid as seen from the Bent Pyramid across the desert sand.

egypt2022 — Named for the rusty reddish hue of its red limestone stones, it is also the third-largest Egyptian pyramid, after those of Khufu and Khafre at Giza. It is also believed to be Egypt's first successful attempt at constructing a "true" smooth-sided pyramid and was built 2575-2551 BC.

egypt2022 — King Sneferu ordered the building of the Red Pyramid. His son was Khufu who would take the lessons learned at the Red Pyramid and build the Great Pyramid in Giza.

egypt2022 — The Black Pyramid built by King Amenemhat III (1860-1814 BC) is one of the five remaining pyramids of the original eleven pyramids at Dahshur in Egypt. Originally named Amenemhet is Mighty, the pyramid earned the name Black Pyramid for its dark, decaying appearance as a rubble mound. The Black Pyramid was the first to house both the deceased pharaoh and his queens.

egypt2022 — Palm trees are everywhere - they are planted in any empty space for their dates.

egypt2022 — A short ride to the north was a return to Sakkara to visit sites we did not see the day prior. This is the remains at the site entrance.

egypt2022 — We first visited the Tomb of Kagemni. Kagemni (2345-2323 BC) was King Teti's chief justice. The reliefs and friezes of the tomb have been painstakingly restored and are considered one of the finest existing examples of Old Kingdom art.

egypt2022 — The art in the tomb depict scenes of daily life in Ancient Egypt accompanied by hieroglyphic dialogue.

Hippopotamus vs crocodile - looks like the hippopotamus is winning.

egypt2022 — All the walls covered in daily scenes - like milking a cow.

egypt2022 — Detail of a frog and dragonfly.

egypt2022 — Ducks or geese - a favorite of Virginia Ann.

egypt2022 — Another hippopotamus vs crocodile - the Nile River must have been pretty violent back then.

egypt2022 — A basenji??

egypt2022 — Men carrying gifts for the gods.

egypt2022 — Anubis the dog god in the hieroglyphics.

egypt2022 — Next to the Tomb of Kagemni is the pyramid of his king - King Teti.

Many of Saqqara's later pyramids were built during a time of economic hardship, and the inferior materials used have not withstood the test of time.

egypt2022 — Hieroglyphic spells from the Pyramid Texts adorn the interior walls.

We were able to enter the pyramid and travel down a steep set of stairs to a small antechamber and then a tomb chamber.

egypt2022 — The pyramid of Teti is the second royal monument to contain the complex theological corpus to assist and support the rebirth of the king.

egypt2022 — The burial chamber contains an unfinished sarcophagus, a fragment of a lid and a container that is nothing more than a simple hole in the ground. And for the first time, a royal sarcophagus contains inscriptions, here slightly etched on the hollow interior of the vessel.

egypt2022 — On our way out of Sakkara we stopped at one of the many carpet schools. Here young children (boys mostly) attend school and then learn how to make wool and silk rugs working alongside their fathers.

egypt2022 — A very large rug - they had all sizes. We came close but fortunately were able to escape without a purchase.

egypt2022 — A pretty rug early in its life.

egypt2022 — We left the carpet school around 2:00 without lunch. Our tour guide said he had made reservations at a restaurant in Giza at the pyramids, however, it would take 30-45 minutes to get to Giza. He said he also knew of a local restaurant with a nice garden and good food if we wanted to eat. We quickly voted to travel back to Giza.

It did not take long to get to Giza - we paid for entry to the park and drove well past where we were just the day before. As we continued around the pyramids Cal asked to stop the van to take a picture of the pyramids lined up.

egypt2022 — Then the light changed so Cal requested another stop. He was ready just to walk along the road the light was so beautiful.

egypt2022 — This was the view from the 9 Pyramids Lounge - simply jaw dropping. We were so happy we decided to wait for the Giza reservation.

The queen pyramids of Pharaoh Menkaure then the Pyramid of Menkaure in the middle is Khafre's pyramid and on the far right is the Great Pyramid. Hard to see in this picture but the three queen pyramids are to the right of the Great Pyramid. Ergo the name of the restaurant - 9 Pyramids Lounge.

egypt2022 — Camel ride vendor moving his camels in the wadi near the restaurant.

egypt2022 — A camel train passing the two larger Giza Pyramids. We were there until almost 5:00 so the park was closing and many of the camel vendors were headed back for the evening.

egypt2022 — Pyramid of Menkaure and his queens.

egypt2022 — Pyramid of Khafre

egypt2022 — Virginia Ann and Cal at the 9 Pyramids Lounge - which was a very good restaurant. Our meal was great and the views fantastic. It was a great day as the day before the weather was not as good.

egypt2022 — On the way out Cal, again, asked to stop the van - this time everyone piled out to snap a picture of the pyramids.

egypt2022 — The view from our hotel across the Nile River.

egypt2022 — Directly below our room the fisherman were having a late night supper.

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