On the Pharaonic Trail - Day 3
This day saw the culmination of a long-held dream... seeing the Pyramids of Giza! Seated in a carriage, with a hat to shield us from the sun, it was no wonder that we felt that we were adventurous travellers of the 18th century. After a short drive, we explored the foothills (they do resemble foothills) of the Great Pyramid (Pyramid of Khafre, ca 2570 BCE) and taking the requisite pic of touching the Pyramid - a human endeavour that has stood the test of 5,000 years or so, we were off for a photo stop at the Sphinx.
The Sphinx is believed to originally have been a natural rock outcrop in a peculiar shape. Ordered by Pharaoh Khafre to the monumental task of removing the huge rock, the builders came up with the idea of carving it as a sphinx. This is believed to be the first and oldest Sphinx in existence. In an effort to please the Pharaoh, his likeness was carved on it, thus paving the tradition of future pharaohs carving their likenesses on to the innumerable sphinxes strewn around Egypt. This was followed by another photo stop for a panoramic view of the Giza Pyramid Complex, which houses a total of 9 pyramids, 3 big ones of Khufu (father), Khafre (son), and Menkaure (grandson) - each surrounded by their respective wives and children.
Our next stop was a papyrus workshop and craft outlet. We saw a live demonstration of the different stages of making papyrus from the plant, which grows in the Nile Delta. Similar to the Indian banana plant and the Arab date palm tree, each part of the papyrus plant is used ubiquitously in Egypt. Our last stop was at Cairo Museum - the old one, as the new one is yet to be opened. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo was still a treat, right from its Fountain at the entrance to the exhibition on the jewels from King Tut's tomb.
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