Egypt holds the ruins of one of the oldest civilizations in the world. In addition to the sheer antiquity of the ancient Egyptian ruins, the quality of the preservation is excellent considering the age of the relics. Combine this with the size and scale of the archaeological ruins, and Egypt is simply a visit nobody can pass up if they have any interest in history, especially ancient history.
Attractions
The primary attractions in Egypt are the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The Pyramids are simply enormous, with the largest of the three having an original height of 481 feet. That makes it the tallest pyramid of the world. Furthermore, the three Great Pyramids are also of great age- each about four thousand years old. These pyramids constitute the grandest tombs ever built for human rulers. The oldest and largest was built for a king named Khufu. Due to the sheer amount of time, historians know almost nothing about this king, aside from the pyramid itself- few details survive of his reign. The power of the Pyramids simply has to be seen to believed. The experience of looking at a massive tomb that was built four thousand years ago is breathtaking.
According to Travel2Egypt, “The Sphinx is not quite as old as the Great Pyramids, but it is even more mysterious. That is because even to this day, historians and archaeologists have not reached a consensus on who built the great stone beast and when the construction ended. Little writing from the Egyptians survives, and there is no record that explains who built the Sphinx, why they did it, and when construction took place.” The mainstream view is that the pharaoh Khafra built it at around 2500 BC. Khafra was the son of Khufu, who built the Great Pyramid. Other theories postulate that the Sphinx is much older than Khafra’s reign, or that another relative of Khufu built the Sphinx. Despite the striking appearance of the monument, there is no clear mention anywhere of a name associated with the builder. The ancient Egyptians of various times clearly valued the Sphinx, even worshiping it at some points. It is incredible to see it in person, especially considering its unknown provenance.
Archaeological
There are many other ruins of Ancient Egypt that are well worth the trip, and for someone who has never been to the region before, the striking contrast between the desolate desert and the vibrant Nile delta is a natural wonder on its own. There is a great deal to see and do. Along with Greece and Rome, Egypt is one of the three major centers of ancient ruins and ancient culture. The greater age and mystery of the Egyptian civilizations adds to the allure of touring the ruins. It is simply impossible to miss out on seeing Egypt at least once. Political instability in the country occasionally makes it hard to travel there, but that is not a long term obstacle. There are a great many famous sites to see and a whole new culture to experience in Egypt. Do not pass up a chance to tour the country: there is so much to see and do that it is truly one of the highlights of the ancient Mediterranean region. Making a trip out there to see the Great Pyramids should be on everyone’s bucket list.
