Back in Cairo for another day....we needed to check out Memphis and the Saqqara Pyramids......
There is not much left in Memphis, which was one the oldest, richest city in this particular area of the Nile......however what was there was definitely worth going to see!
The area itself doesn't now show any sign of its past grandeur....
The main attraction is an absolutely huge figure of Ramesses II......now in its own building and it is very difficult to appreciate its size from a photo! It is about 10 meters in length.... about 33 feet!!
Outside there was another huge standing figure... again Ramesses II!!
...... the second largest Sphinx in Egypt can also be seen there ...........
....apart from this ....not much is left of the actual ancient city!
Then on to Saqqara......
First stop was to see a tomb......having already been here and entered via a door I was a little surprised to have to go down some steps! Then at the bottom of the steps I found I was expected to hunch down and go through a tunnel! Not for me.....I turned around!
Then on to another tomb....
.....thankfully to be entered at ground level!
Then we went to the Djoser Steppe pyramid area....
.....the oldest pyramids in the area are actually the Dahshur Pyramids, just a little to the south, and seen in this photo.....
Having been on the go for seemingly hours and hours we were happy to stop for lunch and have bread specially prepared for us ........
There is not much left in Memphis, which was one the oldest, richest city in this particular area of the Nile......however what was there was definitely worth going to see!
The area itself doesn't now show any sign of its past grandeur....
The main attraction is an absolutely huge figure of Ramesses II......now in its own building and it is very difficult to appreciate its size from a photo! It is about 10 meters in length.... about 33 feet!!
....apart from this ....not much is left of the actual ancient city!
Then on to Saqqara......
First stop was to see a tomb......having already been here and entered via a door I was a little surprised to have to go down some steps! Then at the bottom of the steps I found I was expected to hunch down and go through a tunnel! Not for me.....I turned around!
Then on to another tomb....
Then we went to the Djoser Steppe pyramid area....
.....the oldest pyramids in the area are actually the Dahshur Pyramids, just a little to the south, and seen in this photo.....
Close to Saqqara there are some carpet weaving factories.........
Having been on the go for seemingly hours and hours we were happy to stop for lunch and have bread specially prepared for us ........
and then back into the typical Cairo traffic!
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