Great Pyramids (Menkaura, Khafre, Khufu) and Great Sphinx
Giza, Egypt. Old Kingdom, Fourth Dynasty. c. 2550-2490 B.C.E. Cut limestone.
The Great Sphinx is believed to be the most immense stone sculpture ever made by man.(stone, tombs, statues, animal symbolism)
Cross-Cultural Comparison: Commemoration of Ruler and Country
Taj Mahal
Houdon, George Washington
Terra-Cotta Warriors
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| Pyramids of Giza and general layout | Pyramid of Khufu | Pyramid of Khafre | Great Sphinx | Pyramid of Menkaure |
| Form: bedrock, local core stones, Tura limestone casing, red granite, mortar. Nearly perfect pyramids. Edges aligned with cardinal pts. | Form: tallest of the three pyramids (481 ft) 2,300,000 blocks, over 50 tons | Form: second tallest of the three (but actually looks the tallest because it's on higher ground) | Form: carved into the bedrock of the plateau next to the Khafre pyramid | Form: smallest of the three (213 ft) |
| Function: burial sites for kings. Royal Mortuary complex. perhaps intended as a solidified version of the rays of the sun. | Function: burial site for King Khufu | Function: burial site for King Khafre | Function: symbol of royal power | Function: burial site for King Menkaure |
| Content: three major pyramids for three rulers over three generations and many other smaller cemeteries and temples. Representations of the passages of the dead. | Content: grand gallery, King/queen's chambers. King's sarcophagus. 7 boats | Content: a burial chamber, a small chamber, 2 passageways Still has some of the outer casing on top Valley Temple Held over 52 statues of the king Sphinx | Content: Lion with the head of Khafre. a temple for the sphinx right next door | Content: most complex chambers of the three pyramids held Menkaure's black stone sarcophagus. But then they lost that held many triad statues of the King, Hathor, and a nome |
| Context: tallest things for over 4000 years. Ancient Egypt. People had to have everything for the afterlife, so they are buried with all the things they need in life. We still don't know how these were built. Pharaohs were kings, but also divine | Context: "" | Context: "" | Context: Lion = royal symbol = DOUBLE MEGA ROYAL POWER | Context: "" |
