Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur

Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur is a trans-era complex of ancient Egyptian funerary monuments located on the west bank of the Nile near modern Cairo. The ensemble includes the Giza Plateau, Saqqara and Dahshur and comprises the major pyramid complexes and associated necropolises of the Old Kingdom and earlier.

At Giza visitors encounter the three great pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty, notably the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure, together with the Great Sphinx and extensive funerary enclosures. The Great Pyramid originally rose to about 146.6 metres and its monumental scale dominates the plateau.

Saqqara contains the Step Pyramid of Djoser, one of the earliest large-scale stone constructions dating to the early Third Dynasty and viewed as a key stage in the evolution of royal tomb architecture. South of Saqqara, Dahshur preserves important experimental pyramid forms such as the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid which record technological developments that led to the classic smooth-sided pyramids.

The major complexes were constructed mainly during the Old Kingdom and earlier dynasties, when pharaohs built large mastaba cemeteries, stepped and smooth-sided pyramids as part of royal funerary programs. The monuments were focal points for royal cults, funerary rites and the administration of surrounding necropolis settlements across millennia.

The Pyramid Fields extend across desert terrain on the west bank of the Nile in Giza Governorate, forming a linear sequence from the Giza Plateau southward toward Dahshur. The complexes are immediately adjacent to greater Cairo and are accessed from the city by road.

• Great Pyramid dimensions: The Great Pyramid of Khufu originally stood about 146.6 metres high and now measures about 138.5 metres; its base is roughly 230 metres on each side.
• Visitor access restrictions: Many tomb interiors and some pyramids require separate entry permits and subject to visitor limits, so plan tickets in advance for internal access where available.
• Viewing and photography tip: Best light for photographing the pyramids is typically early morning or late afternoon when shadows enhance relief on the stone faces.

What to See #

• Giza Plateau: The plateau containing the three major pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty, including the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure, also home to the Sphinx and burial complexes.
• Saqqara (Step Pyramid of Djoser): A large necropolis dominated by the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built as a royal funerary complex in the early Third Dynasty and surrounded by mastabas and subsidiary tombs.
• Dahshur (Bent and Red pyramids): A desert necropolis south of Giza that includes the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid, constructed in the 4th dynasty and important for the development of true pyramid form.
• Memphis archaeological site: The ruined remains of the ancient capital of Memphis, including the site of temples, administrative buildings and an open air museum of large stone statues and fragments.