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Necropolis of Giza; Mastaba and Rock-cut Tombs
Close view of a mastaba tomb, depicting close fitting blocks; Numerous burials of private individuals, many of whom had held office in the Giza necropolis during their lifetimes, are associated with the royal burials. These mastabas and rock-cut tombs were gifts from the king in return for loyal service and may have been constructed by royal craftsmen. The original mastaba fields lying to the west, south and east of the Great Pyramids were laid out in regular lines, but later cemeteries grew up more haphazardly. Most of the tombs conform to a standard plan comprising a storeroom, an offering room and a burial chamber; a chapel in the superstructure contained one or more offering stelae by means of which the deceased and members of his family could enjoy sustenance in the next world. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Necropolis of Giza; Mastaba and Rock-cut Tombs
View of mastaba and rock-cut tombs located east of the Pyramid of Khafre, with the Pyramid of Khufu in the background; Numerous burials of private individuals, many of whom had held office in the Giza necropolis during their lifetimes, are associated with the royal burials. These mastabas and rock-cut tombs were gifts from the king in return for loyal service and may have been constructed by royal craftsmen. The original mastaba fields lying to the west, south and east of the Great Pyramids were laid out in regular lines, but later cemeteries grew up more haphazardly. Most of the tombs conform to a standard plan comprising a storeroom, an offering room and a burial chamber; a chapel in the superstructure contained one or more offering stelae by means of which the deceased and members of his family could enjoy sustenance in the next world. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Pyramid complex of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure
Pyramid of Menkaure (smallest, built ca. 2490-2472 BCE), showing the south face in profile with Queens' Pyramids in foreground; Egyptian governorate just west of Cairo, site of a major royal necropolis of the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis. The necropolis, containing the 4th Dynasty (ac. 2575-ac. 2465 BCE) pyramid complexes of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus (Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure) and their associated satellite burials, is divided by a broad wadi into two areas: the higher plateau, with the pyramid complexes, Great Sphinx and mastaba fields, and other private tombs on an escarpment to the south-west. Although Giza's period of greatest importance was during the Old Kingdom (ca. 2575-ca. 2150 BCE), the site underwent revivals in the New Kingdom (ca. 1540-ca. 1075 BCE) and the Saite period (ca. 664-525 BCE). Most of the tombs were robbed in antiquity, and much of the original casing of the monuments has been quarried away, considerably altering their appearance. In the late 20th century the site has come under threat from rising ground water, which is slowly destroying the monuments. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Pyramid complex of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure
Pyramid of Khufu complex, view of the Queens' Pyramids; Egyptian governorate just west of Cairo, site of a major royal necropolis of the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis. The necropolis, containing the 4th Dynasty (ac. 2575-ac. 2465 BCE) pyramid complexes of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus (Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure) and their associated satellite burials, is divided by a broad wadi into two areas: the higher plateau, with the pyramid complexes, Great Sphinx and mastaba fields, and other private tombs on an escarpment to the south-west. Although Giza's period of greatest importance was during the Old Kingdom (ca. 2575-ca. 2150 BCE), the site underwent revivals in the New Kingdom (ca. 1540-ca. 1075 BCE) and the Saite period (ca. 664-525 BCE). Most of the tombs were robbed in antiquity, and much of the original casing of the monuments has been quarried away, considerably altering their appearance. In the late 20th century the site has come under threat from rising ground water, which is slowly destroying the monuments. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Bent Pyramid
Context view looking south over desert; Dahshur is the site of an ancient Egyptian necropolis consisting of Old and Middle Kingdom pyramids, on the west bank of the Nile, 75 km south of Cairo. The oldest pyramid is that of King Sneferu (reigned ca. 2575-ca. 2551 BCE), which is the first to have been designed from the start as a true pyramid. The angle of its sides was decreased halfway up, giving it a rhomboidal appearance, hence its name of Bent Pyramid. Inside the pyramid is a complicated system of corridors and portcullises, and some inner chambers have high, corbelled ceilings. Reliefs in the pyramid's valley temple depict processions of female figures representing Sneferu's estates throughout the country. The pyramid is still in very good condition, retaining most of its outer casing. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/16/2008
Necropolis of Giza; Mastaba and Rock-cut Tombs
General view of mastaba tombs, located southeast of the Pyramid of Khufu; Numerous burials of private individuals, many of whom had held office in the Giza necropolis during their lifetimes, are associated with the royal burials. These mastabas and rock-cut tombs were gifts from the king in return for loyal service and may have been constructed by royal craftsmen. The original mastaba fields lying to the west, south and east of the Great Pyramids were laid out in regular lines, but later cemeteries grew up more haphazardly. Most of the tombs conform to a standard plan comprising a storeroom, an offering room and a burial chamber; a chapel in the superstructure contained one or more offering stelae by means of which the deceased and members of his family could enjoy sustenance in the next world. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Necropolis of Giza; Mastaba and Rock-cut Tombs
General view of mastaba tombs and street, located southeast of the Pyramid of Khufu; Numerous burials of private individuals, many of whom had held office in the Giza necropolis during their lifetimes, are associated with the royal burials. These mastabas and rock-cut tombs were gifts from the king in return for loyal service and may have been constructed by royal craftsmen. The original mastaba fields lying to the west, south and east of the Great Pyramids were laid out in regular lines, but later cemeteries grew up more haphazardly. Most of the tombs conform to a standard plan comprising a storeroom, an offering room and a burial chamber; a chapel in the superstructure contained one or more offering stelae by means of which the deceased and members of his family could enjoy sustenance in the next world. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008
Pyramid complex of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure
Pyramid of Khufu (largest and oldest, ca. 2551-ca. 2528 BCE), detail at the base of the east face; Egyptian governorate just west of Cairo, site of a major royal necropolis of the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis. The necropolis, containing the 4th Dynasty (ac. 2575-ac. 2465 BCE) pyramid complexes of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus (Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure) and their associated satellite burials, is divided by a broad wadi into two areas: the higher plateau, with the pyramid complexes, Great Sphinx and mastaba fields, and other private tombs on an escarpment to the south-west. Although Giza's period of greatest importance was during the Old Kingdom (ca. 2575-ca. 2150 BCE), the site underwent revivals in the New Kingdom (ca. 1540-ca. 1075 BCE) and the Saite period (ca. 664-525 BCE). Most of the tombs were robbed in antiquity, and much of the original casing of the monuments has been quarried away, considerably altering their appearance. In the late 20th century the site has come under threat from rising ground water, which is slowly destroying the monuments. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008