Giza history

The history of Giza is not the story of a typical city's founding, but a chronicle of a desert plateau's transformation into one of the most significant religious and funerary complexes in human history. The modern city grew around an ancient necropolis that has captivated the world's attention for centuries.

The history of Giza is inextricably linked to the Old Kingdom era of Egypt, specifically the reign of the 4th Dynasty (approximately 2613–2494 BC). It was during this period that the Giza Plateau was chosen by the pharaohs as the site for their tombs. Prior to this, Saqqara and Dahshur served as the primary royal necropolises. Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) was the first to erect his grandiose pyramid here, marking the beginning of the great necropolis's formation. Thus, Giza initially emerged not as a settlement for the living, but as a "City of the Dead" for kings and nobility.

Giza owes its rapid rise in antiquity to several key factors:

• Geographic Location: The rocky plateau, situated on the west bank of the Nile near the then-capital of Memphis, was an ideal site for monumental construction. It was solid enough to support the weight of the giant pyramids and located above the river's flood level, ensuring the preservation of the structures.
• Political and Religious Authority: The decision by the 4th Dynasty pharaohs—Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure—to choose the plateau for their tombs turned this location into a centre of state importance. The construction of the pyramids was a project of national scale, concentrating immense human and material resources here.
• Infrastructure Development: To support the massive construction efforts, settlements for skilled workers and artisans, as well as temples and administrative buildings, emerged around the plateau, forming a kind of economic and social hub.

The early economy of Giza was entirely focused on the construction and maintenance of funerary complexes. This involved the quarrying and transportation of millions of stone blocks, the work of skilled architects, engineers, and labourers, as well as the activities of priests conducting rituals in the mortuary temples. Tombs of nobility and officials from that time, discovered by archaeologists, contain rich material describing the culture, social structure, and beliefs of the Old Kingdom. The bas-reliefs, household items, and tools found testify to a high level of craftsmanship and a centralised social organisation dedicated to a single goal—ensuring eternal life for their ruler.

Ancient World: The Era of Great Construction

Circa 2589–2566 BC — Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) selects the Giza Plateau for the construction of his tomb, initiating the creation of the Great Pyramids.

Circa 2570 BC — Construction of the Great Pyramid is completed, becoming the tallest structure on Earth for millennia.

Circa 2558–2532 BC — During the reign of Pharaoh Khafre (Chephren), the second-largest pyramid is built, and the Great Sphinx is presumably carved from the bedrock.

Circa 2532–2503 BC — Pharaoh Menkaure (Mykerinos) erects the third, southernmost, and smallest of the great pyramids on the plateau.

5th Century BC — The ancient Greek historian Herodotus visits Giza and leaves one of the first detailed descriptions of the pyramids for the Western world.

30 BC – 4th Century AD — Following the Roman conquest of Egypt, the Giza necropolis becomes a popular tourist destination for Roman nobility and emperors.

Middle Ages and Modern Era: Oblivion and Rediscovery

642 AD — The Arab conquest of Egypt; Giza and its surroundings become part of the Arab Caliphate, and the ancient monuments gradually fall into neglect.

12th–14th Centuries — The polished limestone casing stones of the pyramids are actively dismantled for the construction of mosques and fortresses in growing Cairo.

1798 — During Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign, European scholars begin the first systematic scientific study of the pyramids and the Sphinx.

1881 — The formation of the modern city of Giza begins, receiving the status of a separate administrative unit.

Contemporary History: Research and Urbanisation

1925 — The complete clearance of the Great Sphinx from centuries of sand accumulation is finished, opening it up for proper study.

1954 — At the foot of the Great Pyramid, one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century is made—the perfectly preserved "Solar Boat" of Pharaoh Khufu is found.

1979 — The entire Memphis necropolis, including the Giza Plateau with its pyramids and the Sphinx, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Late 20th – Early 21st Centuries — The city of Giza experiences rapid population growth and urbanisation, practically merging with Cairo to form one of the world's largest agglomerations.

Key Stages of Giza's Development

The history of Giza is a journey from a sacred necropolis to one of the world's largest metropolises. Each stage has left its mark on the cultural, economic, and urban character of the city.

• Old Kingdom Era (c. 2600–2500 BC): The foundational stage that defined the destiny of this area. The construction of the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx turned the plateau into Egypt's premier religious and funerary complex. This was the first grand urban planning project, establishing Giza's cultural and historical identity.
• Greco-Roman Period (4th Century BC – 4th Century AD): The beginning of Giza's "tourism" history. The pyramids became a mandatory stop for ancient travellers, including historians and Roman emperors, marking the first step in transforming a sacred site into an object of global cultural interest.
• Middle Ages (9th–14th Centuries): A period of transformation and utilitarian use of heritage. The casing stones of the pyramids were removed and used to build mosques and fortresses in the new growing city—Cairo. This process physically linked the ancient and medieval history of the region.
• Late 18th Century (1798): Scientific "rediscovery" of Giza. Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition initiated the systematic study of the monuments by European scholars. This event revived global interest in ancient Egyptian civilisation and became the starting point for modern Egyptology.
• Second Half of the 20th Century: Rapid urbanisation. Giza experienced a demographic boom and expanded quickly, practically merging with Cairo into a vast agglomeration and becoming Egypt's third-largest city. This process radically changed the city's economy, shifting the focus from agriculture to urban industries and tourism.
• 1979: Recognition of global significance. The Giza necropolis was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This status attracted additional attention and resources for the preservation of monuments and strengthened the role of tourism as a key sector of the urban economy.
• Early 21st Century: Creation of a new cultural hub. The construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the plateau became the largest cultural and infrastructure project in Giza's modern history. This world-class museum complex is designed to reshape the visitor experience and provide a powerful impulse for the city's further development.

The architectural appearance of Giza is a unique blend of the Ancient World's monumentality and the rapid, sometimes chaotic, development of modern times. Urban planning history here has developed non-linearly: from a carefully planned sacred necropolis to a sprawling metropolis that has virtually merged with Cairo.

Giza's urban planning began with an ingenious project—the creation of a necropolis for the pharaohs of the 4th Dynasty (circa 2600-2500 BC). It was not merely a collection of tombs, but a thoughtful complex with a clear hierarchy and orientation towards the cardinal points. The foundation consisted of the Great Pyramids, their associated mortuary temples, and processional causeways. Surrounding the main tombs were satellite pyramids for queens and mastabas—tombs for nobles and priests. The architectural style was based on:

• Monumentalism: Gigantic sizes and simple geometric forms (pyramid, cube), designed to emphasise the grandeur of the pharaoh and the eternity of his power.
• Use of Natural Materials: The primary material was limestone, quarried nearby, while more durable granite, brought from the south of the country, was used for casing and lining internal chambers.
• Symbolism: The entire complex, including the Great Sphinx, carved from a single rock and guarding the pharaohs' rest, was deeply symbolic and connected to religious beliefs about the afterlife.

With the decline of ancient Egyptian civilisation and the rise of the new city, Cairo, Giza's architectural heritage became a source of building materials. In the Middle Ages, the polished white limestone casing stones that originally covered the pyramids were removed and used for the construction of mosques and fortresses in Cairo. This period did not bring new architectural styles to Giza but merely altered the appearance of the ancient monuments, exposing their stepped stone masonry.

The 20th and 21st centuries marked explosive growth for Giza, transforming it from a small village into a city of millions. Modern Giza architecture consists primarily of functional residential and commercial buildings made of concrete and brick, which have encroached right up to the boundaries of the ancient plateau. This contrast between ancient monuments and modern city blocks has become the city's calling card.

A landmark architectural project of recent times is the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near the plateau. This monumental modern building, one of the largest archaeological museums in the world, represents an example of postmodern architecture. Its design is intended to harmonise with the pyramids without competing with them, creating a new cultural and tourism hub that organises tourist flows and preserves heritage.

Notable Figures Associated with Giza

The history of Giza is rich with names that have left a mark not only on the history of Egypt but on the entire world. From pharaohs and architects of the Old Kingdom to figures of science and art in modern times, these personalities have shaped the unique image of the city.

Khufu (Cheops)

• Role/Profession: Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (4th Dynasty, c. 2589–2566 BC).
• Historical Significance: Initiator of the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza—the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. His tomb became the central element of the entire necropolis and a symbol of the Old Kingdom's power.

Khafre (Chephren)

• Role/Profession: Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (4th Dynasty, c. 2558–2532 BC).
• Historical Significance: Builder of the second-largest pyramid on the plateau. Most Egyptologists believe that it was his facial features that were given to the Great Sphinx, which was carved during his reign to guard the necropolis.

Menkaure (Mykerinos)

• Role/Profession: Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (4th Dynasty, c. 2532–2503 BC).
• Historical Significance: Completed the ensemble of the great pyramids by building the third and southernmost of them. Although his pyramid is smaller in size, it is renowned for its partial casing of expensive red granite and the high quality of sculptures found in his temple.

Hemiunu

• Role/Profession: Architect and Vizier (Chaty) under Pharaoh Khufu (c. 26th Century BC).
• Historical Significance: Considered the master builder and supervisor of the Great Pyramid's construction. His title "Overseer of All Construction Works of the King" and his massive mastaba tomb near the pyramid testify to his supreme status and key role in this grandiose project.

Naguib Mahfouz (1911–2006)

• Role/Profession: Writer, playwright, Nobel Laureate in Literature (1988).
• Historical Significance: Although born in Cairo, his life and work are inextricably linked to the Greater Cairo area, including Giza, where he passed away. In his works, such as the "Cairo Trilogy", he masterfully captured the spirit and daily life of this region, becoming the literary chronicler of modern Egyptian life.

Omar Sharif (1932–2015)

• Role/Profession: Actor.
• Historical Significance: One of the most famous actors of Egyptian origin, gaining global fame through roles in Hollywood films "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago". His career began in Egyptian cinema, the centre of which is historically located in Cairo and Giza.

Farouk El-Baz (born 1938)

• Role/Profession: Scientist, Geologist.
• Historical Significance: A distinguished scientist who worked with NASA and participated in planning the Apollo moon missions. He made significant contributions to the study of Earth's deserts using space imagery and conducted important geological research on the Giza Plateau, helping to better understand its structure and history.