Kheops also changed the alignment of the royal tombs, before was from North to South from here on will fallow the sun, East to West.
Giza is best known for the three tallest three pyramids built by the pharaohs known by their Greek name: Kheops, Khefren and Micerino however in the area, up to now there are 11 known pyramids.
At the east side of Kheops pyramid there are four additional pyramids as part of the complex, three step pyramids extras were built for his mother and wife’s and also one for his “Ka” or spirit.
Micerino pyramidal complex also had three step pyramids, but they were built at the south side rather than the East; there also are two more in the plateau one of them at the side of Khefren pyramid but they stand much deteriorated.
Also there are mastabas by the hundreds and who knows what else is buried under the sand.
During this period, in mortuary complexes constructions there is an obvious preference for the pyramid, in other words the whole or principal effort was dedicated to the burial place, the tomb rather than the mortuary temples; a great difference with later dynasties that gave preference to the temples, and mortuary temples than rather than the tomb, just the opposite; matter of fact during the eleventh dynasty that the tomb was united with the temple, practically absorbed by the temple.
The artistic architectonic decoration practically disappeared; it changed for a plain architecture with straight simple sharp lines with voluminous columns and lintels of much sober and heavier looks.
Gizeh is an enormous burial complex where the principal privileged families chose Gizeh as their final resting place on earth and reason why they built a vast necropolis with a great number of mastabas that give the impression of a well organized city with streets and roads, all facing the Pyramid of their preference in special the pyramid of Kheops that is the most populated; in a way is contradictory because it is thought that Kheops was not a beloved Pharaoh, on the other hand they chose to be buried at his side, meaning that he was of much importance to them.
Zahi Hawas Egypt's chief archaeologist said, the only reason why they were upset with him, was the fact that this Pharaoh enforced to believe that “he was the Sun god itself” and not because he was too authoritarian.
According to Hawas statement, permits to reason why, the sphinx being a solar deity resembles Kheops face, this monument was built by Djedefra third pharaoh of the fourth dynasty, a son of Kheops that ruled for a short time before Chefren; Djedefra besides being a pharaoh was also the High Priest of Heliopolis; he was an exception because he built a temple monument consecrated to their solar god Heru rather than a pyramid or tomb in Gizeh, although he built his own pyramid at, but at Abu Rawash an elevated place north of Gizeh but closer to Heliopolis.
Another exception was the last pharaoh of this dynasty, Shepseskaf; he finished his father pyramid (Micerino) but he went back to Sakkarah, built for him a mastaba rather than a pyramid and his daughter married the High priest of Memphis.
For (the Table of Contents) Egypt land of Eternity by Julian Pardo
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