The Pyramids of Giza

Watch a full HD version of this single song sample episode on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452

Few sites in the world are as revered as the pyramids of the Giza Necropolis. These timeless structures seem to simultaneously defy time and logic and they stand in the shifting Egyptian sands.

The oldest and largest pyramid at the site, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, was built more than 4,500 years ago and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for 3,871 of those years, until the completion of England’s Lincoln Cathedral in 1311 AD. It is also the only surviving destination from the original Seven Wonders of the World.

Just as famous in modern times as the Great Pyramid is the nearby Great Sphinx. Also located on the site are the Pyramid of Khafre (identifiable by its smooth limestone cap) and the Pyramid of Menkaure, standing beside the smaller Pyramids of Queens.

The incredible age and size of the pyramids lends itself to their greatest mystery. Despite centuries of research, very little is still known about exactly how ancient Egyptians managed to place the limestone blocks that make up the pyramids. The Great Pyramid alone contains about 2.3 million blocks, each weighing more than a ton. Still, workers were able to build the pyramid in a relatively short period of time, fitting the blocks together with extreme precision.

Dave McMurray is a Detroit-based multi-instrumentalist best known for his mastery of the tenor, soprano and alto saxophones. He is also talented with the flute, keyboards, and percussion and, in addition to his solo career, has recorded with some of the biggest names in music including Bob James and Bob Dylan.

Links

UNESCO World Heritage Center Profile on the Pyramid Fields
Wikipedia article: Giza Necropolis
Boston Museum of Fine Arts: Giza Archives (collection of scholarly articles on the site)
Dave McMurray Official MySpace

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