Step Pyramid

The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid in Egypt in 4700 BC. ALL pyramids were built/completed by pharohs during their lifetimes. Top pic is of men in the huge "courtyard" in front of the Step Pyramid. The pyramid & courtyard were surround by a 30 foot high sandstone wall!
Bottom pic is the Step Pyramid in foreground & "Bent Pyramid" in background.

Bent & Red Pyramids

Top pic is of the Bent Pyramid built in about 4600 BC by the son of the pharoh who built the Step Pyramid. It is "bent" because the architects realized after completing about 2/3s of the pyramid that the original angle was too steep and had to be changed. So the angle was changed & the Bent Pyramid was born.

The Bent Pyramid builder did not like the Bent Pyramid and demanded his architects to build another made of red granite which is now known as the Red Pyramid - bottom pic. This is the first true pyramid built in Misr (what Egyptians call their country) & the only one built of granite. In the end, this is the only Pharoh who had 2 pyramids built and, ironically they are not sure which if either he is entombed <-- no one has ever found his burial chamber! The pharaohs who built the Giza pyramids almost 200 years later copied the Red Pyramid's design.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 1

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 4500 BC - comprised of 2.3 million stones & taking an estimated 25-30 years to complete, it is the largest of the 9 pyramids in Giza - that's its base to the left of the top pic. It is difficult to get a picture of the entire great pyramid because it is so huge. The Great pyramid has 3 small pyramids on its south side where the pharoh's wife, mother & daughter are entombed.
The pyramid directly behind me in top pic is the 2nd largest in Giza built by the son of the pharaoh contained in the largest. It also has 3 smaller pyramids on one side for this pharaoh's immediate family.
Bottom pic is of the Sphinx carved from one stone by the pharoh who built the first & largest pyramid. Supposedly it was Napoleon who had its nose shot off. And the Sphinx' goatee is in an English museum who refuse to return it to Egypt!
Now I have seen 3 of the 7 wonders of the ancient world - the other 2 being Angkor Wat & Petra! I think the other 4 have been gone for centuries!!

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 2

Of everything I saw today, I believe that I was most impressed with the Sphinx - don't know why. Above are 2 additional Sphinx pics - maybe they will somehow impress you!?

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt 3

I like the Sphinx - so I am including another of it from a different perspective.
Bottom pic is taken from only location where you can all 3 great pyramids. It's hazy because it was morning & haze cannot be avoided.