Wow, I have always wanted to see Egypt and its wonders. The Pyramids of Giza have stood for 5,000 years, a testament to the ingenuity of the people who built them.
Now I can see them without a plane ticket or pissing off some ISIL terrorist on the way!
Google Street View is now bringing us captivating images of the Great Pyramids of Giza, necropolis of Saqqara, the Citadel of Qaitbay, the Cairo Citadel, the Hanging Church and the ancient city of Abu Mena. Starting today, wherever you are, you can experience these ancient monuments!
This is from their press release, with direct links to the images:
"The Giza Necropolis is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and is home to the last standing wonder of the ancient world: the Great Pyramid. Built as a tomb and a symbol of eternity for the Pharoah Khufu, it stands 139 meters high (the height of the world’s highest roller coaster!) and was the tallest man-made structure on Earth for 3,800 years. Beyond it to the west, and you’ll see the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, built by Khufu's son and grandson.
Now turn east to the Great Sphinx, the oldest and largest known monumental sculpture in the world. With the body of a lion and the head of a human, it measures a grand 73 meters long and 20 meters high. Literally translating to “Father of Dread,” this mythical creature is believed to resemble Pharaoh Khafre, who was the ruler at the time of construction.
In addition to the Giza Necropolis, you can explore The Pyramid of Djoser, the ancient site of the world’s very first Pyramid designed by the great Egyptian Architect Imhotep in the ancient burial ground of Saqqara.
It’s not just the Pyramids that are available now for the first time in Google Maps. Other sites that may pique your interest on this Egyptian virtual tour include Abu Mena, one of the oldest sites of Christianity in Egypt—the church, baptistry, basilicas and monasteries, the Hanging Church, one of the oldest Coptic Churches in the world, the Cairo Citadel, a medieval Islamic fortification and historic site, and the Citadel of Qaitbay, a 15th-century defensive fortress perched atop the Mediterranean coast.
If wandering through the imagery of these historical sites has piqued your interest in Egyptology, head over to the Google Cultural Institute, where you can explore the treasures of ancient Egypt through a series of drawings, historic photographs and artifacts from the famed sites."
Some other tidbits about Google Street View
· Street View covers more than 7.2 million unique miles across more than 59 countries and a slice of Antarctica (featuring penguins!). This includes Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque last year.
· They have driven more than 7.2 million unique miles of road since the project began in 2007.
· Street View began in 2007 in 5 U.S. cities with 5 megapixel cameras. Now Street View is on every continent and uses 75 megapixel cameras.
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