Ancient Egypt is one of the six civilizations globally to arise independently. After a unified kingdom under a pharaoh arose around 3150 BC, a series of dynasties ruled Egypt for the next three millennia. There are several astonishing monuments that they have built-in ancient times, we still wonder as a human-made creation. With limestone, sandstone, and mostly sun-baked mud brick, they aligned those architectural establishments for astronomical significant events.
The ancient Egyptians gifted us with some of the most famous monuments in the world of which many of them have still survived and amazed us. They were the most accomplished pyramid builders. Other than the world-famous ones, there were also some small pyramids built between the Eighteenth and Twentieth dynasties. But the giant monuments are actually the recommended must-visit sites nowadays for tourists. And you shouldn’t also miss them.
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Most Famous Ancient Egyptian Monuments
10. Temple of Hatshepsut
Dennis Jarvis
The temple of Hatshepsut is a mortuary temple, located beneath the cliffs at Deir el Bahari on the west bank of the beautiful river Nile. It was dedicated to the sun god “Ra”. It was designed and implemented by Senemut, the royal architect of Hatshepsut and might be the lover of her.
The temple is built into a cliff face that rises sharply above it and consists of three-layered terraces. It is regarded as one of the “incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt”.
9. Bent Pyramid
The Beny Pyramid a unique example of early pyramid development in Egypt located at Dahshur. It was built by Pharaoh Sneferu. The Bent Pyramid is also known as “The shining in the south”.
The pyramid rises from the desert landscape at an angle of 55 degrees and then suddenly changes to a more gradual angle of 43 degrees mysteriously. This pyramids specialty is that it is the only pyramid in Egypt of which the outer casing of polished limestone lasts largely unbroken.
8. Step Pyramid of Djoser
The Step Pyramid of Djoser is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt. It was the very first pyramid built by the ancient Egyptians during the 27th century BC for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his Vizier Imhotep.
It is considered to be the earliest large-scale cut stone construction. The pyramid is famous for its innovative architectural style.
7. Luxor Temple
Chris Brown
Situated on the east bank of the Nile in the city of Thebes, The Luxor Temple was founded in 1400 BC during the New Kingdom. Dedicated to the three Egyptian gods Amun, Mut, and Chons, the ancient temple was the center of the festival of Opet, Thebes’ main festival. Later the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the home of the Roman government in the area.
6. Great Sphinx
The largest monolith statue in the world, The Great Sphinx locates at the Giza Plateau near Cairo in Egypt. It is one of the oldest world famous statues in the world. Depicted based on mythological creature Sphinx (with a lion’s body and a human head), the statue is always surprising visitors with its colossal craftwork.
It is believed that it had been built during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre approximately 2500 BC. The face of the Sphinx represents the face of the Pharaoh Khafre himself!
5. Red Pyramid
Named for the rusty reddish hue of its red limestone, the Red Pyramid is the largest of the three major pyramids located at the Dahshur. It is the world’s first successful attempt at building a “true” smooth-sided pyramid.
The Red Pyramid was the third pyramid built by Pharaoh Sneferu on the Old Kingdom. It took almost 17 years to complete the pyramid.104 meters high makes it the 4th highest pyramid ever built in Egypt. The Red Pyramid’s specialty is the comparatively unregulated interior access.
4. Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings stands on the west of Nile, is a valley in Egypt where for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were built for the kings and privileged nobles of the New Kingdom.
Nearly 63 tombs are found in this valley. Almost all have been opened and robbed in antiquity. It is one of the most famous important archaeological sites in the world.
3. Abu Simbel
The Abu Simbel temples comprising two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel, a village in Nubia, southern. During the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, the temples were built.
This complex is one of the Nubian monuments that is enlisted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex is also famous for its intriguing solar phenomena. You can enjoy its beauty along with a very popular river cruise in the Nile.
2. Karnak
Located in the north of Luxor, The Karnak Temple Complex is the second largest ancient religious site in the world. Although badly ruined, it is one of the most famous sites in Egypt.
The construction of the complex began during the reign of Senusret I in the Middle Kingdom although most of the extant buildings date from the New Kingdom. The complex consists of three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples. It is the most visited site in Egypt after the pyramid of Giza.
1. Pyramids of Giza
The great pyramid of Giza is unarguably the greatest wonder of the world. The Giza necropolis, situated in the immediate vicinity of the southwestern suburbs of Cairo. The pyramids in Giza were built over the span of three generations – by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure.
Over 2 million blocks of stone were used to construct the pyramid, during a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC. It is an awe-inspiring 139 meters (455 feet) high. It is the largest pyramid in Egypt. It is only the remaining wonder of the ancient seven wonders of the world.