Top 10 Greatest Ancient Egyptian Monuments

The Ancient Egyptians were one of the world's greatest civilizations and ruled the Nile's lower reaches for millennia. A series of dynasties and pharaohs constructed ever-larger pyramids and temples before falling to the Roman Empire in 30 BC, shortly after a unified kingdom emerged around 3100 BC.

Some of the world's most famous monuments were built by the ancient Egyptians over this incredible long period, and many of them have survived. Richly decorated with striking statues and intricate reliefs, many of the massive monuments were dedicated to various deities or the pharaohs themselves.

Many of these amazing ancient monuments are still standing today due to the ingenuity and engineering skill of the Ancient Egyptians. The most amazing ancient Egyptian structures are as follows:

10 Greatest Ancient Monuments

• Pyramids of Giza
• Karnak
• Abu Simbel
• Valley of the Kings
• Red Pyramid
• Great Sphinx
• Luxor Temple
• Step Pyramid of Djoser
• Bent Pyramid
• Temple of Hatshepsut

10. Temple of Hatshepsut

Another amazing ancient Egyptian site is the Temple of Hatshepsut, which is not far from the famous Valley of the Kings; the Hatshepsut's Dead Temple. A massive, almost futuristic-looking monument can be found at the base of towering cliffs that rise dramatically above the desert floor.

The temple, which was built for Hatshepsut, the female Pharaoh who died in 1458 BC, has three layers of terraces, all of which are lined by enormous colonnades. They were once surrounded by lush gardens, and now they are connected by long ramps. Alongside massive statues of Osiris are well-preserved and colorful reliefs of animals, plants, and people.

9. Bent Pyramid

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Sneferu constructed the second pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, at Dahshur. The pyramid mysteriously rises from the desert at a 45-degree angle before abruptly changing to a 43-degree angle.

According to one theory, the builders were forced to use a shallower angle because the weight that needed to be added above the inner chambers and passageways was too much because of the steepness of the original angle. It is the only pyramid in Egypt whose polished limestone exterior remains largely intact.

8. Step Pyramid of Djoser

The Step Pyramid of Djoser, which can be found at the necropolis of Saqqara, was the very first pyramid that the ancient Egyptians constructed. It was built in the 27th century BC by Pharaoh Djoser's vizier, Imhotep, for his burial.

The ancient structure was originally a flat-roofed mastaba, but by the time Djoser's reign ended, it had grown to be a 204-foot-tall, six-layered pyramid. The Step Pyramid's burial chambers, like those of earlier mastaba tombs, are underground and concealed in a network of tunnels.

7. Luxor Temple

The Luxor Temple was built in 1400 BC during the New Kingdom and is on the east bank of the Nile in the ancient city of Thebes. Amun, Mut, and Chons were the three Egyptian gods to whom the temple was dedicated.

The ancient temple served as the focal point of Thebes' most significant festival, Opet. The sphinxes that connect the two temples were used to transport the statues of the three Gods to Luxor during the annual festival.

6. The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx, on the Giza Plateau, is one of the world's largest and oldest monuments. However, fundamental details about the sphinx, such as who designed the face, when it was built, and by whom, are still up for debate. Despite being significantly smaller than the nearby Pyramids, it is the world's largest monolith statue.

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Even though there has been conflicting evidence and different points of view over time, most modern Egyptologists still believe that the Great Sphinx was built by the pharaoh Khafre, who is said to have built the second pyramid at Giza.

5. Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid is the world's first successful attempt at constructing a true smooth-sided pyramid. It was built by Pharaoh Sneferu. It is Egypt's fourth-highest pyramid, standing at 104 meters. Today, the Red Pyramid stands out for its relatively unregulated interior access and the absence of crowds that plague the Giza Plateau.

4. Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Egypt where tombs were built for the kings and privileged nobles of the New Kingdom for nearly 500 years, from the 16th to the 11th century BC. There are 63 tombs and chambers in the valley, ranging in size from a small pit to a big tomb with more than 120 chambers.

The scenes from Egyptian mythology that decorate the royal tombs provide insight into the beliefs and funerary practices of the time. It would appear that all of the tombs were robbed when they were first opened. The worst tomb depredations only occurred in the well-known tomb of Tutankhamun.

3. Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel is an archaeological site in southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser that consists of two enormous rock temples. During the 13th century BC reign of Pharaoh Ramesses The Great, the two temples were initially carved out of the mountainside as a permanent memorial to Ramesses and his queen Nefertari.

In the 1960s, the entire complex was relocated to avoid being submerged during the construction of Lake Nasser, a massive artificial water reservoir created by the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.

2. Karnak

The captivating Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, on the Nile's banks, is Egypt's most popular tourist attraction after the pyramids. This site has everything from massive chapels and colonnades to exquisitely carved sanctuaries, sphinxes, and obelisks that have been there for millennia.

Karnak is now the world's largest ancient religious site, despite the fact that construction began around 2000 BC. Later pharaohs added their own flourishes, making it the largest. As a result, the Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun-Ra and other stunning sights in the archaeological area make for an incredible experience.

1. Pyramids of Giza

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Pyramids of Giza On the outskirts of Cairo, overlooking the endless sands of the Sahara, the Pyramids of Giza are arguably the most well-known landmark in the world. Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure built the pyramids in Giza over three generations. The oldest and only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the Great Pyramid of Khufu.

The pyramid was built over a 20-year period in the year 2560 BC using more than 2 million stone blocks. The pyramid is Egypt's largest, standing at 139 meters (455 feet) tall. However, the nearby Khafre's Pyramid appears to be larger due to its higher elevation.