10 IMPRESSIVE Egyptian Buildings That CAN’T Be Built Today
Tourists from all over the world travel to Egypt for the sole purpose of stepping into the past.
Apart from priceless archaeological ruins and the magical river Nile,
nothing encapsulates ancient Egyptian culture more than its architecture.
From the world-famous pyramids of Giza to the cleverly hidden tombs at the Valley of the Kings,
here are 10 impressive Egyptian buildings that can’t be built today.
10. Step Pyramid of Djoser.
The Pyramid of Djoser at the Saqqara necropolis was the very first stone building constructed
by the ancient Egyptians. Designed as Pharoah Djoser’s tomb, the 6-tier pyramid dates back to
the 27th Century BC and stands out from dozens of other pyramids due to its unique flat roof.
The ancient monument was originally covered in polished limestone and stood almost 205 feet high,
but several redevelopments have been conducted over the years.
9. Colossi of Memnon.
Situated in the southern city of Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon are two giant statues of Pharaoh
Amenhotep III, who reigned during the Eighteenth Egyptian Dynasty. Weighing 720 tons each,
they’ve been standing in the Theban Necropolis on the western bank of the River Nile since 1350 BC,
and are built out of blocks of quartzite sandstone. The 18-meter high historical
monument mainly features twin statues of the Pharaoh himself, seated on his throne, while
the shorter figures are carved with the imagery of his mother, wife, as well as the Nile god, Hapi.
During Amenhotep III’s rule, the Colossi of Memnon marked the entrance of his mortuary temple,
which was supposedly more enormous than any other building in Egypt at the time.
Although the distinct Pharoah shape of each statue is still recognizable today,
the two figures were exposed to considerable damage at the hands of natural disasters over
the years, after which Roman engineers reportedly reconstructed some part of the Colossi of Memnon.
8. Bent Pyramid.
Probably the most mysterious Egyptian monument on this list is the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur,
which was built back in 2600 BC and is also the second pyramid made by Pharaoh Sneferu.
So, what exactly gives this pyramid a bent appearance? It rises from the desert
at an angle of 55 degrees and then suddenly changes to a more gradual angle of 43 degrees,
which is why it’s considered an uncommon example of early pyramid development in Egypt.
7. Abu Simbel.
This archaeological site comprises two massive rock temples in southern Egypt on the western bank
of Lake Nasser. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century
BC, and dedicated to the Great Pharaoh Ramesses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari. As one of the
most esteemed Egyptian pharaohs and part of the Nineteenth Dynasty, Ramesses built the temples at
Abu Simbel as a way to immortalize himself in the form of a lasting monument. The exterior of the
larger temple at Abu Simbel, known as the Great Temple, features three halls that extend 56 meters
into the cliff, as well as four 24-meter-high statues of Ramesses, although one of the vast
structures has been corroded over the years. Abu Simbel is an incredibly unique historical site
because the temple complex was carefully and reassembled in the 1960s to avoid their being
submerged under the water of the Aswan High Dam on River Nile. Almost a decade later, Abu Simbel
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is listed among Egypt’s most significant temples today.
6. Valley of the Kings.
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt,
which was once part of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. As the name indicates,
the valley is known to be the mass burial site where tombs were constructed for royal figures,
pharaohs, and privileged nobles for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC.
According to archaeologists, the Valley contains a total of 63 tombs and chambers which vary in
size and depth, ranging from a simple pit to a complex tomb with over 120 internal chambers.
But the entire series of royal underground chambers have one thing in common-
they’re all decorated with wall paintings and hieroglyphs, hinting
at Egyptian mythology as well as the beliefs and funerary rituals of the ancient period.
Most of the mummies as well as their precious artifacts that were once found at the Valley of
the Kings now lie in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, with the exception of King Tutankhamun.
5. Temple Of Hatshepsut.
Just a short drive away from the Valley of the Kings lies another of Egypt’s incredible ancient
sights; the Temple of Hatshepsut. This mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari was constructed under
the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut, one of the few female pharaohs in Egyptian history. It was
dedicated to Anum as well, but the temple mainly served to honor the queen during her lifetime and
after she died in 1458 BC. Modeled after the much smaller Temple of Mentuhotep II, the temple boasts
three distinct levels with colonnaded terraces that are connected by long ramps. Inside, the
Temple of Hatshepsut features decorated columns, carvings, colorful paintings, and hieroglyphs.
4. Karnak Temple.
One of the most popular places to visit in Egypt is the captivating Karnak Temple complex, which is
the modern-day name for the Temple of Amun located at Thebes. Sprawling over 2 square kilometers,
it was initially dedicated to god Amun, but later became a sacred place for ancient Egyptians to
worship Osiris, Isis, and Ptah as well. Although construction for the Karnak Temple had started
around 2000 BC during the reign of Pharaoh Senusret I, later pharaohs added their own
influential changes, making Karnak an incredible maze of temples, sanctuaries, and sphinxes.
For this reason alone, it’s often regarded as the largest ancient religious site on earth.
Needless to say, exploring Karnak is an unforgettable experience
especially considering fascinating sights like the Great Hypostyle Hall in the Temple of Amun-Ra.
3. Luxor Temple.
The southern city of Luxor is home to an array of ancient religious structures, the most magnificent
of them being the Luxor Temple. Constructed in the 14th century BC throughout the reign of numerous
rulers, including Amenhotep III, the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, it was part of the
Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, and can currently be found on the east bank of the River Nile.
The spectacular complex of temples and shrines was dedicated to the three Egyptian gods Amun, Mut,
and Chons, also called the “Theban triad” of gods. Another notable feature of Luxor Temple is that
it’s been used almost continuously for worship, which is why it was also the center of the
festival of Opet, Thebes’ most famous festival, where the statues of the three Gods were escorted
to the temple. From its Avenue of the Sphinxes to its looming archways and unique statues,
the Luxor Temple boasts several features that make it world-renowned.
2. The Great Pyramid of Giza.
Of all Ancient Egypt sites, the Great Pyramid of Giza is certainly the most renowned and is
often described as the kind of historical site that would simply blow your mind.
Located on the outskirts of modern-day Cairo, it looks out on the endless sands of the Sahara
and was built on the Giza plateau, hence the name. The construction of the three famous pyramids
dates back to 2550 and 2490 BC when they were used to serve as a mortuary temple for Pharaohs Khufu,
Khefre, and Menkaure, but exactly how these pyramids were made or by whom still remains
a mystery. Some historians believe it was the work of slaves while others say the pyramids were
built by skilled workers from all over Egypt. The tallest of the three, the Great Pyramid of Khufu,
is the sole remnant of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and remained the tallest building
on the planet for almost 4000 years until the construction of England’s Lincoln Cathedral in
1300. Made out of 2.3 million blocks of limestone, Khufu’s Pyramid originally measured 148 meters,
but its height has now reduced to 139 meters due to poor weather conditions. It’s still the largest
pyramid in Egypt, though, and reportedly consists of three main chambers as well as numerous false
passages and doors to trick robbers who’ve tried looking for Pharaoh Khufu’s treasure
over the years. All in all, the Great Giza Pyramid is considered the crown jewel of Ancient Egypt,
which is why it also makes up the iconic image that adorns postcards and travel brochures.
1. Great Sphinx of Giza.
It’s nearly impossible to talk about the Giza Plateau without mentioning the Great Sphinx, which
is easily regarded as a defining symbol of ancient Egypt. Standing 20 meters high and 73 meters long,
it’s the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and one of the most recognizable statues
in the world. But what exactly does it represent? With the head of a man and the body of a lion,
the limestone statue shows a sphinx, or a mythical creature, and guards the three pyramids at Giza.
Although most archaeologists believe that it represents Pharaoh Khafre, some argue that it
bears a closer resemblance to Khufu. A distinctive feature is the statue’s broken nose, but the
reason for it remains unclear. Despite conflicting evidence and viewpoints over the years,
many modern Egyptologists believe that the Great Sphinx was constructed during the reign of Pharaoh
Khafre, in 2500 BC. Just like with other ancient Egyptian monuments, efforts to restore the Great
Sphinx of Giza have been underway since the mid-1900s, and despite some deterioration,
the original shape of the statue has been reinstated with layers of limestone blocks.
Needless to say, a series of Ancient Egyptian dynasties and pharaohs built some of the
world’s most massive and remarkable monuments that certainly can’t be constructed today.