What Do Giza Pyramids Represent Spiritually?

At the top of many people’s bucket lists sits the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, but why are the iconic wonders such an important symbol of ancient Egypt? I set out to find out as I headed to Cairo to start my Egypt adventure.

At over four thousand years old, the pyramids have wonderfully stood the test of time to still offer us a glimpse into the eternal life so many moons ago.

The pyramids were first introduced as burial places for pharaohs, with their grandeur designs said to help their transition to the afterlife, which was a profound spiritual significance aspect of ancient Egyptian beliefs.

The Giza Pyramids are spiritual and have remained an important part of Egyptian culture through the centuries.

This guide on the famous wonders will take you on a spiritual journey into their spiritual essence, history, and importance as a symbol of Ancient Egypt.

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Why are Giza Pyramids Spiritual?

As international visitors find out when exploring Egypt, through hieroglyphics and artefacts, its ancient civilisations placed significant importance on the afterlife, and the transition from life to death.

Ruling pharaohs were god-like to the ancient Egyptians with divine statues, therefore, their funerary rituals and tombs reflected this.

The Pyramids of Giza were built as monumental tombs, and a safe place for the pharoh’s bodies while they transitioned over to the afterlife.

As a sacred space, the pyramids are said to represent the sun god ‘Ra’, with the triangular shape of the ancient structures representing the sun’s rays, symbolising the pharaoh’s divine connection with the next life.

Personal Experience in Giza (Egyptian Pyramids)

The most vivid memory of my day exploring the pyramids was the moment that they first came into view as our driver approached the area of Giza. 

On the second day of my Egypt trip, I headed to the Pyramids bright and early on a private tour which was organised by my hotel, and only included my tour guide, a driver, and myself.

During my history lesson in the car, I first learned about how the Giza Plateau is a burial ground for one family, including the smaller queen pyramids. This got my imagination racing about just how important the Pharaonic family must have been in ancient times.

Upon arriving at the Pyramid of Giza entrance, I could feel powerful energy surrounding the area, which is no surprise with the amount of history and attention the wonders receive.

Over the next two hours I visited all three pyramids, and entered inside the Great Pyramid and third pyramid. I found all three pyramids interesting and similar.

However, there is a special aurora around the Great Pyramid, especially knowing that it was the first pyramid at Giza to be built, and a great old testament to the status of the family which went on to dominate the plateau.

I found the best viewing spot to be the panoramic single point where I visited on my camel ride, as I could see all three main pyramids, along with three queen pyramids. This was an awesome moment that many visitors saviour.

Seeing the ancient wonders standing tall in the middle of the desert was a highlight of my whole Egypt trip.

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Pyramids of Giza

The great Pyramids of Egypt are globally famed which has led to many different rumours and myths surrounding their construction, purpose, and spirituality.

Here are some interesting facts for you to learn.

#1. Are the Pyramids of Giza Perfectly Aligned?

Although the alignment of the pyramids is very close to being perfect, the Great Pyramid is actually off by 0.067 degrees.

In today’s physical world, it would be much easier to achieve perfect alignment, but ancient civilisations with near perfect precision are still an incredible engineering achievement thousands of years ago.

#2. How Precise Are The Measurements of the Great Pyramid of Giza?

Here is a brief overview of the exact measurements of the holy monument Great Pyramid of Giza.

Total Height – It now stands at 138.8 metres tall, although originally it would have been nearly 10 metres taller, before erosion and other natural causes have reduced its outer casing.

• Base of the Pyramid Dimensions: Each side of the pyramid’s strong base is approximately 230.4 metres long.
• Total Weight: The Great Pyramid is estimated to weigh around 6 million tons.

#3. Why Was The Pyramid of Giza Built?

The Pyramid of Giza was primarily built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, who was also known as Cheops, and although it is not exactly known how the pyramid was built, modern Egyptologists do have theories.

As the pyramid was built around 4000 years ago, it is thought that manpower and basic powerful tools were used, meaning it is likely to have been grit and determination from many of the slaves of ancient Egypt.

Wandering around the magnificent pyramid structures definitely adds an element of mystery and doubt though, but not enough to believe the alien theories!

As the core of the pyramid is constructed through limestone, it is widely accepted that it would have been sourced from the local quarries, reducing the distance needed to transport the rocks.

Ramps and levers are then the most plausible methods of moving the heavy rocks to the top of the pyramid.

The three pyramids were built during different pharaonic reigns, and each one took several decades to build.

#4. Why Does the Great Pyramid of Giza Have Eight Sides and Not Four?

One thing that I learned from my tour guide was that the Great Pyramid actually has eight sides, as the four sides which appear to the naked eye are indented along the centre line. 

He was saying that viewing the pyramids from above makes it easier to spot, especially when the sun casts a shadow directly down the centre of each side, highlighting the concavity.

Studies over the last century have indicated that using eight sides may offer more structural stability, protecting the wonders from harsh weather, or natural disasters, as it evenly distributes the weight.

There are said to be over 2.3 million blocks used to build the Great Pyramid, all weighing several tons, therefore expert planning was essential.

#5. Giza Pyramid Coordinates

With the precise coordinates of  29.9792° N latitude and 31.1342° E longitude, the Giza Plateau is located around 5.6 miles southwest of Cairo.

Giza is situated on the west bank of the river Nile which runs all the way south through Egypt, and a further ten countries, making it the longest river in the world.

The location close to the Nile river played an important role in transporting tools, materials and workers to the Giza Plateau while constructing the pyramids.

#6. Do The Pyramids Line Up With The Stars?

Another ancient Egyptian spiritual connection is between the three pyramids and their alignment with the stars. The ‘Orion Correlation Theory’ suggests that the stone structures were built mirroring three stars in the Orion’s Belt.

Osiris, the Egyptian god who was associated heavily with the constellation Orion and the afterlife is thought to have influenced the Egyptians while building the pyramids.

As with many of the myths from ancient Egypt, it is difficult to prove it entirely.

#7. Inside The Pyramid of Giza

Visitors are allowed to enter inside all three pyramids, with the Great Pyramid being the most popular one.

Once inside the main pyramid, I followed the descending passage deep into the lower chambers, where I could visit the King’s and Queen’s chambers.

There is not much to see inside the pyramid today, and it does get hot and stuffy, so there is an argument to say that it is not worth the additional charge and long queues.

The landscape of the Giza Plateau includes an underground network of passages and tombs underneath the pyramids, but although Egyptologists have been allowed during excavation projects, tourists are not allowed down there to explore.

#8. Names of Giza Pyramids

In total there are three main pyramids at the Giza Plateau, and interestingly, all three were built for three successive pharaohs from the same family during the fourth dynasty of the Old Kingdom period.

• The Great Pyramid – Khufu. The main attraction at the plateau is the Great Pyramid which is also known as the Pyramid of Khufu.
• The Pyramid of Khafre. After Khufu’s reign, his son Khafre ruled ancient Egypt and built the second main pyramid on the Giza plateau. The Sphinx is widely accepted as being built by Khafre due to its close proximity to his pyramid. Egyptologisits have claimed that its triangular face looked like him, however, after thousands of years, I felt like it was impossible to tell.
• The Pyramid of Menkaure. The third pyramid was built by Menkaure, who was Khafre’s son, and the sixth pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty.

The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities offers an awesome introductory history lesson into the finer details about the three pyramids, and also presents visitors with original artefacts found in the pyramids.

I noticed workers’ tools, statues, and also some replica pyramids inside the main exhibition hall.

#9. Giza Pyramid Power Plant

Although it has never been confirmed, it is widely accepted in the world of Egyptology, that the pyramids weren’t actually built as tombs, but were in fact built as a source of universal energy.

The conductive materials used to build the three pyramids, such as limestone and granite are the solid foundation for the myths surrounding the ancient wonders.

Contrary to these beliefs, it is more likely that the ancient civilisations were very intelligent engineers, as both materials have survived thousands of years, and would have ensured that the late pharaohs were buried in immaculate final resting places

#10. Can You Go Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza?

Visitors can enter all three pyramids at the Giza Plateau at different costs. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the most popular with tourists, but also costs the most at 900 EGP (£15) per person.

There are also longer queues which carry on throughout the interior of the pyramid, causing stuffy conditions in the Egyptian heat.  

I recommend you enter the third pyramid if you are a budget traveller, or get claustrophobic, as it is less crowded and much cheaper.

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