Giza Governorate's National Day
Egypt, Local, 4/5/2001

Second only to Cairo, Giza is the second most important governorate in Egypt. Cairo and urban Giza make up Greater Cairo.

Giza has the remnants of Memphis, the first ancient Egyptian capital founded by Pharaoh Narmer (Menes). The word "Giza" is thought to be of Arabic origin that means "a crossing". Most of Giza's towns lie on the Nile's west bank along 160 km. and its latitudinal areas extend 360 km. from Giza city.

On March 31, the governorate celebrates its National Day that marks the anniversary of the battle which took place in 1919 between Nazlet El-Shobak's farmers and the British occupation troops.

- The governonte is characterized by several tourist, agricultural and industrial activities and it has so many ancient Egyptian monuments. Giza is the seat of Cairo University as well.

Giza also has:

- 54 hotels with a total capacity of 6897 rooms.

- Various industries such as sugar, chocolate, drugs, cigarettes, chemicals, plastic, garments, handicrafts and there is the second new important industrial estate, i.e., 6 October city.

- The first media production city to be built in Egypt and the Middle East.

- Some museums such as Zoological Museum, Botanical Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Mahmoud Mukhtar Museum and Muhammad Mahmoud Khalil Museum.

- The biggest and oldest zoo in the Middle East.

- Kerdassa village, a renowned centre of handicrafts, espically in the field of textiles and attire, and Harraneyya village that is famous for handwoven carpets, ceramics, sculpture, batick and cotton lisle.

- Wahat Bahareyya (or Northern Oases) is characterized by its own dry weather, landscapes, springs in addition to Pharaonic, Coptic and Roman monuments.

Giza is the second governorate in Egypt in terms of richness in ancient Egyptian monuments, such as:

- Pyramids: the most important monuments of the governorate, the oldest of which dates back to the 3rd Dynasty (2780-2680 B.C.) during the reign of Zoser I (3686-2613 B.C.), Saqqarah Stepped Pyramid.

- Cheops' Pyramid: built by Cheops the second pharaoh of the 3rd Dynasty (2613-2494 B.C.) . It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

- Chephren's Pyramid: built by Chephren, Cheops' son, and it lies southeast Cheops' pyramid.

- Mycerinos' Pyramid: built by Mycerinos, Chephren's son, near the two aforementioned pyramids. There are also some other pyramids as well as many mastabas (tombs) of princes, princesses and statesmen of the 6th Dynasty (2423 B.C.)

- Sphinx: the guard of the Kingdom of the Immortal, a huge rock sculptured in the shape of a lion with a human head.

- Cheops' Parque: discovered in 1954 and it consists of 1224 wood pieces (43m. long, 6m.wide). It has 12 paddles.

- There is also the Egyptian Sound and Light show that narrates the ancient E¢votian history in addition to several distinguished Pharaonic monuments at Saqqarah, Abu-Sir and Dahshour archaeological areas.

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