Ghizeh
A dozen miles north of Menefet, Ghizeh (or, rather, its necropolis) possesses the most-recognizable monuments in all of Khemit. On a plateau west of the city stand several mighty pyramids of pharaohs from the 4th through 8th dynasties, making them more than 4,000 years old. The pyramids are surrounded by other tombs of royal family members and nobles. The largest tomb is the Great Pyramid of Udimu, founder of the 6th Dynasty. Not to be outdone, Pharaoh Teti of the 7th Dynasty built a pyramid and also a huge sphinx that is thought to have his face.
The pyramids and the sphinx have been depicted many times in artwork and seen by people thousands of miles away, who otherwise know nothing of Khemit. When conquerors from the Hyperborean Empire first saw the Great Sphinx, they were awed and adopted it as a symbol of faraway places. It was used as the official symbol of the Imperial Mercantile League, a worldwide organization of traders who designated it the “Sphinx of Boros.” Although the Great Sphinx has nothing at all to do with the ancient northern continent of Boros (and it seems doubtful that area has ever been visited by a real sphinx), the widespread use of the symbol made the Great Sphinx probably the best-known monument in the world.
Ghizeh is not only a city of the dead, however. It has its share of markets and temples and one other thing that brings people to the city — a zoological collection. What began as a pharaoh’s menagerie now includes creatures from all over Libynos as well as a rare few native to Akados. They are mostly housed in displays purporting to be similar to their natural environments, which are sustained by a combination of expert design and magical power.
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