Barriers To Stop Pyramid Climbers at Giza
Since then I have been chatting on Twitter with Andrew, who is currently living and working in Cairo.
I had heard that a fence of some sort has been erected around the pyramid of Khafre, apparently in response to the incident to prevent others from climbing the pyramid. So I asked Andrew if he was able to confirm this.
He travelled to Giza the next day and responded that both the northern and eastern sides of the pyramid have rope strung between metal bollards that have been cemented into the bedrock. Guards with walkie-talkies can be seen sitting around the pyramid…waiting.
These are not new additions though, these bollards have been here for some years now and can also be seen around Khufu’s pyramid. It does seem as though they might have increased the number of guards positioned around the pyramid.
On the western side of Khafre’s pyramid, however, a new metal fence has been erected. This western barrier appears to be a new addition, perhaps a result of the recent climbing of the pyramid. Andrew was kind enough to take a batch of photos especially for Talking Pyramids readers.
Andrew’s photos are used with permission. Some rights reserved.
No Climbing photo by Jay Bergesen. Some rights reserved.
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Well, so much for my plans to climb the pyramids. I was prepared to climb those hundreds of courses of chest-high blocks, but stepping over a knee-high rope is just too much…
This is such a sad and pointless defacing of the site. What does the “fence” achieve that the guards do not? It is not a deterrant, its just an eyesore.
Thanks as always for reporting the news, good and bad, Vincent.
Hi Keith,
I did seem odd to put the metal fence on the western side there as there huge drop/wall on that side. Anyone approaching from the plataue on the west is prevented access to the pyramid by the big drop. So a fence there seems a bit redundant. As you said, the guards would be more effective at stopping climbers than these ineffective eyesores.
As a 20-year-old in 1980 I climbed the Khafre pyramid. I loved it! The sunset from the top as I stood all alone was unforgettable.
http://lettershometoyou.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/climbing-the-pyramids-of-giza-egypt/
Back then there were no roads, white tour buses or parking lots at the base of the pyramids. I hated the sight of them when visiting once again a few months ago with my family.