View from the causeway of Khafre looking east towards the Sphinx

The Giza Plateau, located on the west bank of the river Nile near Cairo is home to iconic Egyptian monuments, including 3 large pyramids built as royal places of burial in Dynasty 4 of the Old Kingdom (c. 2575–c. 2465 BCE). The limestone paving forms part of the long causeway or pathway connecting the king's pyramid and mortuary temple on the plateau to the valley temple and adjacent Sphinx temple positioned lower on the escarpment. The causeway runs 494.6 metres (541 yd) to the valley temple, which is built megalithic blocks sheathed in red granite. In the distance, the modern suburb of Giza and part of Greater Cairo can be seen encroaching on the borders of the ancient necopolis.