Giza, also Al Jizah, city in northern Egypt, capital of Giza governorate, on the Nile River, a southwestern suburb of Cairo. It is the third largest city in Egypt and a leading administrative, cultural, and commercial center, with diverse manufactures that include motion pictures, chemicals, machinery, and cigarettes. The city has traditional Muslim districts, a sector of luxury apartment buildings along the river, and many foreign embassies and government offices. Educational facilities include the University of Cairo (1908), relocated here in 1924; the Academy of the Arabic Language (1932); an ophthalmic research institute; and a music institute. An important city has been on or near this site since the time of the 4th Dynasty (about 2575-2467 BC) of the ancient pharaohs. Famous landmarks located nearby include the Great Sphinx (about 2500 BC) and three of Egypt's most famous pyramids—the Great Pyramid of Khufu, or Cheops, and the Khafre and Menkaure pyramids. Population (1998 estimate) 4,779,000.
