Book Tour: The Red Pyramid
Rick Riordan’s novel, The Red Pyramid, follows Sadie and Carter Kane on an epic adventure around the world. Now with Lit League, you can travel with them on the book tour below. We suggest checking back here as you read, but know that we don’t have entries for every single chapter. Most of our entries are centered around famous places or artifacts. If you’re worried about spoilers, don’t peek ahead!
Chapter 1
Cleopatra's Needle
There are actually multiple ancient Egyptian obelisks that are popularly referred to as Cleopatra's Needle. In chapter one, Sadie and Carter see the needle in London. The London obelisk, which sits near the bank of the River Thames, is one of a pair. The other is in Central Park in New York City.
Chapter 2
The British Museum
London's British Museum was the first public national museum in the world. Established in 1753, the museum houses an enormous collection focused on human history, art, and culture.
Learn about the highlights in Room 4 of the British Museum. This room houses Egyptian sculptures dating from approximately 2686 BCE to 396 CE, including the famous Rosetta Stone. The museum website even includes a virtual tour!
The Rosetta Stone
The Rosetta Stone is the artifact that enabled experts to read Egyptian hieroglyphs. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs fell out of use around the 5th century and their translations were lost to time until the Rosetta Stone was discovered. It contains the same message in three languages- ancient Egyptian heiroglyphs, demotic, and Greek.
Chapter 7
Shabti
Shabti, also known as ushabti or shawabti, were ancient funerary figures. They were placed in tombs to serve the deceased in the afterlife.
Chapter 8
The Narmer Palette
This cosmetic palette depicting King Narmer, contains one of the earliest inscriptions of hieroglyphs ever found. It is believed that the images portray the unification of upper and lower Egypt under King Narmer, an important moment in Egyptian history.
Chapter 10
The Obelisk
This obelisk is located in Central Park in New York, near The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This monument is a twin to London's Cleopatra's Needle and is often called by the same name. The two obelisks were originally carved around 3,500 years ago in honor of Pharaoh Thutmose III's 30th year of reign.
Chapter 11
The Met
New York City's The Metropolitan Museum of Art, also referred to as "The Met," is the largest art museum in America. Situated on the edge of Central Park, it houses beautiful art from around the world. You may already know about some of the collection from E.L. Konigsburg's beloved book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
The Temple of Dendur
In the 1960s, countries from all over the world worked together to save ancient artifacts in Egypt. The United States was given the Temple of Dendur as a thank you for participating in the effort. This temple was originally built in 15 BCE by a Roman governor in Egypt. It is dedicated to the ancient Egyptian deities, Isis and Osiris.
Chapter 13
The Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx is a limestone statue of the mythical sphinx. In ancient Egypt, sphinxes were spiritual guardians who were depicted as lions with human heads wearing pharaoh headdresses. The Great Sphinx is situated on the Giza Plateau on the banks of the Nile along with the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.
Chapter 16
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is a large ancient temple constructed in approximately 1400 BCE. It sits in the current city of Luxor, formerly known as Thebes. The temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship. The pictured obelisk is one of a pair; the other is in Paris.
Chapter 18
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris, France. Bordered by the famous Tuileries Gardens, the square was a popular gathering spot during the French Revolution. At the center of the square sits the twin obelisk to the one in Luxor. It is called the Luxor Obelisk.
Kite
Kites are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. There are many different types of kites found warm regions around the world. In Egyptian mythology, Isis is said to have taken the form of a kite in order to resurrect the dead.
Falcon
Falcons are birds of prey in the genus, Falco. There are about forty different species of falcon living all over the world, save Antarctica. The ancient Egyptian god, Horus, is often depicted as having a falcon head.
Chapter 19
Paris, France
Take in these images of spots Sadie and Carter travel through in Paris.
The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument stands in the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. This obelisk was built in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Construction began in 1848, was paused during the Civil War, then ultimately completed in 1884.
Chapter 23
Memphis
Memphis is a city in Tennessee that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. Known for its innovative and active music community, it is considered the birthplace of rock and roll and the home of the blues.
Five miles east of downtown Memphis sits the University of Memphis, which was established in 1912. A public research university, the campus has an enrollment of over 22,000 students.
Chapter 24
Graceland
Graceland is the former home of Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll. Presley purchased Graceland in 1957. It is now a very popular tourist site in Memphis.
Chapter 32
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Take in these images of spots Sadie and Carter travel through in Las Cruces.
Chapter 36
Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain is a mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. It is a very popular spot for hiking and rock climbing. It is called "camelback" because its silhouette is said to look like the back of a camel.