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How did the royal pyramids at Giza relate to the ancient city of Memphis?

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Memphis, Egypt: colossal statue of Ramses II — Memphis Colossal statue of Ramses II, carved from limestone, that once adorned the great temple of Ptah in Memphis, Egypt.

The royal pyramids at Giza are intrinsically linked to the ancient city of Memphis as part of the city's extensive necropolises, or cemeteries, which served the capital throughout much of Egyptian history.1

While Memphis functioned as the political and religious capital of ancient Egypt, particularly during the Old Kingdom, the surrounding desert plateau housed the monumental burial complexes of its pharaohs. The Pyramids of Giza—built for the 4th-dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure—are among the primary pyramid fields that define the Memphite archaeological zone.2134

These sites are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting their status as the royal funerary landscape of the Memphite region. Beyond Giza, this necropolis area includes other significant sites such as Saqqarah, Dahshur, Abu Sir, and Abu Ruwaysh, all of which are closely associated with the history and administration of the city of Memphis.14