The Catacombs (meaning underground tunnels) lie in the district of Karmouz to the east ofAlexandria. The area was called Kom El-Shouqafa or a pile of shards. The cemetery dates back to the 1st century A.D and was used until the 4th century A.D. It was discovered in 1900 when by pure chance, a donkey drawn cart fell into a pit, which led to the discovery. The Catacombs in Alexandria are so called because the design was very similar to the Christian Catacombs in Rome. Most likely it was a private tomb, later converted to a public cemetery. It consists of 3 levels cut into the rock, a staircase, a rotunda, the triclinium or banquette hall, a vestibule, an antechamber and the burial chamber with three recesses in it; in each recess there is a sarcophagus. The Catacombs also contain a large number of Luculi or grooves cut in the rock.
After decreasing the level of the subsoil water in 1995 the 2nd level was opened to visitors, but the lowest level is still submerged. The entrance leads to a spiral staircase of 99 steps that goes around a shaft, which was used to lower the body of the deceased, by means of ropes, to prevent any damages to it. Some slits were cut into the sides of the shaft to allow the daylight through to the staircase that was used by the visitors. The staircase leads to a vestibule with two niches on both sides. The top of each niche is in the shape of a shell, while the inferior part contains a half round bench, cut into the rock, which was used by the visitors to take some rest after descending the stairs of the tomb.The vestibule leads to a circular hall called the "rotunda". In the centre of this hall a shaft was cut leading to the 2nd storey of the tomb and surrounded by a small enclosure wall called the "parapet", on top of which is a dome, supported by 6 pillars. Between the pillars there were some figures of human heads, some of which were discovered and transferred to the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. To the left of the rotunda, is a vestibule, which leads to a chamber, which was also cut into the rock. Its ceiling is supported by 4 pillars, and it contains 3 benches, again cut in the rock, and takes the shape of the letter U. This chamber was called the “Triclinium”. Most probably, the room was dedicated for visitors, where they would have dined.Before accessing the main chamber there are 2 corridors, one in the east and the other in the west, each one leading to a large number of Luculi. After you descend to the hall that passes the Rotunda there is a small hall in front. In this vestibule, we see to the east a statue of a man inside a niche; while to the west there is a statue of a woman inside a niche. Both statues were sculpted in the Egyptian way, with some features of Greek art. 2 composite columns, containing a mixture of Egyptian and Greco-Roman elements, support the façade of this hall. Among the Egyptian elements; is the winged sun disk, the Falcon God Horus and the Uraeaus or the cobra, while the Greco-Roman elements are represented in the pediment, at top of the chamber.The façade of the main burial chamber is decorated with some Greek elements, such as the shield of the Goddess Athena, on top of which is the head of Medusa, and as we know, according to the ancient Greek myths, Medusa was able to petrify anyone who looked into her eyes. The representation of Medusa here was to protect the tomb.Under Medusa is a huge serpent with a double crown. Once we enter the burial chamber, which was completely cut into the rock, we see 3 large recesses, each one containing a sarcophagus. The burial chamber has a vaulted roof supported by 4 square pillars whose capitals take the shape of Papyrus. The sarcophagus and its lid are cut completely from one block of rock. The body of the deceased was placed into the sarcophagus through an opening in the back wall, and then it was blocked after burying the body with stones. The sarcophagus is decorated with flowers, the head of Medusa, god Dionysus and other mythical gods. There is a representation of the deceased in a lying position. The most important scene on the front wall above the sarcophagus represents a mummy lying on a funerary bed. Next to this bed, the God Anubis is holding in his left hand a jar; it is supposed to contain some liquids that were used during mummification, while his right hand is touching the mummy. God Anubis is wearing a Roman dress and on top of his head there is the sun disk with a cobra on each side.Underneath the table there is a representation of the three canopic jars for the viscera; originally there were supposed to be four jars, which represented the 4 sons of Horus; Habi, Amasty, Dwamoutf, and Qbh-snwf. Most likely the artist did not find enough space to represent the 4th jar "Dwamoutf", which take the shape of a jackal or Anubis, because the body of Anubis is occupying this space. Anubis in this case represents the two gods. Next to this, the God Thut, the Egyptian God of knowledge and wisdom, is standing wearing the double crown, holding the sceptre with one hand and a jar with the other. Near the end of the lion shaped table, the God Horus is standing wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. The remaining scenes represent a lady standing; above her head there is a sun disk and she is raising her hands in the prayer position. In front of the lady is a priest, wearing a long garment, giving the lotus flower, and a jar, to the lady. The right recess of the burial chamber contains nearly the same design and elements. It contains a sarcophagus with the same decorations. The most important scene on the right recess represents a figure of an Emperor or a ruler who is wearing a short kilt. He is putting the double crown on his head, holding a necklace with both hands, presenting it to the sacred bull Serapis. Behind Serapis, is a Goddess stretching her wings, maybe representing the Goddess Isis.There is another scene representing a mummy holding a big sceptre with the God Anubis standing in front of her. There is also a representation of an altar between Anubis and the mummy, from which incense smoke is rising. There is also a scene depicting an Emperor, who is offering the feather of Maat to a God, probably Petah (or Ptah). Between them there is an altar, which takes the shape of the lotus flower.
The so-called “Pompey Pillar” is the biggest memorial column in Egypt. It is a huge column of red granite, its total height is about 28 m with a diameter at the base of 2.7 m, and towards the capital at the top it tapers to 2.3 m. The Roman ruler of Egypt, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, erected this memorial column between 284-305A.D in honour of the Roman Emperor, as a sign of gratitude. A serious revolt in the city took place and Diocletian came himself, ordering the city to be besieged. After 8 months of resistance, the city finally surrendered. As a result of the siege, there was famine in the city; therefore the Emperor ordered that a portion of the corn, which was sent to Rome annually, be given to the people of Alexandria. He exempted them from paying taxes during these hard times. For that they erected, in his honour, this memorial column. In the middle ages the Crusaders believed, mistakenly, that the ashes, or the remains, of the great Roman general Pompey were in a pot at the top of the column. Thus today it is called “Pompey’s Pillar”.Around the commemorative Column of Diocletian there are some monuments that can be seen. On the backside, there is the remains of a Serapium, or a temple of the God Serapis, now badly damaged. It was built during the reigns of Ptolemy II and Ptolemy III, but was damaged due to the revolts of the Jewish population in Alexandria, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (89-118 A.D). It was rebuilt again during the reign of Hadrian (117-137 A.D). It was likely was destroyed, once more, after the appearance of Christianity. It consisted mainly of a high platform accessed by a staircase of 100 steps. At the side of the platform there was a basin, which was used for purification. There were 2 galleries at the back of the temple, cut completely into the rock. In the 1st gallery a black statue of basalt, dating back to the reign of Hadrian, was discovered. It represents the God Serapis, in a shape of a bull, and it is now exhibited in the Greco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. The 2nd gallery is known mistakenly as the Daughter Library, but it seems that it was an Anubidiun, or a burial for the mummies of Anubis, which was considered until the a reign of Ptolemy IV, a member of the Pantheon of Alexandria.
The museum was first built in 1892 as a small building located on Horreya Road. In 1895 it was transferred to the present site near Gamal Abdul Nasser Road. It started with eleven galleries, and has been gradually enlarged in later renovation stages. The 25th gallery was inaugurated in 1984. It contains a very big variety of coins from different countries, chronologically arranged, and dating back from 630 BC to the Ottoman period in the 19th century. The collection, which covers the period from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD, is a fascinating record of civilization in the process of change as religions merged and society evolved.In Alexandria, Graeco-Roman and Pharaonic religions mingled in the cult of Serapis; the shift from pagan religions to Christianity can also be seen in the exhibits which include mummies, Hellenistic statues, busts of Roman emperors, Tangara figurines, and early Christian antiquities.Museum Description The museum contains hundreds of precious antiques. We will describe the most valuable ones or the best areas in the museum. Honestly, I have been to that museum more than five times and I still would love to go again. In Room 6 we can find The Apis Bull, found to the west of Pompey's Pillar. The statue was set up in the reign of Hadrian (AD 117-138). This bull represents the most successful imposition of Greek realism upon an Egyptian image. The Serapis Head is sculptured with fine white marble. It was found near the Pompey's Pillar. It was one of the Ptolemies' gods. This god was a blend of Osiris and Apis. A visitor can see fine mosaics, an Alexandrine specialty, including one of a ship sailing, done with colored pebbles set in cement. This is the earliest type of mosaic made. Room 7: The two headless sphinxes, carved under Amenhemhet IV (12th Dynasty), are spectacular. The two headless black basalt statues of Isis in the niches flanking the doorway show us a clear example of Isis Knot. Room 8: This room is devoted to mummies and sarcophagi. A visitor can see the difference between the gilded and painted cartonnage of the pharaonic mummies and the ornate diamond bandage of the Ptolemaic ones. Room 9: This room is mainly dedicated to show pieces of a shrine in the Fayoum dedicated to the Crocodile-god, Pnepheros. Room 11: Contains some of the most interesting statues, in which Egyptian scenes and techniques are portrayed with Greek influences. We can see image of divine serpents " The Agathadaimon Stelae" and their worshippers. Limestone fragments from a temple at Athribis (Benha) are along the north wall of the room. The god Tutu faces Horus and Athribis with a broken inscription of Greek between them. Room 12: Contains statues of Graeco-Roman period. A colossal red granite head of Ptolemy IV, was found at Abuqir, wearing the double crown of Egypt. The mosaic of Medusa, once a pavement, originally showed Medusa's entire body. The most spectacular piece is the colossal white marble statue of Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD), which was discovered under the Sayed Darwish Theater. In the same room, we can see a marble statue of Isis as a goddess of the Nile reclining against a sphinx. Her left hand holds a vessel for the Holy Water and the eight children climbing over her represent the eight cubits the Nile rises for a perfect flood. Room 14: is filled with portrait heads of famous Romans: Hadrian, Vespasian, and Augustus.Room 16: Contains some of the finest Hellenistic statuary available. The torso of Aphrodite is magnificent . At the end of the hall are a couple of male torsos, a female, and a seated male, which belonged to a group of statues carved for a pediment for a palace near the eastern harbor. Room 17: Contains some of the best Sarcophagi found. The most unique one shows Ariadne asleep on the island of Naxos. The god of sleep (Hypnos) stands by her head, and behind him lies the boat that brought her from Crete. Her husband, Dionysisu, stands in front of her with his retinue. The rest of the facade shows a drunken Hercules being helped homeward. Room 18: The funerary amphora from Chatby. It dates to the end of the fourth century BC. It still has its artificial wreath of green leaves and golden berries around its neck. Another display is a unique collection of clay Tanagra ( an ancient city in the northern part of Greece) figures. This collection spans the 3rd century BC to the 1st century AD. It provides information about women's fashions, hairstyles, hats and dresses in the ancient world. Room 21: This room contains plenty of pottery and some statues. The statue that stands out in this hall is a Hercules statue with a club in his left hand and his lion-skin coat in his right. Room 22: This hall is dedicated to colored glassware. Early in Egypt's history, the people learned how to make glass. It is a chance to see the early discovery of the fusion of soda and sand. At the end of the hall is a beautiful bronze head of Hadrian (76-138 AD). Room 2:Contains many architectural elements from early Christian buildings, the central basket capital is a typical Coptic art. Room 3: This room has magnificent collection of metal, silver and gold. The silver torso of Aphrodite dates from the 2nd century. There is a varied collection of ancient jewelry with different magnificent colors. Room 4: Devoted to Coptic textiles from some of the finest weavers in the Christian world. Room 5: An amazing ancient model of a water cooling system. Room 1: In this room, we can see the beautiful alabaster Good Shepherd. Its large eyes and flat, regular of the robe is a development from the Coptic style. Part of the hall displays artifacts from the Monastery of St. Menas, west of Alexandria. The Sculpture Garden: The garden of the museum is full of spectacular statues and artifacts.
The modern Alexandria Library or the Bibliotheca Alexandrina as once called in Ancient Egypt is located on a magnificent site in the Eastern Harbor, facing the sea on the north, and Alexandria University Complex on its southern side. It is very close to the location of the Ancient Library in the Brucheion (the Ancient Royal Quarter), as verified by the 1993 archeological survey The Bibliotheca Alexandrina was inaugurated in 2003 near the site of the old library.The building consists of 11 levels with a total levels' area of 85,405 m2. The library's main reading area which can accommodate 2000 users occupies 7 levels with a total area of 13,625 m2.The Library has 2 main museums ( the manuscript museum and the Antiquities museum ) and a Science center of the shape of a sphere and called the Planetarium.There is also the conference center which is an integral part of the Alexandria Library to host international conferences in Egypt.The library design comprises a simple circle inclined towards the sea and partly submerged in a pool of water. The inclined roof lets in daylight indirectly and allows for an uninterrupted view of the Mediterranean. The building is surrounded by a wall clad with granite engraved with calligraphy and inscriptions representative of the world's civilizations.
the Ancient library of Alexandria
The Royal Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egypt was once the largest library in the world. It is generally assumed to have been founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Ptolemy II of Egypt, after Ptolemy's father had raised what would become the first part of the library complex, the temple of the Muses. The Royal Library is believed to have held anywhere between 40,000 to 700,000 books and was initially organized by Demetrius Phalereus. It has been reasonably established that the library was destroyed by fire yet, to this day, the details of the destruction or destructions remain a lively source of controversy.
Stanley is a very important highlight in Egypt's physical beauty. The bridge provides a much more sociable path between the various sections of Alexandria. The bridge withholds an inner beauty with its artistic details and fine craftsmanship. The bridge harbors the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, which is used to maximum capacity for many tourist sights. The Stanley beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of Egypt. It harbors beautiful views and has one of the most excellent tourist services.
Founded in 331 BC, the ancient city of Alexandria lies on a strip between the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mareotis. It soon became one of the cultural capitals of the ancient world.
The city is home to a number of spectacular sites including one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World – Pharos Lighthouse. Recently, new architectural feats have emerged (or have been refurbished) from this ever-bustling city, with the likes of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Four Seasons San Stefano Hotel – The latter of which was my temporary place of residence during the five-day trip.
Despite its sea-side location, the city isn’t solely a leisure destination. Interesting historical sites are in abundance and could provide ample opportunity for incentive trips. A group could go and explore the Roman Amphitheatre, which consists of ancient remains from an amphitheatre used in the second century AD. Constructed using mostly marble, the site used to have a domed roof but this was destroyed over time. A number of stone statues were scattered around the site, many beautifully restored with very little loss in detail. Excavated by a Polish team, the Amphitheatre is the only one that has been discovered so far – in a city where 400 of them were said to have been in existence in ancient times.
Dive companies operate near Alexandria’s Grand Harbour offering enough scuba training to allow even a novice diver access to this aquarium of a museum. In just 15 metres you scuba your way through history from the hundreds of Roman amphora scattered across the seabed to hieroglyphic stone to wrecks of Greek vessels and the canons of Napoleon’s defeated fleet, sunk by Nelson in the 19th century. There is even a relic of the 20th century in the shape of World War II Italian plane.
Another attraction, Pompey’s Pillar, is the tallest monument in Alexandria. It’s a 25-metre tall granite column, which was built to honour Emperor Diocletain. Known to the Arabs as Amoud el-Sawari, which is directly translated into ‘Column of the Horsemen’. A visually impressive structure, the site was once a mighty temple, although all that is left now is the pillar and a couple of sphinxes. Still, a visually impressive site, Pompey’s Pillar was one of the highlights of the trip.
The Alexandria National Museum was officially inaugurated by Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president on December 31, 2003. The actual building was originally sold to the Americans in the 1960’s and used as a consulate. In 1997 it was bought back by the Ministry of Culture. The museum contains around 1,800 artefacts which explain and describe the history of Alexandria through the ages, including the Pharonic, Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras and influences. More modern pieces in the museum include glassware, jewels and china from the 19th century.
Our group also explored the Citadel of Quaitbay, which is considered to be one of the most important defence strongholds on the Mediterranean Sea coast. It was formerly home to one of the ancient wonders of the world, Pharos Lighthouse. The lighthouse continued to function until the time of the Arab conquest and most of it was destroyed due to a destructive earthquake in the 14th century.
A popular site with visitors to Alexandria is the Montazah Gardens. Montazah Palace is located in the centre of the site and is surrounded by trees, palms and flowers. It was the summer residence of the former Egyptian royal family and was restored by President Sadat. Although the Palace is not accessible to the public, the gardens contain a number of wonderful flowers, trees and pines and is a great place to escape from city living.
Another garden we visited was the Antoniadis Villa and Gardens. The villa is a historical monument and lies near the south of Alexandria. It is surrounded by nearly 50 hectares of land and was once owned by Greek citizen Sir John Antoniadis who used the villa to hold his collection of Greek statues. Antoniadis’ son later donated the site to the Council after his passing.
There are a number of MICE-related facilities in the city, in particular the Bibliotecha Alexandrina – which contains a conference centre area of 5,000 square metres (comprising of four conference halls, four meeting rooms, two exhibition halls, a VIP lounge and a VIP meeting room). Plenty of conferencing facilities and meeting rooms are available in a number of hotels in the city.
With its ideal location just west of the river Nile and with the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Alexandria has long been a leading trading port for different regions including Asia, Europe and Africa. Alexandria International Airport is roughly a 30-minute drive from the bustle of the city (traffic dependant), serving a number of international airlines and destinations. The centre of Alexandria also has efficient transport networks with a tram and regular bus links.
Overall, Alexandria seems to have it all. Good weather most of the year, a host of culture, plenty of leisure and business destinations – yet not as chaotic as Cairo.
When visiting Aswan, you should not miss seeing the Temples of Abu Simbel. They are located 300 km southwest in the Nubian Desert on the banks of Lake Nasser not far away from the Sudanesian border. You can reach them by aeroplane or by Hydrofoil, a water foil boat.
Ramses II commisioned the temples about 1250BC. The great temple is consecrated to the Gods Amon Re, Re-Harachte and Ptah, the smaller one is a Hathor-Temple for Ramses' wife Nefertari. Hathor was the Goddess of Love of the Old Egyptians.
The temples used to be located lower down near the banks of the Nile. After building the new dam, it meant that they would be flooded. So in an international operation of UNESCO, the surface of the hill and the inner halls were sawed up and reconstructed 64 m higher up the valley, inside a concrete dome. The reconstruction of both temples was so accurate, that no one can see from outside that the hill is hollow.
Although we are already 300 km southwest of the dam and not far away of the Sudanese border, the Lake Nasser continues 200 km further south.
A small airport was built specially for the temples. When asked when the aeroplane (a Boeing 727), would depart, the answer was "as soon as everybody will be back from the temples"!
Dendera
Dendera is located 60km north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile opposite the provincial town of Qena, There visitors will find the Temple of Hathor, never finished, but well preserved.
Hathor temple
To the north of the main temple a smaller temple was built in honor of Ramses’ great wife, Nefertari, and the goddess Hathor.
royal family member
Between the legs and on each of their sides stand smaller statues of members of the royal family. The smaller statues of relatives were probably, for the first southern colossus: The family statues at the first northern colossus were, Queen Nefertari, Princess Beketmut and Prince Riameses in front. For the second northern colossus, there were Princess Merytamun, Queen Muttuya and Princess Nofretari.
Ramses statues
The massive facade of the main temple is dominated by the four seated colossal 66 foot colossal statues of Ramses each seated on a throne and wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Each is taller than the famed Memnon Colossus at Thebes, and all are sculpted directly from the rock face. The Great Temple is over 100 feet high and 120 feet whereas the smaller temple has four 33 foot statues of Ramses and two of Nefertari. An ancient earthquake damaged the statues. One is demolished from the waist up.
Through a hypostyle hall containing eight columns depicting Ramses II is an inner sanctuary with statues of Ra, Ramses II, Amun and Ptah seated against the far wall.
Abu Simbel
raised but still on the Nile (Lake Nasser)
Abu Simbel was built by Ramses II, the most prolific pharaoh in terms of building works, and no mean military commander either. It marked the border between Egypt itself and the southern nation of the Nubians. There are two temples, both originally built into a rock face. The Great Temple is dedicated to Ra, the sun god, and also really to Ramses himself. The smaller temple is dedicated to the cow goddess Hathor and also to Ramses II's favorite wife, Nefertari.
Valley of the Kings
waiting to view a tomb
Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern:
three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. These catacombs were harder to rob and were more easily concealed. The switch to burying the pharaohs within the valley instead of pyramids, was intended to safeguard against tomb robbers.
Valley of the Kings
The west bank at Luxor is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is much more than what we refer to as the Valley of the Kings, though many have called the whole of the area by that name.
The beautifully-decorated passageways and chambers in the Valley of Kings tombs included guides to the afterlife for the pharaoh. They showed the gods he would meet and the perils and trials he would face in his quest for immortality. Remarkably, some of the greatest art of the ancient world was created to be seen only by the eyes of dead kings
The people of ancient Egypt believed that the body had to be mummified to preserve it for the life that was to follow death on earth. For a New Kingdom pharaoh, the mummification process is thought to have taken seventy days. The brain was usually extracted through the nose and discarded. The heart was left in the body. The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines were stored in four canopic jars that were left in the tomb. The body was dried with natron before being packed with materials such as resin and linen. Finally, it was wrapped and adorned with protective amulets.
Unimaginable treasures were entombed with the pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. Sadly, these riches tempted thieves who were driven by a greed that outweighed any fear of retribution from their divine rulers or the gods. Even the builders and guardians of the tombs could not always be trusted, and most of the sacred resting places were soon plundered.The discovery by Howard Carter in 1922 of the almost undisturbed tomb of Tutankhamun (who died around 1325 BCE) revealed the riches of the New Kingdom royal burials in the Valley of the Kings. Yet Tutankhamun was a young and obscure pharaoh. His fabulous treasures can only hint at those looted from the tombs of great kings like Ramesses II.
The people of ancient Egypt struggled to protect the bodies of their kings. After the pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms were plundered, most Egyptian pharaohs of dynasties 18 to 20 of the New Kingdom (who ruled around 1570 - 1070 BCE) were buried in tombs cut into the solid rock of the Valley of the Kings.
image)Beautiful images of Egyptian gods and goddesses decorated the tomb walls in the Valley of the Kings.
The Egyptian workers toiled in the heat of the barren valley to dig staircases, corridors and chambers deep into the rock. The walls were decorated with scenes of outstanding beauty that depicted the gods, perils and glory that awaited in the netherworld. Finally, the New Kingdom pharaohs were entombed along with precious objects needed to maintain their status in the divine afterlife.
The city of Thebes was the site of mighty temples built on the east bank of the Nile to honor the gods of New Kingdom ancient Egypt. On the opposite west bank was a magnificent burial ground for the pharaohs - the Valley of the Kings. This was the kingdom of Osiris, god of the underworld. From their grand tombs, the Egyptian pharaohs believed they would embark on a journey in which they would meet the gods in the afterlife and achieve immortality.
The New Kingdom pharaoh Ramesses II (ruled 1279-1212 BCE) embarked on many monumental building projects including his Great Temple at Abu Simbel in the south of Egypt. The temple was carved out of a hillside next to the Nile and dedicated to the gods Amun, Ptah and Re-Horakhty. However, it was also a tribute to the power and military might of Egypt and the divine pharaoh himself.When the High Dam was built at Aswan, 280 kilometers down-river, the Abu Simbel temples were threatened by the rising water of Lake Nasser. In a remarkable operation organized by UNESCO in the 1960s, the massive temples were cut and rebuilt in an artificial hill on higher ground nearby.
photo)Ramesses II built a smaller temple near his own to honor his wife Queen Nefertari and the goddess Hathor. The facade of the Temple is dominated by more statues of Ramesses II and his queen.
Thebes on the east bank of the Nile was the land of the living. On the opposite west bank, toward the setting sun, was the Valley of the Kings where mummies of New Kingdom pharaohs were placed in tombs cut deep into the rock. The pharaohs had abandoned pyramids as graves, after those of their Old Kingdom predecessors were looted. In the Valley of the Kings, the dead pharaoh was left to make the journey to the kingdom of the gods - an afterlife depicted in beautiful decorations on walls of the tomb's chambers and passageways
The ancient city of Thebes flourished in New Kingdom Egypt. Successive pharaohs enlarged and embellished two mighty temple complexes at what we now know as Luxor and nearby Karnak. The temples were built on the east bank of the Nile to honor the great god Amun. Karnak is now regarded as the largest surviving religious complex in the world.
The Pharaohs of dynasties 18-20 ruled ancient Egypt through the golden age of the New Kingdom (1570-1070 BCE). Great kings such as Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep III and Ramesses II controlled a powerful empire and embarked on monumental building projects that saw mighty cult temples built to honor the gods.
The ancient Egyptian civilization of the Nile Valley came of age under Old Kingdom rulers of dynasties 3 to 6. Their greatest legacies are the huge Giza Pyramids, the results of a spectacular program of pyramid building.
The Pyramids of Giza epitomize ancient Egypt, but they were the results of a short period of pyramid building during the Old Kingdom.
The Giza Pyramids were built as tombs for the fourth dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled Egypt through 2589-2504 BCE. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But the ancient Egyptians did not think of the pyramids just as resting places for the dead. They believed their rulers were divine god-kings who would ascend from the pyramid to take their place among the gods in the afterlife.
Many deities were worshipped in ancient Egypt. Confusingly, these often changed or evolved over the long time span of the Egyptian civilization, or were represented in different manifestations. In New Kingdom Egypt, the god Amun became prominent as the greatest of the gods. Regarded as a creator deity, he became assimilated with the sun god Re to become Amun-Re, and was worshipped in Thebes at the mighty temples of Karnak and Luxor.
Karnak and Luxor temples were built to a design that became common in New Kingdom Egypt. An entrance pylon of massive, twin towers was fronted by obelisks and statues. This led to an open peristyle court beyond which was a columned hypostyle hall. Finally came dimly lit chambers that included the holy inner sanctum that was dedicated to the temple god and accessible only to the pharaoh and priests. (The head of a statue of Ramesses II and an obelisk erected by the pharaoh in front of his entrance pylon to Luxor Temple.)
Statue of the great god Amun at Karnak.
The ancient name for Karnak was Ipet Isut, 'The Most Select of Places'. Although a major part of the vast site is occupied by the Great Temple of Amun, temples were also built here for other Egyptian gods including Amun's consort Mut and the lunar deity Khonsu - the other members of a triad of gods worshipped at ancient Thebes.
The Karnak Temples were progressively enlarged by many New Kingdom pharaohs who added a succession of pylons, courts and halls. Builders included Tuthmosis III (ruled 1504-1450 BCE), Amenhotep III (1386-1349 BCE) and Ramesses II (1279-1212 BCE).
(The spectacular Hypostyle Hall in the Great Temple of Amun at Karnak. It is crowded with 134 towering stone columns, some reaching 21 meters high. )
A head of Ramesses II beside his pylon at Luxor Temple.
The Sun Court of Amenhotep III at Luxor Temple. The columns resemble papyrus bundles symbolic of the primeval marsh from which the ancient Egyptians believed creation unfolded.
Luxor Temple was built in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes, and was connected to Karnak by a 3 kilometer processional way lined with sphinxes. Like most of the Karnak complex, Luxor Temple was also dedicated to the god Amun. Much of the temple core was built by the pharaoh Amenhotep III and then was added to over the years by other kings including Ramesses II.
Present day Luxor in Egypt is built on the Nile at the site of ancient Thebes, a city that reached its glory under New Kingdom pharaohs. It was in Thebes that the imposing temples of Karnak and Luxor were built over three thousand years ago to honor the great god Amun. Successive pharaohs endeavored to outdo their predecessors by enlarging and embellishing these cult centers. By doing this they hoped to please the gods and enhance their own status. Over the years, the Karnak and Luxor temples grew ever more magnificent...
The Pyramids of Giza are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt. These massive stone structures were built around 4500 years ago on a rocky desert plateau close to the Nile. But the intriguing Egyptian pyramids were more than just tombs for kings. The mysteries surrounding their symbolism, design and purpose have inspired passionate debate. It is likely that many of these mysteries will never be solved...
The pyramids epitomize ancient Egypt, yet the biggest were constructed during a short span of time early in a civilization that was to last almost three millennia. The first large Egyptian pyramid was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, built during the third dynasty of the Old Kingdom to protect the body of the king Djoser who died around 2649 BCE. It was this feat that heralded the short age of the gigantic stone pyramids of ancient Egypt.The greatest achievements of the pyramid builders were the Pyramids of Giza, built near the capital city of Memphis for the fourth dynasty kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure who ruled through 2589-2504 BCE. But pyramid building soon waned as the power and prosperity of the kings of Egypt weakened with the end of the Old Kingdom.Unfortunately, the pyramids became obvious targets for tomb robbers. The Giza Pyramids were plundered long ago of the bodies and anything entombed with them, despite the almost superhuman efforts of the Egyptians to protect the remains of their kings.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest of the pyramids of ancient Egypt, and was regarded by the ancient Greeks as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Khufu (Cheops to the Greeks) ruled about 2589-2566 BCE when the Old Kingdom of Egypt was nearing a peak of prosperity and culture. After his death, he was entombed in a pyramid that is astonishing for both its size and mathematical precision.
It is often said that the Great Pyramid of Khufu contains 2.3 million stone blocks, although some now question this figure. The four sides of the pyramid are accurately oriented to the cardinal points of the compass. The base has sides 230 meters long, with a difference between them of only a few centimeters. The pyramid was originally 146 meters high until it was robbed of its outer casing and capstone.
What was the purpose of the Egyptian pyramids?
The people of ancient Egypt believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world. The embalmed body of the king was entombed underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his transformation and ascension to the afterlife, and a place among the gods.
Each of the Giza Pyramids had an adjoining mortuary temple where rituals for the dead king and for the Egyptian gods may have been carried out. A causeway ran to a lower temple near the Nile floodplain that acted as an entrance to the complex. The Giza necropolis also included pits for funerary boats, small subsidiary pyramids and numerous other tombs for the royal family and officials.
During the Old Kingdom era, kings of Egypt began to emphasize their divine associations and their people believed them to be manifestations of the god Horus. After the time of Khufu, kings were also proclaimed to be sons of the great sun god Re. After his death, the king became associated with Osiris, father of Horus and god of the underworld. The king's sacred powers were passed on to the new ruler - usually his son.
From an entrance just above the base of the Great Pyramid, a cramped Ascending Passage climbs for 36 meters up through the solid stone core to a towering Grand Gallery. This climbs another 46 meters to reach the King's Chamber and the now empty sarcophagus in the heart of this colossal pyramid. The enormous weight that bears down on the King's Chamber is dissipated by a series of ingenious stress-relieving chambers and massive granite beams built above it.
It seems likely that the Pyramids of Giza were not built by slaves but by paid laborers motivated by a faith in the divinity and immortality of their kings. Exactly how the pyramids were built is unclear. It is likely that a sloping embankment was built up to or around the pyramid. The huge blocks would then have been hauled on sledges with the aid of rollers, papyrus ropes and levers. Although most stone was quarried locally at Giza, some had to be transported to the site along the Nile.
Egypt, at the northeast corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea, is bordered on the west by Libya, on the south by the Sudan, and on the east by the Red Sea and Israel. It is closely one and one-half times the size of Texas. Egypt is divided into two unequal, extremely arid regions by the landscape's dominant feature, the northward-flowing Nile River. Did you know that the Nile starts 100 mi (161 km) south of the Mediterranean and Advocates out to a sea front of 155 mi in the range of the cities of Alexandria and Port Said.Egyptian rich history can be traced back historically to about 4000 B.C., during the time the kingdoms of upper and lower Egypt, already highly sophisticated, were united. Egypt's golden age coincided with the 18th and 19th dynasties (16th to 13th century B.C.), around the time during that the empire was established. Persia conquered Egypt in 525 B.C., Alexander the Wonderful subdued it in 332 B.C., and then the dynasty of the Ptolemies ruled the land until 30 B.C., during the time Cleopatra, last of the line, committed suicide and Egypt transformed to a a Roman, then Byzantine, province. Arab caliphs ruled Egypt from 641 until 1517, during the time the Turks took it for his or her Ottoman Empire.Egyptian nationalism, led by Zaghlul Pasha and the Wafd Party, forced Britain to relinquish its claims on the country. Egypt transformed to a an independent sovereign state on Feb. 28, 1922, with Fu'ad I as its king. Within 1936, by an Anglo-Egyptian treaty of alliance, all British troops and officials were to be withdrawn, except from the Suez Canal Zone. When World War II started, Egypt remained neutral.From 1956 to 1961, Egypt and Syria united to form a single country named the United Arab Republic (UAR). Syria ended this man's relationship in 1961 after a military coup, but Egypt continued to call itself the UAR until 1971.
Within July 1972, Sadat ordered the expulsion of Soviet "advisers and experts" from Egypt because the Russians had not provided the sophisticated weapons he felt were needed to retake territory lost to Israel in 1967.
It is noted that the fourth Arab-Israeli War broke out on Oct. 6, 1973, around the time during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Egypt swept deep into the Sinai, while Syria strove to throw Israel off the Golan Heights. A UN-sponsored truce used to be accepted on Oct. 22. Within Jan. 1974, both sides agreed to a settlement negotiated by the U.S. that gave Egypt a narrow svisit aextensive the entire Sinai bank of the Suez Canal. Within June, President Nixon made the originaltourby a U.S. president to Egypt and complete diplomatic relations were established. Did you know that the Suez Canal was reopened on June 5, 1975.
Within the most audacious act of this man's career, Sadat flew to Jerusalem at the invitation of Prime Minister Menachem Begin on Nov. 20, 1977, to discuss a permanent peace settlement. Did you know that the Arab world reacted with fury. Egypt and Israel signed a formal peace treaty on March 26, 1979. Did you know that the pact ended 30 years of war and established diplomatic and commercial relations.
By mid-1980, two-thirds of the Sinai had been transferred back to Egypt, but Sadat halted further talks with Israel in Aug. 1980 because of continued Israeli settlement of the West Bank. On Oct. 6, 1981, Sadat used to be assassinated by extremist Muslim soldiers at a parade in Cairo. Vice President Hosni Mubarak, a former air force chief of working staff, succeeded him. Israel completed the return of the Sinai to Egyptian control on April 25, 1982. Israel's invasion of Lebanon in June brought a marked cooling in Egyptian-Israeli relations, but not a disavowal of the peace treaty.
It is noted that the government has to this day concentrated much of its time and awareness in recent years on combating Islamic extremists, who have in particular targeted Copts (Egyptian Christians). Within 1997, a terrorist attack on foreign tourist and vacationerss killed 70. During the 1990s, about 26,000 Islamic militants were imprisoned and dozens were executed.
Egypt and Sudan resumed diplomatic relations in March 2000, that broke off in 1995 after Egypt accused Sudan of attempting to assassinate Hosni Mubarak. Human rights activists have significantly increased his or her criticism of Egypt for its heavy-handed crack down on potentially disruptive Islamic groups, and for the harassment of intellectuals advocating wonderfuler democracy.
At least 90 people died in a series of car-bomb explosions at famous Red Sea resort Sharm el Sheik in July 2005. Two militant groups claimed responsibility.
Within July 2005, President Mubarak announced he would seek a fifth six-year term. Earlier in the year Mubarak had amended the constitution to allow for multiparty elections, the originalin Egyptian rich history, and on Sept. 6, Mubarak was reelected with 88.6% of the vote. Turnout was 23%. ClimateEgypt generally experiences generally extreme climate due to the presence of desert but with a difference in the climate of the North Egypt and South Egypt. Did you know that the Summer Season in Egypt is exceptionally hot and dry around the time during the months of May to August. Did you know that the average temperature around the time during summers in the south can rise up to 41oC and around 35oC in the north. Did you know that the Spring Season experiences temperate climatic conditions accompanied by dust storms. Did you know that the Winter Season bring with those things pleasant climate good for traveling in Egypt. Did you know that the average temperature around the time during winters is known to be around 21oC in the south and 13oC in the north.
