Situated largely on man-made land, the city was founded on a low sandy strip separating the Mediterranean from Lake Al-Manzilah. Lying at the junction of Africa & Asia, it is a famous and vital sea route between east & west.
Within the long sweep of Egyptian history certain events or epochs have been crucial to the development of Egyptian society and culture. One of these was the unification of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt sometime in the third millennium B.C. The ancient Egyptians regarded this event as the most important in their history comparable to the "First Time or the creation of the universe. With the unification of the Two Lands" by the legendary if not mythical King Menes the glorious Pharaonic Age began. Power was centralized in the hands of a god-king and thus Egypt became the first organized society.
The ancient Egyptians were the first people of antiquity to believe in life after death. They were the first to build in stone and to fashion the arch in stone and brick. Even before the unification of the Two Lands the Egyptians had developed a plow and a system of writing. They were accomplished sailors and shipbuilders. They learned to chart the heavens in order to predict the Nile flood. Their physicians prescribed healing remedies and performed surgical operations. They sculpted in stone and decorated the walls of their tombs with naturalistic murals in vibrant colors. The legacy of ancient Egypt is written in stone across the face of the country from the pyramids of Upper Egypt to the rock tombs in the Valley of the Kings to the Old Kingdom temples of Luxor and Karnak to the Ptolemaic temples of Edfu and Dendera and to the Roman temple to Isis on Philae Island.
The Arab conquest of 641 by the military commander Amr ibn al As was perhaps the next most important event in Egyptian history because it resulted in the Islamization and Arabization of the country which endure to this day. Even those who clung to the Coptic religion a substantial minority of the population in 1990 were Arabized; that is they adopted the Arabic language and were assimilated into Arab culture.
Although Egypt was formally under Arab rule beginning in the ninth century hereditary autonomous dynasties arose that allowed local rulers to maintain a great deal of control over the country's destiny. During this period Cairo was established as the capital of the country and became a center of religion learning art and architecture. In 1260 the Egyptian ruler Qutuz and his forces stopped the Mongol advance across the Arab world at the battle of Ayn Jalut in Palestine. Because of this victory Islamic civilization could continue to flourish when Baghdad the capital of the Abbasid caliphate fell to the Mongols. Qutuz's successor Baybars I inaugurated the reign of the Mamluks a dynasty of slave-soldiers of Turkish and Circassian origin that lasted for almost three centuries.
In 1517 Egypt was conquered by Sultan Selim I and absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. Since the Turks were Muslims however and the sultans regarded themselves as the preservers of Sunni (see Glossary) Islam this period saw institutional continuity particularly in religion education and the religious law courts. In addition after only a century of Ottoman rule the Mamluk system reasserted itself and Ottoman governors became at times virtual prisoners in the citadel the ancient seat of Egypt's rulers.
The modern history of Egypt is marked by Egyptian attempts to achieve political independence first from the Ottoman Empire and then from the British. In the first half of the nineteenth century Muhammad Ali an Albanian and the Ottoman viceroy in Egypt attempted to create an Egyptian empire that extended to Syria and to remove Egypt from Turkish control. Ultimately he was unsuccessful and true independence from foreign powers would not be achieved until midway through the next century.
Foreign including British investment in Egypt and Britain's need to maintain control over the Suez Canal resulted in the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. Although Egypt was granted independence in 1922, British troops were allowed to remain in the country to safeguard the Suez Canal. In 1952 the Free Officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Gamal Abdul Nasser took control of the government and removed King Faruk from power. In 1956 Nasser as Egyptian president announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal an action that resulted in the tripartite invasion by Britain France and Israel. Ultimately however Egypt prevailed and the last British troops were withdrawn from the country by the end of the year.
No history of Egypt would be complete without mentioning the Arab-Israeli conflict which has cost Egypt so much in lives territory and property. Armed conflict between Egypt and Israel ended in 1979 when the two countries signed the Camp David Accords. The accords however constituted a separate peace between Egypt and Israel and did not lead to a comprehensive settlement that would have satisfied Palestinian demands for a homeland or brought about peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Thus Egypt remained embroiled in the conflict on the diplomatic level and continued to press for an international conference to achieve a comprehensive agreement.
One of the best places for a spectacular sunset is the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel (minimum charge of LE85). The near Elephantine Island is one of the most ancient sites in Egypt. This is probably due to its location at the first .The Great Sun Temple, Abu Simbel The Great Sun Temple, Abu Simbel .The Great Sun Temple, Abu Simbel Four colossal 20-meter statues decorate the facade of the temple. All of them represent Ramesses II, seated on a throne and wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
cataract of the Nile, which provided a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia. Staying at the Old Cataract would have overstretched my budget so I went for something (a lot) cheaper: I stayed at the Keylany Hotel (LE 30 B&B) which was a bit shabby but nonetheless good value-for-money and centrally located.
Temple of Isis, Philae Temple of Isis, Philae
Temple of Isis, Philae The Temple of Isis was built on an island in the Nile. It was the centre of the cult of the goddess Isis and her connection with Osiris and Horus during the Ptolemaic period
soft orange. Inside the temple the walls are decorated with dramatic reliefs of Ramses' II campaigns. Further, there are eight lateral chambers, each one crudely cut into the rock and decorated with painted offering scenes. The nearby Hathor temple of Queen Nefertari features six colossal statues of Ramses II and Nefertari, each one nearly 10m tall. Again, there are a number of impressive reliefs inside the temple.
I had already spent nearly 2 hours at the temples when the bus convoy arrived and the tour groups invaded the temples. By then, I had already seen everything exciting so I was happy to return to my hotel where I had breakfast on the banks of Lake Nasser. I left Abu Simbel at 9am on one of the tourist convoy buses and stopped at Philae on the way back to Aswan.
The ancient Egyptians built a beautiful temple for the Goddess Isis on Philae island. In order to get there I bought a ticket (LE40) and boarded one of the motorboats (LE4) which landed at the southern end of the Temple of Isis, PhilaeTemple of Isis, Philae Temple of Isis, PhilaeStylish plant columns in the temple's forecourt island. It were just a few steps from the jetty to the colonnades lining both sides of the Courtyard, leading to the First Pylon of the island's main temple. In fact, the Temple of Isisis one of the greatest temples in Egypt. It occupies about a quarter of Philae island and features huge complete pylons with beautiful scenes. The construction began during the reign of King Ptolemy II around 250BC. The second pylon leads to the Hypostyle Hall which is rather small compared to some of the other temples from this period. A series of three vestibules lead to the central sanctuary and its chambers on either side have entrances to the crypts. The Isis sanctuary still contains a pedestal where the sacred barque used in the processions and festivals of the goddess would have rested.
Kom Ombo
The next day, I visited Kom Ombo and Edfu temple whilst travelling back from Aswan to Luxor on a minibus (LE85). The bus left Aswan at 8am as part of the daily tourist bus convoy. The first stop was at Kom Ombo, some 50km north of Aswan. Kom Ombo’s Ptolemaic Temple of Haroeris and Sobek (LE25) stands on The Great Sun Temple, Abu SimbelThe Great Sun Temple, Abu Simbel The Great Sun Temple, Abu SimbelThe statue to the left of the entrance was damaged in an earthquake in 27 BC, leaving only the lower part of the statue still intact. The head and torso can still be seen at the statue's feet. the banks of the blue waters of the river Nile. This particular temple was built as a double temple, dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile headed god, and to Haroeris, medicine god. Unfortunately much of the temple has been destroyed by the Nile, earthquakes - and by later builders who used the temple as a quarry. However, main parts of the impressive Hypostyle Hall are still intact and in fact some traces of the original paint are still visible. After having exploring the temple for approximately one hour, we met at the minibus and continued north towards Luxor.
Edfu
We stopped another 50km further down the Nile at Edfu's Horus Temple (LE40), dedicated to the falcon god Horus. Most of the temple had been buried in sand for centuries and thus preserved before it was finally excavated in the 1860s. Today Edfu is nearly intact. The hieroglyphics and reliefs on the temple walls include the myth of the struggle between Horus and Seth. It is the second largest temple in Egypt and was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BC. The Temple has a pylon that is considered the highest among surviving temples in Egypt today. The Great Sun Temple, Abu SimbelThe Great Sun Temple, Abu Simbel The Great Sun Temple, Abu SimbelThe walls inside the Hypostyle Hall crawl with scenes from Ramesses' II campaigns It is 36m high and decorated with typical scenes of the Pharaoh in battle with his enemies. Within the pylons is the colonnade courtyard which leads into the Hypostyle Hall. The roof of the latter is still intact, supported by 12 columns. At the end of the Temple is the sanctuary, which includes a niche of grey granite where a statue of the God is supposed to be placed. We met back at the minibus at the pre-arranged time and continued to Luxor where we arrived at 1pm, some 5 hours after we had left Aswan. The journey was twice as expensive as the train however it offered an ideal opportunity to visit the temples of Edfu and Kombo on my way back to Luxor.
Sharm el-Sheikh (Arabic: شرم الشيخ, Sharm al-Shaykh, pronounced [ˈʃɑɾˤm eʃˈʃeːx]) is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000 (2008). Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's South Sinai Governorate which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai.
Name:
Sharm el-Sheikh is sometimes called the "City of Peace", referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there. It was known as Şarm-üş Şeyh (Sharm ush-Sheikh, "bay of the Sheikh" in Arabic) during Ottoman rule and was known as Ofira during Israeli occupation between 1967 and 1982.[citation needed] Among Egyptians, the name of the city is commonly shortened to "Sharm" ([ʃɑɾˤm]).
Geography and history:
Sharm el-Sheikh is on a promontory overlooking the Straits of Tiran at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba. Its strategic importance led to its transformation from a fishing village into a major port and naval base for the Egyptian Navy. It was captured by Israel during the Suez Crisis of 1956 and restored to Egypt in 1957. A United Nations peacekeeping force was subsequently stationed there until the 1967 Six-Day War when it was recaptured by Israel. Sharm el-Sheikh remained under Israeli control until the Sinai peninsula was restored again to Egypt in 1982 after the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979.
A hierarchical planning approach was adopted for the Gulf of Aqaba, whereby their components were evaluated and subdivided into zones, cities and centers. In accordance with this approach the Gulf of Aqaba zone was subdivided into four cities: Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab and Sharm El-Sheikh. Sharm el-Sheikh city has been subdivided into five homogeneous centers, namely Nabq, Ras Nusrani, Naama Bay, Umm Sid and Sharm El Maya.
A hierarchical planning approach was adopted for the Gulf of Aqaba, whereby their components were evaluated and subdivided into zones, cities and centers. In accordance with this approach the Gulf of Aqaba zone was subdivided into four cities: Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab and Sharm El-Sheikh. Sharm el-Sheikh city has been subdivided into five homogeneous centers, namely Nabq, Ras Nusrani, Naama Bay, Umm Sid and Sharm El Maya.
Sharm el-Sheikh city together with Naama Bay, Hay el Nour, Hadaba, Rowaysat, Montazah and Shark's Bay form a metropolitan area. Before 1967 Sharm el-Sheikh was little more than an occasional base of operations for local fishermen; the nearest permanent settlement was in Nabk, north of Ras el-Nasrani ("The Tiran Straits"). Commercial development of the area began during the Israeli presence in the area. The Israelis built the town of Ofira, overlooking Sharm el-Maya Bay and the Nesima area, and opened the first tourist-oriented establishments in the area 6 km north at Naama Bay. These included a marina hotel on the southern side of the bay, a nature field school on the northern side, diving clubs, a now well-known promenade, and the Naama Bay Hotel. After Sinai was restored to Egypt in 1982 the Egyptian government embarked on an initiative to encourage continued development of the city. Foreign investors – some of whom had discovered the potential of the locality during the Israeli occupation – contributed to a spate of building projects. Environmental zoning laws currently limit the height of buildings in Sharm el-Sheikh so as to avoid obscuring the natural beauty of the surroundings. In 2005, the resort was hit by the Sharm el-Sheikh terrorist attacks, which were perpetrated by an extremist Islamist organisation, and aimed at Egypt's tourist industry. Eighty-eight people were killed, the majority of them Egyptians, and over 200 were wounded by the attack, making it the deadliest terrorist action in the country's history (exceeding the Luxor massacre of 1997).[1] The city has played host to a number of important Middle Eastern peace conferences, including the 4 September 1999 agreement to restore Palestinian self-rule over the Gaza Strip. A second summit was held at Sharm on 17 October 2000 following the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada, but it failed to end the violence. A summit was held in the city on 3 August 2005 on developments in the Arab world such as the situation in Iraq and the Arab-Israeli conflict. The World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2008 was also hosted by Sharm el-Sheikh. Amidst the 2011 Egyptian protests, President Hosni Mubarak reportedly went to Sharm el-Sheikh and resigned there on 11 February 2011.
Economy and tourism:
These natural resources, together with its proximity to European tourism markets, have stimulated the rapid growth of tourism that the region is currently experiencing. The total number of resorts increased from three in 1982 to ninety one in 2000. Guest nights also increased in that period of time from sixteen thousand to 5.1 million. Companies which have been attracted to invest in this city include Hyatt Regency, Accor, Marriott, Le Méridien, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, with categories of three to five stars. In 2007 the area saw the opening of its first aqua park hotel resort. The four star Aqua Blu Sharm Resort was built on the Ras Om El Seid, with an area of 133,905 square metres (1,441,340 sq ft). Sharm is also the home of a congress center, located along peace road, where many international political and economic meetings have been held, including peace conferences, ministerial meetings, world bank meetings, Arab League.[citation needed] The Maritim Sharm el-Sheikh International Congress Centre can host events and congresses for up to 4,700 participants. The nightlife of Sharm El-Sheikh is modern and developed. In 2005, Little Buddha, a sushi bar, nightclub, and bar, took the title of having the longest continuous bar in the Middle East. Dance club franchise Pacha has one of its three African clubs in Sharm (the other two are in Morocco and Nigeria). These nightclubs and restaurants contribute greatly to the lifestyle led by Sharm el-Sheikh's visitors each year. The colorful handicraft stands of the local Bedouin culture are a popular attraction. Ras Mohammed, at the southern-most tip of the peninsula, has been designated a national park, serving to protect the area's wildlife as well as its natural landscape, shoreline and coral reef. A number of international hotels and noted restaurants are clustered around the centre of Sharm, known as Naama Bay, with golf courses and other leisure facilities further up the coast. The Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area is a 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi) area of mangroves, coral reefs, fertile dunes, birds and wildlife. Outings to places such as Cairo and the Great Pyramids require a crossing of a continental border (crossing from Asia to Africa) which requires a travel visa that must be acquired from Sharm el Sheik airport.
Sharm's marina has been redeveloped for private yachts and sailboats, with a passenger terminal for cruise ships and scheduled ferry service to Hurghada and Aqaba. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport in addition to scheduled flights to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Alexandria.Sharm has frequent coach services to Cairo leaving from the Delta Sharm bus station.
Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, kitesurfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing. Ras Mohammed is the national park of South Sinai, located on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Along with Nabq, it has famous dive sites in the Red Sea, with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls, pounding current and coral gardens. The Sharm el-Sheikh Hyperbaric Medical Center was founded in 1993 with a grant from USAID by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, represented by Dr. Adel Taher to assist with diving related illnesses and complete the area's reputation as a full-service dive destination
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai (Arabic: سيناء sīnā' ; Hebrew סיני) is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about 60,000 km2 (23,000 sq mi) in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and it is the part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa. The bulk of the peninsula is divided into two governorates (with three more splitting the Suez Canal area), and has a population of approximately 500,000 people. The region has historically been the center of conflict between various political factions, based largely on its location. In addition to periods of direct rule by Egyptian governments (including the Ayyubids, the Mamluks, the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, and the modern Egyptian republic), it was like the rest of Egypt also occupied and controlled by the Ottoman Empire, and the United Kingdom which occupied Egypt from 1882 till 1956. Israel gained control of the Sinai in the Suez Crisis of 1956 and during the Six Day War of 1967. In the October War of 1973, it was the site of fierce fighting between Egyptian and Israeli forces. In 1982, after the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979, Israel withdrew from the entirety of Sinai. Today, Sinai has become a tourist destination due to its natural setting, rich coral reefs, and biblical history. Mount Sinai is one of the most religiously significant places in Abrahamic faiths.
Sinai History
Sinai was inhabited by the Monitu and was called Mafkat or Country of Turquoise.[2] From the time of the First dynasty or before, the Egyptians mined turquoise in Sinai at two locations, now called by their Arabic names Wadi Maghareh and Serabit el-Khadim. The mines were worked intermittently and on a seasonal basis for thousands of years. Modern attempts to exploit the deposits have been unprofitable. These may be the first known mines. According to the Jewish tradition the peninsula was crossed by the Israelites during The Exodus from Egypt as detailed in the Hebrew Bible. This included numerous halts over a 40 year period of travel in AM 2448 (1313 BCE) in the Jewish tradition. The peninsula was governed as part of Egypt under the Mamluk Sultanate from 1260 until 1517, when the Ottoman Sultan, Selim the Grim, defeated the Mamluks at the Battles of Marj Dabiq and al-Raydaniyya, and incorporated Egypt into the Ottoman Empire. From then until 1906, Sinai was administered by the Ottoman provincial government of the Pashalik of Egypt, even following the establishment of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty's rule over the rest of Egypt in 1805. In 1906, the Ottoman Porte formally transferred administration of Sinai to the Egyptian Government, which essentially meant that it fell under the control of the United Kingdom, who had occupied and largely controlled Egypt since 1882. The border imposed by the British runs in an almost straight line from Rafah on the Mediterranean shore to Taba on the Gulf of Aqaba. This line has served as the eastern border of Egypt ever since.
At the beginning of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egyptian forces invaded the former British Mandate of Palestine from Sinai as part of an attack by several Arab armies against the newly declared State of Israel. For a period during the war, Israeli forces entered the north-eastern corner of Sinai. With the exception of the Gaza Strip, which came under the administration of the All-Palestine Government (and was effectively put under Egyptian military administration), the western frontier of the former Mandate of Palestine became the Egyptian-Israeli frontier under the 1949 Armistice Agreement. In 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal on the western side of the Sinai Peninsula, and thereafter prohibited Israeli ships from using the Canal, in a violation of the armistice agreement signed in 1949. Egypt also prohibited ships traveling to and from Israel from using Egyptian territorial waters on the eastern side of the Peninsula, effectively imposing a blockade on the Israeli port of Eilat. Subsequently, Israeli forces, aided by Britain, and France (which sought to reverse the nationalization and regain control over the Suez Canal), invaded Sinai and occupied much of the Peninsula within a few days (see Suez Crisis). Several months later, following strong pressure from the United States and the Soviet Union, Britain, France and Israel withdrew their forces from Sinai. Thereafter, the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was stationed in Sinai to prevent renewed conflict between the two states in Sinai.
Egypt-Israel border. Looking north from the Eilat Mountains
In 1967, Egypt reinforced its military presence in Sinai, renewed the blockade of Eilat, and on May 16 ordered the UNEF out of Sinai with immediate effect. Secretary-General U Thant eventually complied and ordered the withdrawal without Security Council authorization. After these Egyptian violations of the 1956 ceasefire agreements, in addition to Egyptian threats to attack and destroy the Jewish state, Israel invaded Sinai, commencing the Six-Day War. In this war, the Egyptian army was defeated, and Israel captured and occupied the entire peninsula. The Suez Canal, the east bank of which was now occupied by Israel, was closed. In the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Egyptian engineering forces built pontoon bridges to cross the Suez Canal, and stormed the supposedly impregnable Bar-Lev Line while many Israeli soldiers were observing a Jewish religious fast Yom Kippur. Though the Egyptians maintained control of most of the east bank of the Canal, in the later stages of the war, the Israeli military crossed the southern section of Canal, cutting off the Egyptian 3rd Army, and occupied a section of the west bank. After the war, as part of the subsequent Sinai Disengagement Agreements, Israel withdrew from the Canal, with Egypt's agreeing to permit passage of Israeli ships.
In 1979, Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in which Israel agreed to withdraw from the entirety of Sinai. Israel subsequently withdrew in several stages, ending in 1982. The Israeli pull-out involved dismantling almost all Israeli settlements, including the town of Yamit in north-eastern Sinai. The exception was Ofira, which had been developed into a resort town, which reverted to its Egyptian name of Sharm el-Sheikh. The treaty allowed monitoring of the Sinai by the Multinational Force and Observers, and limited the number of Egyptian military forces in the Peninsula. Over the years, Sinai was a site of several terrorist attacks targeting Westerners, Israelis and Egyptian tourists.
SINAI NOWDAYS
Over the past 30 years the Sinai has become a tourist destination due to its natural setting, rich coral reefs, and biblical history. The most popular tourist destination in Sinai are Mount Sinai ("Jabal Musa") and St. Catherine's Monastery, which is considered to be the oldest working Christian monastery in the world, and the beach resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. Most tourists arrive through Eilat, Israel and the Taba Border Crossing, by train or bus from Cairo or by Ferry from Aqaba in Jordan.
Most of the Sinai Peninsula is divided among two Egyptian governorates, or provinces, named Ganub Sina ("South Sinai") and Shamal Sina ("North Sinai"). Three more governates span the Suez Canal, crossing into African Egypt. el-Sewais ("the Suez") is on the southern end of the Suez Canal, el-Isma'ileyyah in the center, and Port Said in the north. Approximately 66,500 people live in Ganub Sina and 314,000 live in Shamal Sina. Port Said itself has a population of roughly 500,000 people. Portions of the populations of el-Isma'ileyyah and el-Suweis live in Sinai, while the rest live on the western side of the Suez Canal. The combined population of these two governorates is roughly 1.3 million (only a part of that population live in the Sinai, while the rest live on the western side of the Suez Canal). Sinai is one of the coldest provinces in Egypt because of its high altitudes and mountainous topographies. Winter temperatures in some of Sinai's cities and towns reach −16 °C (3 °F). Large numbers of Egyptians from the Nile Valley and Delta have moved to the area to work in tourism, while at the same time development has negatively affected the native Sinai Bedouin population. In order to help alleviate these problems, various NGOs have begun to operate in the region including the Makhad Trust, a UK charity which assists the Bedouin in developing a sustainable income while protecting Sinai's natural environment, heritage and culture.
The Pearl Of The Mediterranean
The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern; its ambiance and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is only 225 km. from Cairo.
The beginning :
Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Graco-Roman Egypt; its status as a beacon of culture is symbolized by Pharos, the legendry lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world, but ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed he found a sparsely populated fishing village.
Since the 19th century Alexandria has played a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion. This Alexandria has been immortalized by writers such as E.M. Forster and Cavafy. Generations of immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Levant settled here and made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian culture; Lawrence Durrell described it as " The capital city of Asiatic Europe, if such a thing could exist".
The city:
The Mediterranean opens its arms widely to embrace it eternal bride (Alexandria) as she moves gracefully, while its waves splash on her rocks. All the world was witness to this historical marriage contract about 2330 years ago. It was an illustrious wedding scented by history and concluded proudly under the auspices of Alexander the Great. The beginning of the idea was on the road to the Mediterranean coast when an isthmus dividing the Mediterranean from Lake Mariout attracted Alexander. Alexander pondered deeply about this site with its strange advantages that were suitable for the foundation of a great modern city in compliance with its period. Alexander's city was divided into five districts named after the first five letters of the Greek Alphabe. From these districts, the Royal Districts occupied nearly one third of the whole area of the city and overlooked the Eastern Harbor.
The Egyptians lived in the national district (Rhakotis) and the Jews lived in the fourth district known as the Delta, considered to have been the most important district in the ancient city. As for the main avenue - parallel to our present Nabi Daniel Street - it was boarded from the north by the gate of the moon and from the south by the gate of the sun.
Alexandria Library:
Alexandria the charming city, presents to every visitor the fragrance of the past rich in history, civilization and culture. It is the city that has attracted the greatest men of letters in the world. The revival of the Alexandria Library is a huge international project which costs millions of dollars. The Labrary shall contain more than 8 million books and a reading area with two thousand seats.
This Library when it is inaugurated will possess about 400000 volumes in a hard and electronic copies. It is designed to hold 4 million volumes. In the future its capacity will reach 8 million using the compressed storage system. A museum will be attached to the Library to house the antiquities discovered at the site in 1993-1994 during the excavation work done under the supervision of the Egyptian Antiquities Department. The antiquities discovered belong to Pharaonic, Greek and Roman periods. Two statues will be positioned in the museum; one of them will be of the goddess Isis currently at the Marine Museum, and the second one is the statue of King Ptolemy 2, both are made of granite.
Within the framework of the cooperation and support of UNESCO and Italy, the Alexandria Library has just received the most modern Photocopy Lab, and will later be provided with a Microfilm Lab.
The Underwater Discoveries:
Relatively new discoveries in the Eastern Harbor involve two different sites. Around Fort Qaitbey the site has unearthed hundreds of objects, including what experts believe are the remains of the Pharos Lighthouse, one of the ancient wonders of the world In the south east part of the harbor archaeologists have apparently found the Royal Quarters, including granite columns and fabulous statues, including one of Isis and a sphinx with a head thought to be that of Cleopatra's father. There may vary well be an underwater exhibit in the future.
Heading towards the mainland past the Abu El-Abbas Mosque and connecting with Shari Faransa street leads to the Suq district. Just before entering the district one finds the interesting little Terbana Mosque (4). In the Suq district (5), one finds Alexandria's only surviving wakalas, which is a part of the El-Shorbagi Mosque complex founded in 1757. This was also the area where Alexandria's Jewish community lived, but most have now migrated to Israel. Different areas have specialized in different goods and one may find all manner of products from jewelry to Medicinal plants (Suq El-Magharba) to Bedouin clothing (Suq El-Libia).
Continuing down Faransa one passes Midan Tahrir (6) and the street turns into Salah Salem, and finally connects with Al-Horreya.
However, Midan Tahrir, popularly called Manshiya, has considerable history. The areas was once home to Diplomats and known as Place Des Consuls, but after the statue of Mohammed Ali was placed here in 1873 the name was changed to Midan Mohammed Ali. In 1882, it was bombarded by the British and all but destroyed. The Alexandria Stock Exchange was once located here, and it was from the midan that Nasser announced the nationalization of the Suez Canal.
The street named Al-Horreya (Tariq abd el-Nasser) which transverses the area from east to west was in ancient times the Canopic Way with the Gate of the Sun at the eastern end and the Gate of the Moon at the western end. At that time, there were probably columns lining the road. The main north to south street, now Sharia el-Nebi Daniel, ran from the East Harbor all the way to Lake Harbor on Lake Mariout.
Just south of the intersection of Al Horreya and el-Nebi Daniel was the site traditionally thought to be the burial place of Alexander the Great, but that has not been located, and may in fact be beneath the Mosque of Nebi Daniel (7) or in a nearby Greek necropolis. The famous Alexandria Library was probably nearby. However, the only real antiquities site that can be viewed in the area is Kom el-Dikka (8), a small Roman theater that has been excavated. Nearby is also a bath house of the era. To the east is the Antiques District where dealers sell antiquities, books, old weapons and furniture. Here is also the Attarine Mosque, which was once a church dedicated to Athanasius.
Further south along the tramway is Pompey's pillar (9) and nearby the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa (10). Wondering along el-Nebi Daniel are several other attrations, including the French Cultural Center, and nearby the Eliahu Hanabi Synagague (11), which is the only active synagogue in Alexandria and houses the combined treasures of the seven former Alexandrian synagogues. Back to the north on el-Nebi Daniel, next to the harbor where Ramla station is now located at Midan Saad Zaghlul was the location of the Caesareum (12). This was a magnificent temple begun by Cleopatra for her lover Antony and subsequently completed by their enemy Octavian, though none of this remains.in situ. Nearby is the well known Cecil Hotel, built in 1930, Smerset Maugham stayed here, as did Winston Churchill, and the British Secret Service one maintained a suite for their operations.
Midan Saad Zaghlul (13) is the entertainment heart and nerve center of Alexandria. here, as terminals and train stations provide a backdrop for cinemas, restaurants and night spots. It was the setting of Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet and the famous Alexandria coffee houses. The square is dominated by an impressive monument dedicated to Saad Zaghlul, a former national leader.
 |
| The Sheraton Cairo Hotel |
Overview
See Egypt in a new way at the Sheraton Cairo Hotel. Sitting on the west bank of the River Nile in unique adjoining towers, the Sheraton Cairo Hotel proudly stands tall as one of Cairo's greatest landmarks. the Sheraton Cairo Hotel places you in the middle of it all. Try your luck at Blackjack or the slots in the dazzling casino or take a short walk to the Cairo Opera House, Egyptian Museum, or Cairo shopping centers. The Pyramids of Giza are just 20 minutes away. Whether you traveled to Cairo by train (the Sheraton Cairo Hotel is 15 minutes from the railway station) or plane (the Sheraton Cairo Hotel is 30 minutes from Cairo International Airport), the Sheraton Cairo Hotel friendly staff will greet you with a warm smile and help you make the most of your stay. Find magnificent views of the city or the River Nile from the Sheraton Cairo Hotel 340 deluxe rooms, including 42 suites. Amazingly spacious, our deluxe rooms offer 100% Egyptian cotton linen for your added comfort. Enjoy a stay you will never forget at the Sheraton Cairo Hotel.
Entertainment:
* Gaming Casino
* DVD Player (available in Deluxe Rooms and Suites only)
* Satellite Channels
Bed Features:
* Cribs (Upon Request)
Bathroom:
* Deluxe Bath Amenities
* Signature Bath Amenities
* Bathrobes
* Hairdryer
Dining:
* Mini Bar
* 24-Hour Room Service
Room Features:
* Connecting Rooms Available
* Executive Level Rooms Available
* Suites Available
* City View Room
* Non-Smoking Room
* Nile View Room
* Balcony
Room Amenities & Services:
* Free Newspaper
* Fresh Flowers
* Video Check-Out
* Iron/Ironing Board
* Turndown Service
* In-Room Safe
* Air-Conditioned Room
* Radio/Alarm Clock
Internet Access:
* High Speed Internet Access in Guest Rooms by Request USD 25 per day
Some of the amenities above may not be available in all rooms. Fees on certain amenities/services may apply.
 |
| Guest Rooms |
Local Area
Cairo is a charming city that throbs with life and endless sightseeing options. The magical River Nile flows through the heart of the city. The great Pyramids have intrigued and puzzled visitors for centuries. And the Egyptian museum is often referred to as one of the most important museums in the world.
View Local Area Map
Arts & Culture:
* Egyptian Museum 2.0 km/1.2 miles
* Coptic Museum & St. Sirgus Church 5.0 km/3.1 miles
* Islamic Museum 6.0 km/3.7 miles
* The Sound and Light Show 12.0 km/7.5 miles
Community:
* MISR International 2.0 km/1.2 miles
* El Orouba School 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* El Horeya School 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque 4.0 km/2.5 miles
* Cairo International Conference Center 20.0 km/12.4 miles
Corporate Offices:
* Cairo Barclays Bank 2.0 km/1.2 miles
* American Chamber of Commerce 2.0 km/1.2 miles
* Arab International Bank 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* Arab African International Bank 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* Aid Offices 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* Central Bank of Egypt 4.0 km/2.5 miles
* Investment Organization 4.0 km/2.5 miles
Golf;
* Millbrook Public Golf Course 2.0 km/1.2 miles
Government Offices:
* Russian Federation Embassy 1.0 km/0.6 miles
* American Embassy 3.0 km/1.9 miles
Local Attractions:
* Cairo Opera House 1.0 km/0.6 miles
* Cairo Tower 2.0 km/1.2 miles
* Khan El Khalily "The Bazaar" 3.0 km/1.9 miles
* Gezirah Sporting Club 6.0 km/3.7 miles
* The Pyramids and Sphinx 12.0 km/7.5 miles
* Saqqara and Memphis 12.0 km/7.5 miles
Features & Activities
The exclusive and luxurious atmosphere of The Sheraton Cairo Hotel unique Tower's Lounge pampers guests with snacks and refreshments all day in a cozy and elegant setting. Additional services include a fully equipped Business Center, 24-hour limo service, and a beauty salon. Recreational facilities are endless. Xanadu, The Sheraton Cairo Hotel health club is the best place to work out and enjoy The Sheraton Cairo Hotel rejuvenating Spa facilities. Enjoy a dazzling day by "Le Mirage" our outdoor swimming pool. Have a delicious meal. Enjoy the hot sunny days. Pamper yourself. Relax. Unwind.
The exclusive and luxurious atmosphere of The Sheraton Cairo Hotel unique Tower's Lounge pampers guests with snacks and refreshments all day in a cozy and elegant setting. Additional services include a fully equipped Business Center, 24-hour limo service, and a beauty salon. Recreational facilities are endless. Xanadu, The Sheraton Cairo Hotel health club is the best place to work out and enjoy The Sheraton Cairo Hotel rejuvenating Spa facilities. Enjoy a dazzling day by "Le Mirage" our outdoor swimming pool. Have a delicious meal. Enjoy the hot sunny days. Pamper yourself. Relax. Unwind.
Shopping
* Jewelry Shop
* Shopping Arcade in Hotel
Transportation
* Pay Parking Facilities
* Car Rental Service
* Limousine Service
Guest Services
* Airline Desk
* 24-Hour Front Desk
* Barber/Beauty Salon
* Medical Services Available
* Laundry/Valet Service
* 24-Hour Concierge Service
* Safe Deposit Boxes
* Dry Cleaning Service
* Wheelchair Access
* Luggage Storage
Business Services
* Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft
* Business Center
* Translation Services
Recreation & Entertainment
* Outdoor Pool
* Whirlpool/Hot Tub (Fitness Facility)
* Fitness Center
* Spa Facilities
* Outdoor Children's Pool
* Gaming Casino
* Steam Bath/Room
* Massage Treatments
Internet Access
* High Speed Internet Access in Guest Rooms by Request USD 25 per day
* Internet Service Provided in Business Center USD 25 per day
* Wireless High Speed Internet Access in Public Areas USD 25 per day
* Wireless High Speed Internet Access in Lobby USD 25 per day
Some of the services and facilities above may not be available on a 24-hour basis or without advance request. Fees on certain facilities/services may apply.
Dining
While spending a sunny day by the pool, you can also enjoy a refreshing drink and a mouth-watering snack from The Sheraton Cairo Hotel Pool Bar. And when night falls, your dining options open even more. Aladdin, The Sheraton Cairo Hotel Lebanese restaurant serves delicious oriental dishes. Sapporo Teppanyaki, boasts the city's best sushi and teppanyaki.
Restaurants & Lounges
Stiletto Lounge
| Cuisine: | Bar Menu |
| hours: | 7:00 PM - 4:00 AM |
Z Pub
| Cuisine: | Beverages |
| hours: | 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Atmosphere: | Pub |
Tea Garden
| Cuisine: | American |
| hours: | 24 Hours |
| Atmosphere: | Live Entertainment |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
Cafe Complet
| Cuisine: | Deli |
| hours: | 8:00 AM - 2:00 AM |
| Atmosphere: | Casual |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
Arrous El Nil
| Cuisine: | International |
| hours: | 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM |
| Atmosphere: | All Day Dining |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
Sapporo Teppanyaki
| Cuisine: | Japanese |
| hours: | 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
Aladin
| Cuisine: | Oriental |
| hours: | 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Atmosphere: | Live Entertainment |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
El Mawardy
| Cuisine: | Oriental |
| hours: | 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Phone: | (20)(2) 33369700 |
Meetings & Events
The Sheraton Cairo Hotel 'll help you plan a great event in a great space.| Number of Guest Rooms: | 340 |
| Number of Meeting Spaces: | 9 |
| Largest Meeting Space: | 5,442 sq. ft. (505.58 sq.m) |
The Sheraton Cairo Hotel Features
- High Speed Internet Access Available in Meeting/Event Facilities
- Projector
- Meeting and Event Facilities
- Audio Visual Equipment
Despite Egypt's ancient allure, today the country probably attracts more beach vacationers than any other type of tourists. This is because, for many Europeans, the warm Egyptian beaches are both inexpensive and well appointed. Many European countries specifically lack warm beaches and the alternatives to Egypt are somewhat expensive. Therefore, not only do people come to Egypt's beaches independently, but many arrive by way of chartered airlines that specialize in such vacations from Europe. Depending on how one looks at it, Egypt can be said to have as many as seven beach zones. These consist of the Mediterranean beaches along the mainline coast from the Suez Canal over to Libya, the Mediterranean beaches along the northern Sinai, the Sinai coast along the gulf of Aqaba, the Sinai coast along the Gulf of Suez, the southern Sinai region which opens onto the Red Sea, the Mainland coast along the Gulf of Suez and the Mainland coast south of that along the Red Sea. Each of these areas vary either somewhat, or extensively from the others. Obviously the biggest differences are between the Mediterranean coast and all of the other regions that connect with the Red Sea. Some of these regions attract extensive tourism, while others are almost void of tourists. Some attract very specific tourists, while others are more generalized.
The North Coast from Libya East though the Sinai
In reality, the various regions are looked upon somewhat differently. For example, on the Egyptian mainland coast along the Mediterranean, there is a vast difference between the area from Alexandria over to Port Said from the region west of Alexandria. East of Alexandria is very populous along much of the Delta and not suitable for beaches until one reaches the northern Sinai. The beaches at Alexandria cater almost exclusively to Egyptians, with the exception of some specific resorts, who either have their own villas or apartments, or who stay in hotel facilities. In fact, probably most Egyptians come to Alexandria not for a beach vacation as such, but to escape the heat of Cairo.
In reality, the various regions are looked upon somewhat differently. For example, on the Egyptian mainland coast along the Mediterranean, there is a vast difference between the area from Alexandria over to Port Said from the region west of Alexandria. East of Alexandria is very populous along much of the Delta and not suitable for beaches until one reaches the northern Sinai. The beaches at Alexandria cater almost exclusively to Egyptians, with the exception of some specific resorts, who either have their own villas or apartments, or who stay in hotel facilities. In fact, probably most Egyptians come to Alexandria not for a beach vacation as such, but to escape the heat of Cairo.
West of Alexandria along the coast, thinning out as one proceeds further west, but extending almost to the Libyan border, are resorts that differ from the beach hotels and facilities to the east. These are frequently compounds, as opposed to real villages, some of which are very exclusive and have only recently been built. The main point is that, while indeed some foreign tourists can be found in this region, they are very few in number, other than tourists visiting Alexandria for more classical reasons. This, of course, may change over time.
The regions west of Alexandria has been called "underdeveloped". That too is rapidly changing, as new resorts are popping up all along the shoreline, particularly just west of Alexandria. One of the intriguing aspects of the Mediterranean coast beach resorts is that there is a certain amount of experimentation with various types of Beaches. For example, around Marina, one of Egypt's most exclusive northern beach resort areas, specific beaches have been set aside for women, who wish to enjoy the beach without interference from male eyes, and youth, where the atmosphere is a little more lively and geared to their pleasures.
Along the north Sinai coast there is today actually very little tourism. In fact, about the only well known tourist location is Al-Arish, which has tried to make a go of tourism but has not been too successful, even though there are some fairly nice hotels in the village.
The Gulf of Suez
What is not surprising is that the mainland beach along the Gulf of Suez is ever more popular among Egyptians, and may very well become more important to foreign tourists as well. Though perhaps not quite as warm as beaches further south, resort complexes such as Stella Di Mari, which already receives a large number of Italian tourists in particular, are very nice, relatively inexpensive, and an easy visit from Cairo. We have often praised this location, along an area known as Ain Sukhna, for its convenience to Cairo as a quick Red Sea jaunt (though it is actually on the Gulf of Suez), which also allows tourists close access to visit the Suez Canal, and fairly close access to the famous Eastern Desert Monasteries of St. Anthony and St. Paul. Though this area remains mostly a destination for Egyptians, we expect to see more and more foreign tourists in the future, for which it is well suited.
The Beach at Stella Di Mari
It is rather interesting that, along with the northern Mediterranean Sinai coast, the Sinai coast along the Gulf of Suez has not much been developed as a tourist destination, either for Egyptians or foreigners. This is not to say that no facilities exist, but they are very sparse.
The Mainland Coast Along the Red Sea
Where we begin to see the most foreign beach goers is as Egypt's mainland coast opens onto the Red Sea. Specifically, the and Hurghada region is one of the most popular beach areas in Egypt among foreign tourists. Hurghada has traditionally been known as one of the most affordable beach resort communities, though there are certainly more luxurious facilities available in the city proper, while El Gouna, just to the north, has strictly an upper class reputation. Just to the south of Hurghada is also the exclusive compound of Soma Bay, with several hotels and a fine golf course. As one travels further south along the mainland Egyptian coast, resorts areas become less dense, and many of the more southern tourist destinations are more scuba diving camps than resorts though, for example Marsa Alam is gaining in importance as a general tourist destination.
The eastern shore of the Sinai along the Gulf of Aqaba has a number of beach vacation resorts and towns, from the very northern tip of the Gulf all the way down to the southern end of the the Sinai. These areas really are frequented almost entirely by foreign tourists. However, they vary considerably, from Taba, which probably receives most of its tourism from Israel, down to Sharm el-Sheikh, which like Hurghada, is one of the main tourist destinations for beach goers to Egypt. In between Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are Nuweiba and Dahab, which seem to cater to a mix of foreign tourists looking for perhaps a little less formal resorts and for that matter, less crowded resorts.
Types of Facilities
In Egypt, one of the nice things about its beach resorts is that just about every area seems to be interestingly different, and there are a wide range from the standpoint of expense. Facilities range from very rudimentary beach camps to the finest imaginable five star hotels, and include the possibility of villa rentals. In general, in the region south of Hurghada, not including Marsa Alam, beach camps and more rudimentary accommodations seem to be more dominant, but then so too are open beaches with little in the way of crowds. On the east, Aqaba side of the Sinai, while Taba and especially Sharm el-Sheikh are built up areas with fine facilities to choose from, the area in between these two destinations tend to be more camp-like, though there are certainly a few fine hotels here and there. These areas, south of Hurghada (and south of Soma Bay, and not including Marsa Alam), tend to be very laid back areas of beach with less formal entertainment facilities than the main tourist areas of El Gouna, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Taba and more and more, Marsa Alam. However, even the grand tourist destinations can be very different.
For example, Hurghada is almost two cities in one. There is the downtown area with its less expensive hotels, some with beach front property, and then there are the individual resorts that are really somewhat segregated from the downtown area.
The more segregated beach resorts at Hurghada are not all that different from those further north in the area of Ain Sukhna and along the Northern mainland coast west of Alexandria. They are essentially self contained complexes that offer little availability to the main city of Hurghada. Tourists tend to not stray far from the compound where they are staying. On the other hand, El Gouna, just to the north of Hurghada is set up more to allow tourists in the various resorts to roam around in the small village. Sharm el-Sheikh is probably the most open resort area, with a boardwalk that connects most of the beach front resorts and the town center, though there are a few more isolated resorts.
What this means for the most part is that the entertainment possibilities in Sharm are much more varied. It should be noted that in many more isolated compounds, such as Stella Di Mari in the north, there may be more than enough activities and entertainment for most people. Many of the individual compounds such as this have more than one hotel, and work hard to include various forms of entertainment and activities for the whole family.
Scuba Diving and other Water Activities
One of the main differences between the the coastal regions that border the Red Sea and those in the Gulfs and Mediterranean Zones is the availability of Scuba Diving. There is some sparse scuba diving facilities in just about every zone, but by far, most Scuba Diving facilities are located from El-Gouna south along the Red Sea, and around Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai. In fact, perhaps as much as 80% of all Scuba Diving activities originate from the immediate region of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. This is not to say that activities such as snorkeling cannot be found at almost all beach areas. Furthermore, other activities such as windsurfing and skiing, while available in many different locations, seems to be very popular along the mainland Gulf of Suez Zone. At various locations on just about all of the beaches there are other water sports available, such as sail boat rentals and parasailing.
 |
| the Egyptian Museum |
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms.
The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities contains many important pieces of ancient Egyptian history. It houses the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities, and many treasures of King Tutankhamen. The Egyptian government established the museum, built in 1835 near the [[Ezbekeyah Garden]]. The museum soon moved to Boulaq in 1858 because the original building was getting to be too small to hold all of the artifacts. In 1855, shortly after the artifacts were moved, [[Duke Maximilian]] of [[Austria]] was given all of the artifacts. He hired a French architect to design and construct a new museum for the antiquities. The new building was to be constructed on the bank of the [[Nile River]] in [[Boulaq]]. In 1878, after the museum has been completed for some time, it suffered some irreversible damage; a flood of the [[Nile River]] caused the antiquities to be relocated to another museum, in [[Giza]]. The artifacts remained there until 1902 when they were moved, for the last time, to the current museum in [[Tahrir Square]]. During the [[Egyptian Revolution of 2011]], the museum was broken into, and two mummies were reportedly destroyed
King Tutankhamen
Unlike many tombs discovered in Egypt, that of [[King Tutankhamen]] was found mostly intact. Inside the tomb there was a large collection of artifacts used throughout the King’s life. These artifacts ranged from a decorated chest, which was most likely used as a closet or suitcase, two ivory and gold bracelets, necklaces, and other decorative jewelry, to alabaster vases and flasks. The tomb was also home to many weapons and instruments used by the King. Although the tomb held over 3,500 artifacts, the tomb was not found completely intact. In fact, there had been at least two robberies of the tomb, perhaps soon after Tutankhamun's burial.
The best known artifact in King Tutankhamun’s tomb is the famous Gold Mask, which rested over the bandages that were wrapped around the King’s face. The mask weighs in at 11 kg (24.5 pounds) of solid gold, and is believed to represent what the King’s face really looked like.
The remains of many famous Pharaohs are stored in the Egyptian Museum. One of these is Pharaoh Ramses III, who was an extremely skilled warrior. For many of the mummified pharaohs, it has been very difficult to determine when they were born, and historians can only estimate a time when they reigned over Egypt. For Amenhotep IV, historians have estimated his reign around 1372 B.C., because they found out when Amenhotep IV's father, Amenhotep III died. Also, that Amenhotep IV's tomb inscribed five names he gave himself and one of them, Golden Horus, proves that he was crowned on the bank of the Nile, his father's favorite domain. Before he became pharaoh, he was already married to Nefertiti. When Amenhotep IV did become pharaoh, he destroyed the religion of Amun. He did this because he wanted to start his own new religion of Aten, the sun, which is pictured as a disc that sends out rays ending in hands.
Historians believe Sneferu was the first king of the Fourth Dynasty. The year he started his reign was around 2620 B.C. Sneferu appears to have been a fair and just king, and seems to have deserved his chosen name of Master of Justice or Truth. Sneferu, like many other kings, built many temples and structures. All of his structures and buildings had a specific signature: the statue of a young woman symbolizing the foundation. She presents the sign of life and votive offerings, as well as the signs of the city and the stronghold. There are about four or five of these structures in each province.
Many pharaohs chose coronation names and they all seemed to be alike. For example, Sneferu, Tutankhamun and Amenhotep all had the name "Golden Horus".
 |
| Sinai |
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai (Arabic: سيناء sīnā' ; Hebrew סיני) is a triangular peninsula in Egypt Africa [citation needed]. The bulk of the peninsula is divided into two governorates (with three more splitting the Suez Canal area), and has a population of approximately 500,000 people.
The region has historically been the center of conflict between various political factions, based largely on its location. In addition to periods of direct rule by Egyptian governments (including the Ayyubids, the Mamluks, the Muhammad Ali Dynasty, and the modern Egyptian republic), it was like the rest of Egypt also occupied and controlled by the Ottoman Empire, and the United Kingdom which occupied Egypt from 1882 onwards. Israel gained control of the Sinai in the Suez Crisis of 1956 and during the Six Day War of 1967. In the October War of 1973, it was the site of fierce fighting between Egyptian and Israeli forces. In 1982, after the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979, Israel withdrew from the entirety of Sinai. Today, Sinai has become a tourist destination due to its natural setting, rich coral reefs, and biblical history. Mount Sinai is one of the most religiously significant places in Abrahamic faiths.
