Download Egypt

Memphis
Brooke Haugrud
would have been built of whitewashed brick. The color also had
political significance: white was the color of the Lower Egyptian
crown.
Memphis is the city and capital of ancient Egypt during the Old
Kingdom (c. 2925–c. 2650 BC). It is located south of the Nile
River delta, on the west bank of the river, and about 15 miles (25
km) south of modern Cairo. Closely associated with the ancient
city's site are the cemeteries, or necropolises, of Memphis.
History
Memphis is considered the legendary city of Menes, the King who
united Upper and Lower Egypt. Menes founded the city by
creating dikes to protect the area from Nile floods. Memphis was
more likely a fortress from which Menes controlled the land and
water routes between Upper Egypt and the Delta.
The original name of the city was the White Wall, and the term
may have referred originally to the Menes’ palace, whose walls
The name, Memphis, we use today derives from the Pyramid of
Pepy I at Saqqara, which is Men-nefer, the name of the pyramid
city of the 6th-dynasty. This relatively small and obscure pyramid
thus gave its name to the entire region. At that time the influence
of the centralized government at Memphis began to diminish, as is
indicated by the increased fame of local cities and the number of
fine tombs located away from the Memphis area. This process of
decentralization ended in the First Intermediate Period, a time of
internal breakdown. Manetho's 7th and 8th dynasties are both
called Memphite, but it is believed that both dynasties together
comprised a very short period and that the old Memphite house
lost its control over the provincial princes soon after the end of the
6th dynasty.
north of the city at Fustat, which is now a part of Cairo called Old
Cairo, or Coptic Cairo.
The importance of Memphis was based to a considerable extent
on its venerable religious role. Certain of the coronation
ceremonies were traditionally enacted in Memphis, as was the
Heb-Sed festival, a reenactment of the coronation that restored
and restated the supernatural powers of the kingship.
Most of the monuments were robbed throughout history for their
stone. The stone was then used for the building of Cairo. Most of
the other remains of the ancient city are covered by the modern
village of Badrasheen.
Memphis Today
Sites We Will See
During the New Kingdom period (c. 1539–1075), Memphis
probably functioned as the second, or northern, capital of Egypt.
At one time it seems to have been the principal residence of the
crown prince.
Then in the later Dynasties, Thebes became the capital of Egypt,
but we know that Memphis retained much of its religious
significance and continued to prosper during this period. Actually,
Thebes was never exactly the administrative center of Egypt
which Memphis was, its significance being more religious.
By the 18th Dynasty, the Egyptian Kings had apparently moved
back into the Palaces of Memphis. But when the Greeks arrived,
and moved the Egyptian capital to Alexandria, Memphis suffered,
and with the entrance of Christianity and the decline of Egyptian
religion, Memphis became a mere shadow of the former great
city. But the actual demise of Memphis probably occurred with
the invasion of the Muslim conquerors in 641 when they
established their new capital not at Memphis, but a short distance
The museum that we will visit in Memphis has the colossal
limestone statue of Ramesses II (1290-1224 BC). To see the
statue, there is a viewing balcony that runs around the statue and
provides good views from above.
Outside the museum building, is a sculpture garden contains a
scattered assortment of statuary, coffins, and architectural
fragments recovered from the area of Memphis. The Egyptian
alabaster sphinx is one of the largest sphinxes found in Egypt, and
there are several statues of Ramesses II in granite and limestone as
well as a curious sarcophagus carved upside down also lies in the
garden. There will be also a series of stalls selling replicas of
Egyptian artifacts in the garden.
Saqqara
Saqqara is part of the
necropolis of the ancient
city of Memphis, Egypt 15
miles (24 km) southwest of
Cairo and west of the
modern Arab village of
Saqqara. The site extends
along the edge of the
desert plateau for about 5
miles (8 km), from Abu Sir
in the north to Dahshur in the south. It is best known for the
earliest stone pyramids constructed in Egypt.
History
Memphis was the capital of Ancient Egypt, while Saqqara served
as its cemetery. Although it was eclipsed as the burial ground of
royalty by Giza and, later, by the Valley of the Kings in Thebes, it
remained an important complex for minor burials and cult
ceremonies for more than 3,000 years.
The earliest remains at Saqqara are those in the Archaic cemetery
at the northernmost end of the site, where large mud-brick tombs,
or mastabas, have been found that date to the very beginning of
Egyptian history. Although storage jars found in the mastabas
bore the names of the kings of the 1st dynasty, it seems that these
tombs were those of high officials of the period, because the
Archaic kings were buried at Abydos in Upper Egypt.
One of the most famous tombs is Step Pyramid complex of
Djoser, king of the 3rd dynasty (c. 2650–c. 2575 BC), which lies
South of the Archaic cemetery. Djoser's architect Imhotep
designed a new form of burial structure for the king in the shape
of a pyramid in six stages which is how it became known as the
Step Pyramid. At the foot, Imhotep constructed a huge complex of
halls and courts in which the prototype structures of mud brick,
wood, and reed were for the first time translated into fine
limestone.
Next, there is Shepsekaf of the 4th dynasty who built Mastabat
Fir'awn, a coffin-shaped tomb, and several kings of the 5th
dynasty also constructed their pyramids at Saqqarah.
One of the last kings, Unas of the 5th dynasty, was the first to
inscribe on the walls of his pyramid chambers the Pyramid Texts,
which were designed to protect the dead king and to ensure him
life and provisions in the afterlife.
passages contains thousands of ibis mummies of the Ptolemaic
period.
Succeeding kings of the 6th dynasty continued the practice of
inscribing Pyramid Texts in the underground chambers. With the
exception of Teti, the 6th-dynasty kings built their pyramids to the
south of Unas' pyramid, and the most southerly is that of a 13thdynasty (c. 1756–c. 1630 BC) king.
Step Pyramid:
This is a pyramid complex like no other. It is the first stone
pyramid to be built in Egypt, and its form imitates wood, papyrus,
mud brick, and matting in limestone. The step pyramid started out
as a mastaba tomb, but its design was modified six times before
the final step pyramid was made. The structure was enlarged by
accreting vertical faces, visible on the east side as you walk
around the pyramid.
Around the pyramids of their royals, the Old Kingdom (c. 2575–c.
2130 BC) nobles were buried in mastabas. The wall carvings
within their tombs depict scenes of daily life.
Sites to See
During the Middle Kingdom period (1938–c. 1600? BC),
relatively few tombs were built in the Saqqarah necropolis, for
provincial cemeteries were then popular.
In the New Kingdom (1539–1075 BC), however, Memphis
became a principal administrative and military centre, and a
number of tombs from that period have been found, including the
finely decorated tomb of the general, later king, Horemheb,
discovered in 1975. Also, in that era and later the sacred Apis
bulls were buried at Saqqarah in large subterranean galleries, the
most famous of which is the Sarapeum.
The last imposing tombs to be built in Saqqarah were those of
several rulers during the Saite and Persian periods. In the
northwestern part of the necropolis, beneath a field of mastabas of
the 3rd and 4th dynasties, another complex of underground
You enter the complex from a small doorway that leads through a
long passage. This small passage then turns into a vast open HebSed court. The Heb-Sed was a race that the pharaoh had to run
every 30 years, in order to reaffirm his strength, power, and ability
to rule.
Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep’s Mastaba:
This is the tomb known as the two brothers. It is known for its fine
colors as well as the unusually intimate poses of the two tomb
owners. The brothers worked as the pharaoh’s body servants, and
they were buried together in this decorated joint tomb. The scenes
in the mastaba are fairly standard showing everyday activities
such as fishing, cooking, and hunting.
Mereruka’s Mastaba:
This tomb was shared by Mereruka, his wife, and his son. It is the
largest
mastaba tomb in Saqqara and also shows some of the finest scenes
of fishing hunting, metalworking, sailing, and force-feeding of
animals
Kagemni’s Mastaba:
This mastaba is connected to Mereruka’s tomb. It too is also very
well decorated.
Teti’s Pyramid:
This pyramid measures 257 ft square and originally rose to 172 ft.
By looking at the pyramid today, you would not think that it was
one because the casing stones were stolen and the structure has
been reduced to a pile of rubble. It has two queen pyramids to the
east and north, and a mortuary temple to the east.
The Serapeum:
This is the site of the burials of the Apis Bull. The Apis Bull was a
bull that was regarded as a manifestation of Ptah, a creator god.
During the bull’s lifetime, it was worshiped, fed, washed, brushed,
and sung to. When it died, it was mummified and buried, with
golden grave goods, in a large basalt or granite sarcophagus.
Then, the priests boarded a new quest for a new bull, who took up
the position of Apis. The dusty and gloomy Serapeum galleries
stretch for miles under the bedrock.
Ti’s Mastaba:
This mastaba is unique
from all the others because
it has a large courtyard that
contains a stairway leading
to Ti’s Chamber, which
still holds his sarcophagus
today. The rest of the tomb
is elegantly decorated and
painted. It also has much
of the original roof preserved throughout the tomb.
Things to Know Before-Hand
At Saqqara the main ticket booth is at the main entrance. Once
you are there, you must buy camera tickets from separate booths
at each area. No flash photography is allowed inside the tombs.
Cairo, Egypt
By: Kristin Anderson
Geography
Located on the banks and islands of the Nile River in
Northern Egypt, 12 miles south of where Nile splits into two
main branches. Near Giza, Saqqara, and Memphis
Two Sections to the City
1. New Cairo
-built on the model of Paris
-Marked by Wide Boulevards, public gardens, and open spaces
-Government Buildings, Modern Architecture
2. Old Cairo
-Older section of city
-Located east of the Nile
-Small lanes, crowded tenements
-Hundreds of Ancient Mosques
Map of Old Cairo
From http://www.cairotourist.com/Map11.gif
Map from http://www.mapsofworld.com/egypt/maps/egypt-political-map.jpg
Map of Cairo, Egypt
Map from http://www.egyptologyonline.com/cairo_map.gif
History
~Islamic Conquest (641-969)
During this period the Arabs decided to abandon Alexandria because
there was no body of water near the city. The moved to where present day
Cairo now is and founded the city of Al-Fustat. (The name comes from Arabic
word for camp or tent). During this time the Mosque of Africa is built, named
Amr and a new capital slowly begins to grow as other cities, such as
Alexandria and Byzantine, decline in population. This new city now linked
eastern and western Egypt together.
~Triumphant City (969-1168)
During this era, a Fatimid general named Gawhar captures city and
renames it Al-Qahira, Cairo, which means The Triumphant. For 200 years
descendents of Fatimid general Gawhar ruled city. These rulers began the
construction of the Al-Azhar, which is the oldest university still in use to date.
The use of slaves, which were called Mamelukes, also became popular.
These slaves were seen more as civil servants rather than hard labor workers
and were able to improve their status in society by converting to Islam. At the
end of this era the Egypt was his by a seven year drought which caused
widespread plague and a sharp decrease in population.
~Age of Salahideen and the Crusades (1168-1250)
Egypt was battleground between Seljuks, who were originally from
central Asia, and Crusaders in 1168. The Seljuks were able to capture Cairo
and took control of the city. The leader Shirkoh was named the first leader,
but died one year later. Shirkoh’s nephew Saladin took over after his death.
Saladin expelled the Fatimids and sent them into exile. During his rule he also
built five colleges, hospitals and a mosque (the Citadel), all within 11 years.
~Ruled by the Mamluk (1250-1517)
After the death of Saladin in 1249 there was no strong successor to
take control of the city. Shagarit El-Dorr, Saladin’s wife and the last Ayyubid
Sultan, becomes Monarch. She ruled alone for 80 days until pressured into
marriage by other officers.
She later Murders her husband because he wanted to marry another woman.
Shortly after she is then killed by her fellow people after she had “gone to far”
During Mamelouk time, a major geographic change also took place in
Cairo. The Nile used to flow further east than it does today. The railroad
station is actually located where a canal once stood. In the Twelfth Century, a
ship sank near the port and caused the river to change it’s course and begin
flowing more to the west of it’s original path. As a result, the Elephant Island
(Geziret el-Feel) which resulted from siltation around the sunken ship, and
Gezira Island which emerged further west were formed. Later, the region
around the Elephant Island silted further to form the area occupied today by
the downtown.
~Osmaniye’s Age (1517-1798)
In 1517 the Ottomans defeat Mamluks and took over Cairo. During
this time the government separated into three different divisions: Local,
military, and political. The government also used the Janissaries and Azabs
as soldiers to defend Cairo. These soldiers actually defeated Constantinople
in 1453. Overall this was a pretty bad age for the city of Cairo because little
was done to improve social and economic status city.
~European Influence (1798-1801)
Napoleon conquers the city in 1798 and the French rule until 1801.
During their rule they mis-treated the Al-Azhar mosque but also brought the
city out of the “dark age” by establishing many schools and colleges.
~Muhammad Ali comes into rule (1801-1882)
Muhammad Ali came into rule in 1801 and rebuilt the infrastructure of
city. The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is built, cotton is introduced and
construction of the first railroad also begins.
~Britain Rule (1883-1922)
Britain begins to rule in 1883. Egypt was effectively ruled by the
British Consul, Lord Cromer. During this time a sense of Nationalism grew
among citizens and Egypt was finally granted independence from Britain in
1922
Economy
Population (2005): Over 18 Million
City: 7,438,376
Metro: 11,128,000
36% of People Under Age of 15
Growth Rate: 1.6%
Average household Size: 4.4
¼ of all Egyptians live in Cairo
Dense city with fueled construction
1 of 5 buildings is less than 15 years old
Other Facts
 Currency: Egyptian Pound
1 pound = $0.17
Approximate Currency Conversion as of 04-22-07
EGP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9






USD EGP USD EGP USD
.17
10 1.75 75
13.11
.35
15 2.62 100
17
.52
20 3.50 250 43.50
.70
25 4.37 500
87
.87
30 5.24 750 130.50
1.05 35 6.12 1000 175
1.22 40 6.99
1.40 45 7.86
1.57 50 8.74
Average temperature during May: 70°F-90°F
Official Language: Arabic
Religion: 94% Muslim; 6% Christian
Time Zone: GMT +2
7 hours ahead of Central Time:
9 PM in Moorhead=
4AM the next day in Cairo
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz
Plug-in is two-pronged European Style
International Dialing Telephone Code: +20
Main Attractions in Cairo
 Cairo Tower
∞ Built in 1961 by American compensation for the
non-participation of the U.S in the construction of
the Aswan High Dam
∞ Over 590 feet high
∞ Great view of the City
∞ Rotating restaurant located on Top
 Old (Coptic) Cairo
∞ 25 churches within 1 sq. mile
∞ Hanging Church
-Cairo’s most famous church which rests upon the
bastions of the old Roman fortress
-Built in 11th century, rebuilt many times
-Marble Pulpit is considered oldest lasting marble
pulpit in the country
∞ Ben Ezra Synagogue
-Egypt's oldest Synagogue
-Originally the Church of St. Michael
 Khan al-Khalili
∞ Usually just called the Khan
∞ One of Largest Markets in the World
∞ Built in 1382
∞ Many things to buy including: exotic perfume,
Arabic clothing, gold, silver, copper and spices.
 Islamic (Medieval) Cairo
∞ Citadel
-Highly Visible landmark
-Most of the building was built after the rule of
Salah ad-Din
-Military, police, and carriage museums
-4 mosques
-Wonderful views of City
∞ Mosque of Mohammed Ali
-Part of Citadel—Northern Section
-Visible from everywhere in Cairo
-Built between 1830-1848
-Most Popular Mosque among Tourists
Map of the Citadel
From http://www.cairotourist.com/Map12.gif
∞ Al-Azhar Mosque and University
-Named after the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter
-Considered the oldest Islamic University (975 AD)
-Built in 970
-Pieces continually added over years
-Primary significance as school of religious
learning but medicine and engineering also taught
Cairo Map
From http://www.faculty.sbc.edu/lrainville/SBC/images/Cairo_map.jpg
The Pyramids
Progression of Pyramids
The Following were the key pyramids built in the ancient times
which contributed to the construction of the first true shaped
pyramid
1. Step Pyramid
– Built by Djoser
– Made from Matabas, which looked like square mounds,
stacked on top of each other
2. Meidum Pyramid
– Built by Sneferu in the beginning of the 4th dynasty
– Originally a 7 stepped pyramid—enlarged to 8 steps
– Eventually filled in steps and smooth outer facing to
make it look like today’s modern pyramid
3. Bent Pyramid
– Very obvious bent appearance
– Built by Sneferu in Dashur
– 1st attempt at a true pyramid
– Lower part rises at 55 degree angle, top part built at 43
degrees
– because of structural problems
– Built on poor foundation without adequate bearing
capacity
4. Red or North Pyramid
– First true pyramid
– Built by Sneferu
– Same slope of 43 degrees (like bent)
– Designers much more careful with choice of site and
foundation
– Used horizontal placement of core stones
Major Pyramids We Will See While in Egypt
– Step Pyramid
– Great Pyramid
– Pyramid of Khafre
– Pyramid of Mycerinus
Step Pyramid
– Location: Saqqara
– Dates built: 2800 B.C., during 3rd Dynasty
– Built for: King Djoser
– Built by: Imhotep, vizier and chief architect of Djoser
– Characteristics:
– Several Layers, or Steps of Stone
– No Pictures or drawings found of what it originally
looked like
– Robbed of most of its limestone centuries ago
(before Napoleon arrived)
– Masonry and stonework of pyramid are poorer
quality than other pyramids like the great pyramid.
– Smaller blocks-loosely stacked inwards
– Leaning Layers
– Backfilled with sand dirt and clay mortar
Great Pyramid
– Location: Giza
– Dates Built: 2579-2566 BC, 4th Dynasty
– Built for: King Khufu- Son of King Sneferu who built bent
and red pyramids in Dashur
– Built by: Hemiunu- Khufu’s vizier
– Characteristics:
– Largest Pyramid ever built
– 481 feet high—1 ½ football fields
– 756 feet base
– 2.3 million blocks of stone
– All corners within one inch of the cardinal
directions
– 2 Galleries & 3 Chambers Inside
– Nicknamed “Horizon of Khufu”because built solely
for the afterlife of Khufu
– Tallest structure in the World until 1885 when the
Washington Monument was built
Khafre’s Pyramid
– Location: Giza
– Dates Built: 2558-2532 BC
– Built for: Khafre, son of Khufu
– Characteristics:
– Second greatest pyramid at Giza
– About 471 feet high—Not quite as tall as
Khufu’s (10 ft shorter)
– Made from limestone and red granite
– Attached to the Great Sphinx
– Best preserved funerary complex and mortuary
temple in Giza
– Some outer casing stones still remain
Menkaure’s Pyramid
– Location: Giza
– Dates Built: Undetermined
– Built for: Menkaure, Son of Khafre, grandson of Khufu
– Characteristics:
– Smallest of the three pyramids in Giza
– 215 feet high
– 344 foot base
– Great example of pyramid construction because of
the red granite casing stones that were used on
the lower courses
– May Casing stones survived---allowed for
great speculation on how pyramids were
constructed
– Marked the end of immense pyramid construction
– No more structures of such scale and
grandeur ever built again
Pyramid Complex at Giza
Map from http://www.world-mysteries.com/alignments/gizamap.jpg
Egyptian Antiquities Museum
Ellen Kramer
Entrance fee (20 LE)
Mummy Hall fee (40 LE)
Not part of the tour, but encouraged to see
Photographing fee
Hours: 9:00AM-2:00PM
1. Camera, without flash (10 LE)
2. Video camera (100 LE)
Other areas of the Museum
*Bank is in southeast entrance.
*Cafeteria is in right side to the main entrance.
*Post office in southeast corner.
*Book shop in the main entrance on your left side.
*Gift shop next to the Bookshop.
*Library on the southwest corner.
*Toilet on the mezzanine of both stairs, the
Southeastern & the southwestern.
*Check room on the left side at the main entrance.
Ground Floor: History of Egypt
-contains more of the big and heavy objects of the periods
First floor
-contains more of the smaller objects from tombs and sites
Seven sections of the Museum going clockwise around the
museum of both floors
*Section 1: Tutankhamen objects, Jewelry, Tanis objects
*Section 2: Predynastic and Old Kingdom objects
(10,000-2130 BC)
*Section 3: Middle kingdom period and objects
-golden age of literature
*Section 4: New kingdom period and objects
Akhenaton: monotheist pharaoh
Ramesside Period
Room 29: contains “Books of the Dead”
*Section 5: late period and Greco-Roman period
*Section 6: papyrus and coins of different periods
*Section 7: sarcophagi and scarabs
Hall of Royal Mummies
Houses 11 kings and queens
Saqqara
*Imhotep museum
Fee: (free)
Saqqara is the site of the Step Pyramid and the funerary complex
of King Djoser, the Pyramid of Unas, the Teti Pyramid, Old Kingdom
tombs with scenes of daily
life,
and much more. Being the
oldest
of the 97 pyramids, Saqqara
is a
section of Memphis during
the
Old Kingdom. The Step
pyramid and funerary
complex of Djoser was
made
by Imhotep and is
extremely important in the
creation of the pyramids.
The
pyramid of Unas is famous
for its
pyramidal texts. These are
written spells that help the
pharaoh go back and forth
from
the heaven to the burial
chamber. The Teti Pyramid
was
found in 1881 and is north
east
of Djoser’s pyramid.
Behind the Pyramids
The Step
Pyramid was
first created by
King Djoser’s
architect
Imhotep. Starting
out as mastabas
stacked on top of
one another, the
ending result was
the Step
pyramid.
Imhotep’s
reasoning behind
the design was to praise the gods and his pharaoh. Thus, Imhotep was
also a high priest and a council member to the pharaoh. Yet because
Imhotep was a high priest, he wanted a few changes to take place in
the religious aspects of the pharaohs. Before the creation of the
pyramids, the Egyptian’s assumed the pharaohs descended into the
netherworld after they died. Imhotep wanted to change this aspect. He
wanted the pharaohs to ascend into the Field of Reeds. So the
pyramids are known as the “Stairway to Heaven.” Once the pharaoh’s
ascended into heaven, they became the stars in the night’s sky.
Map of
Saqqara
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert...Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless
things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Five Pillars of Islam
1. There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His
prophet.
2. Prayer five times daily, facing Mecca.
3. Alms-giving to the poor and needy.
4. Fasting sun-up to sun-down during Ramadan
(ninth month of lunar calendar).
5. Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Egypt
Cory R. Mueller
Egyptian Pound
Known in Arabic s the gunaih (el-Gunaih) the Egyptian
Pound was first issued in 1834 by a royal decree. The royal decree
stated that the currency was based on a bimetallic base- meaning
the value of the monetary unit can be expressed with a certain
amount of gold or silver. This led to the gold standard (18851914). Like the United States, the currencies are used as a unit of
account and are backed by the government based on a specified
weight of gold. The current exchange rate is 1 USD to 5.70 EGP
or 1 EGP to .1755 USD. The inflation rate for the country is
currently at 6.5%. This is more than double the United States
inflation rate (based on 2006 estimates).
Cuisine
Egyptian cuisine consists of local culinary traditions such
as Ful Medames, Kushari and Molokhia. Ful Medames are often
eaten at breakfast. Consisting of fava beans slow cooked in a
copper pot (the copper brings out a stronger flavor) that have been
partially or completely mashed. The dish also consists of olive oil,
onion, chopped parsley, garlic and lemon juice. It is typically
eaten with an Egyptian bread or pita. Bread is accompanied with
most Egyptian meals. The local word for bread is Eish Masri
which means life. Though originally a peasant food, it has become
a part of daily Egyptian’s diets. It is a very filling dish, with many
describing it as being like “a stone in the stomach.” It is especially
popular during Ramadan, or the month of fasting.
Garlic and onion are used frequently in Egyptian foods.
Other popular dishes include Kebab and Kofta, consisting
of lamb meat, chops and minced meat on skewers grilled on
charcoal. Egyptians are famous for stuffing spicy rice in
vegetables like green pepper, aubergines (eggplant), courgettes
(zucchini) and tomatoes to make Mashi. Kushari is normally eaten
in specialty Kushari restaurants that serve little else. It consists of
base rice, black lentils, chickpeas, macaroni, and a spicy topping
of Egyptian garlic, vinegar, and spicy tomato sauce. Small pieces
of deeply fried onions are commonly put as an extra topping. This
dish is among one of the most common and popular within the
country. Tourists are drawn to its tastes, and the starches are easy
and delicate on foreigner stomachs.
The Mosque of Muhammad Ali
Though certainly not one of the most ancient mosques in
Cairo or even one of the most historic, but because of its shear
size and location, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali is one of the
most popular Islamic mosques among tourists. The mosque is
situated in the Citadel of Cairo in Egypt and was built by
Muhammad Ali Pasha between 1830 and 1848 and not completed
until 1857. It is sometimes referred to as the Alabaster Mosque
due to its extensive use of that stone on some of the exterior walls
and other surfaces.
Situated on the summit of the citadel, the ottoman mosque
is the largest to be built in the first half of the 19th century. The
mosque was built in memory of Tusun Pasha, Muhammad Ali’s
oldest son, who died at a very young age in 1816.Muhammad Ali
tore down the previous remains of Mamluk palaces to make room
for the mosque. The palaces were considered at one time to be the
most impressive buildings in Cairo (Napoleons Scholars). It
should be noted that the mosque is not the typical structure in
Cairo. The architecture comes from the Mamluk to the lake
Ottoman period. The mosque would become a symbol of the city,
even though it is the least Egyptian monument within the Citadel.
The complex consists of two parts; the mosque proper to
the east, and the open courtyard to the west. In one of the
chambers within the mosque, small lamps are hung in the middle
of the praying area, as well as just above the main dome of the
mosque.
On the west wall of the courtyard is an iron clock, presented to
Muhammad Ali by the French King Louis Philippe, with a tea
salon on the upper level. The tower itself looks oriental, so don’t
be surprised that it looks out of place. The clock was given as a
gift in exchange for the obelisk now in the Palace de Concorde in
Paris. Needless to say, the clock has never worked.
Muhammad Ali Pasha was buried in a tomb carved from
marble in the courtyard of the mosque. His body was transferred
here from Hawsh al-Basha in 1857.
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a valley in Egypt where for a period of
nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century B.C, tombs were
constructed for the kings and powerful nobles of the New
Kingdom. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile River,
across from Thebes (modern day Luxor). The area has been a
focus of concentrated archaeological exploration since the end of
the 18th century. One of the most famous archeological
discoveries is that of the tomb of King Tut (with its rumors of the
Curse of the Pharaohs).
The Curse of the Pharaohs refers to the belief that any
person who disturbs the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh
is placed under a curse and will die shortly after. Many tombs of
the pharaohs have curses written on or around them, warning
against entering. The belief was brought to attention in the 1920’s
after some members of an exploration team died after opening the
tomb of King Tut.
The Valley was used primarily for burials from
approximately 1539 BC to 1075 BC, and contains at least 63
tombs. Despite being named Valley of the Kings, it also contains
the tombs of favorite nobles as well as the wives and children of
both nobles and pharaohs. The tombs were typically constructed
and decorated by the workers of the village of Deir el-Medina,
located in the small wadi between the Valley of the Kings and
Valley of the Queeens. The usual tomb plan consisted of a long
inclined rock-cut corridor, descending through one or more halls
to the burial chamber. In the earlier tombs, the corridors turn
through 90 degrees at least once. This layout is known as the bent
axis, and after the burial the upper corridors were meant to be
filled with rubble, and the entrance to the tomb hidden.
The majority of the tombs were decorated with religious
texts and images. The early tombs were decorated with scenes
from the Amduat (that which is the Underworld), describing the
journey of the sun-god through the twelve hours of the night.
From the time of Horemheb, tombs were decorated with the Book
of Gates, which shows the sun-god passing through the twelve
gates that divide the night time, and ensure the tomb owner’s safe
passage through the night.
The tombs are numbered based on the time of discovery.
For example, the first tomb discovered was tomb number one. The
modern abbreviation “KV” stands for Kings Valley. Most of the
tombs are not open to the public (16 of the tombs can be opened,
but they are rarely open at the same time), and officials
occasionally close those that are open for restoration work. The
West Valley has only one open tomb – that of Ay – and a separate
ticket is needed to visit this tomb. The tour guides are no longer
allowed to lecture inside the tombs and visitors are expected to
proceed quietly and in single file through the tombs. This is to
minimize time in the tombs, and prevent the crowds from
damaging the surfaces of the decoration.
The Egyptian belief that “To speak the name of the dead is
to make him live again” is certainly carried out in the building of
the tombs. The king’s formal names and titles are inscribed in his
tomb along with his images and statues. Beginning with the 18th
dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings abandoned the
Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. Also abandoned
was the pyramid style of building. Most of the tombs were cut into
limestone and built in a similar manner: three corridors, an
antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. These
catacombs were harder to rob and were more easily concealed.
Construction usually lasted six years, beginning with new reign.
The texts in the tombs are from the Book of the Dead, the Book of
the Gates and the Book of the Underworld.
The Valley of the Kings is divided into two sections: the
West Valley and the East Valley. The East Valley is the area that
is most visited by tourists. The West Valley contains only one
tomb open to the public, Ay, the successor of Tutankhamun.
* Ramesses IV – Three white corridors descend into the
sarcophagus chamber in this tomb. The chamber’s ceilings depict
the goddess Nut. The lid of the pink granite sarcophagus is
decorated with Isis and Nephthys, which were meant to serve as
guardians over the body. Their duties fell short, however, as the
tomb was robbed in ancient times. Originally, the priests placed
the sarcophagus in Amenhotep II’s tomb in order to hide the body,
which was a common practice.
* Ramesses IX – Two sets lead down to the tomb door that
is decorated with the Pharaoh worshipping the solar disc. Isis and
Nephthys stand behind him on either side. Three corridors lead
into the antechamber that opens into a pillared hall. The passage
beyond leads to the sarcophagus chamber.
* Merneptah – the steep descent into the tomb is typical of
th
the 19 dynasty. The entrance id decorated Isis and Nephthys
worshipping the solar disc. Text from the Book of the Dead is
located in the pillared chamber, along with scenes of the sky
goddess, Nut.
* Ramesses VI – Originally built for Ramesses V, this
tomb has three chambers and a fourth pillared chamber was added
by Ramesses VI. Complete texts of the Book of the Gates, the
Book of the Caverns and the Book of Day and Night line the
chambers. Portions if the Book of the Dead are located in the
pillared chamber, along with scenes of the sky goddess, Nut.
* Ramesses III – The tomb is sometimes referred to as the
“Harpers Tomb” due to the two harpers praying to the gods in the
four chambers. Ten small chambers branch off of the main
corridors. These were for the placement of tomb furniture.
* Seti I – The longest tomb in the valley, 100 meters,
contains very well preserved reliefs in all of its eleven chambers
and side rooms. One of the back chambers is decorated with the
Ritual of the Opening of the Mouth, which stated that mummy’s
eating and drinking organs were functioning properly. Believing
in the need for these functions the afterlife, this was a very
important ritual. The sarcophagus is now in the Sir John Sloane
Museum in London.
* Tuthmosis III – The approach to this unusual tomb is an
ascent up wooden steps, crossing over a pit, and then a steep
descent down into the tomb. The pit was probably as a deterrent to
tomb robbers. Two small chambers, decorated with stars and a
larger vestibule are in front of the sarcophagus chamber, which is
uniquely rounded and decorated with only red and black.
* Amenhotep II – In this tomb, a steep flight of stairs and a
long unadorned lead to the sarcophagus chamber. Three
mummies, Tuthmosis IV, Amenhotep II and III, and Seti II were
found in one side of the room and nine mummies were found on
in another.
* Horenheb – The construction is identical to Seti I’s
except for some of the inner decorations.
* Tutankhamun – The royal seal on the door was found
intact. The first three chambers were unadorned with evidence of
early entrance through one of the outside walls. The next chamber
contained most of the funerary objects. The sarcophagus was four
gilded wooden shrines, one inside the other, within which lay the
stone sarcophagus, three mummified coffins, the inner one being
solid gold, and then the mummy. Haste can be seen in the relief
and the sarcophagus, due to the fact that Tutankhamun died at age
19 years of age following a brief reign.
KV 1
KV 2
KV 3
KV 4
KV 5
KV 6
KV 7
KV 8
Ramesses VII
Ramesses IV
Constructed for a son of Ramesses III
Ramesses XI
Sons of Ramesses II
Ramesses IX
Ramesses II
Merenptah
KV 9
KV 10
KV 11
KV 13
KV 14
KV 15
KV 16
KV 17
KV 18
KV 19
KV 20
KV 21
WV 22
WV 23
WV 25
KV 34
KV 35
KV 36
KV 38
KV 43
KV 45
KV 46
KV 47
KV 48
KV 49 – 52
KV 55
KV 57
KV 62
Ramesses V/VI
Amenmeses
Ramesses III
Bay
Tausert/Setnakht
Seti II
Ramesses I
Seti I
Ramesses X
Mentuherkhepshef
Thutmoses I/Hatshepsut
Two queens
Amenhotep III
Ay
Akhenaten (?)
Tuthmosis III
Amenhotep II
Maiherperi
Tuthmosis I
Tuthmosis IV
Userhet
Yuya and Thuya
Siptah
Amenemopet
Animals
Amarna Cache
Horemheb
Tutankhamun
Luxor
Sometimes called the ‘Living City’ or ‘The world’s largest open
air museum,’ the present day city of Luxor sits on the East bank of
the Nile across from the Valley of the Kings. It has a population
of around 150,000 people, and only has three main streets, (Sharia
al-Mahatta, Sharia al Karnak, & Cornichehed.) Resting on the site
of the ancient city of Thebes, this area was the capital of Egypt
during part of the Eleventh Dynasty (Middle Kingdom) and most
of the Eighteenth Dynasty (New Kingdom.) Areas of interest in or
near the city include: The Temple of Luxor, the Luxor Museum,
the Temple of Karnak, the Mummification Museum, and the
Winter Palace Hotel.
Temple at Luxor
The earliest reference to Ipt ryst “Southern Sanctuary” comes
from the reign of Ahmose around 1550 B.C. The text describes
the mining of limestone for use in temples including the “Mansion
of Amun in the Southern Sanctuary.” The earliest structural
evidence originated during the time of Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis
III in 1500 BC. Constructed most by Amenhotep III and
Ramesses II, the temple of today has an overall length (from the
first pylon to the rear wall) of about 623 x 181 feet.
The first pylon, constructed by Ramesses II, stands 79 feet high
and contains scenes from his military triumphs (especially the
Battle of Kadesh). Only one of these 82-foot high red granite
obelisks still remains. The other stands in the center of the Place
de la Concorde, a gift from Egypt in 1835. Upon lowering this
obelisk, they found Ramesses had inscribed his name on the
bottom to ensure no other ruler took over his monument. The
inner sanctums of the temple begin with a dark antechamber.
Roman stuccoes can still be seen covering the Egyptian carvings.
At one point during Roman control, the area served as a chapel
and local Christians were offered a final opportunity to renounce
their faith and embrace the state religion. In A cache of 26 New
Kingdom statues were found in the floor in the inner sanctum area
in1989 and can be found at the Luxor Museum. To the east a
small hall leads to Birth Room, so called because Amenhotop II
claimed a divine birth. He alleged that Amun, disguised as
Tuthmosis IV, entered the queen's chambers and breathed the
child into her nostrils.
Temple at Karnak
Constructed north of the city of Thebes, the Temple at
Karnak was built over a span of about 1300 years. The
ancient name of Ipet-isut, means “The Most Select (or
Scared) of Places”. The temple complex contains three main
temples and many outer temples. The main temple, the
Temple of Amun, resides in the center of the complex. The
Temple of Monthu is located to the north and the Temple of
Mut to the south connected by an ally of ram headed
sphinxes. Originally, a road of sphinxes connected this
temple to the temple at Luxor.
Layout:
1st Pylon- During the reconstruction by the Ptolemies the
columns and façade were left unfinished.
2nd Pylon- Constructed by Ramesses II marks the entrance
to the Hypostyle Hall.
Hall – The construction began during the reign of Ramesses
I, continued during the rule of Seti I, & was completed by
Ramesses II. The hall ceiling is 82 feet high. The reliefs
throughout the hall contain symbolism of Creation. The
northern half are from the time period of Seti I and the
southern half are from his son, Ramesses II.
Transverse Hall- This hall lies beyond the Hypostyle Hall
and contians the remains of the earliest sections of the
complex that are still in existence.
Third Pylon- This pylon was created by Tuthmosis I (father
of Hatshepsut). The obelisk stands 70 feet tall and weighs
around 143 tons. The next obelisk is the only remaining
obelisk of Hatshepsut, which stands 97 feet tall weighing
about 320 tons. Besides the Lateran Obelisk in Rome, this is the
tallest standing obelisk.
6th Pylon- Built by Tuthmosis III, this pylon marks the entrance to
the Hall of records. Originally, this was the oldest part of the
temple. The present sanctuary was built by the brother of
Alexander the Great.
http://www.touregypt.net/karnak.htm
http://www.virtourist.com/africa/luxor/10.htm
http://touregypt.net/lxtmpl.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxor
http://www.touregypt.net/karnak.htm
http://www.luxorguide.com/
The Nile
Iteru or Great River, the Nile allowed a successful and rich culture to develop
and thrive in an otherwise inhospitable desert.
Flowing 4184 miles though nine countries (White Nile: Uganda,
Sudan, & Egypt; Blue Nile: Ethiopia, Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania,
Rwanda, & Burundi,) the river has an average discharge of 300
million cubic meters a day. 90% of the water and 96% of the
transported sediment originate in Ethiopia, and one of the two
main tributaries, the Blue Nile originates in Lake Tana in the
country’s Highlands. Other tributaries of the Blue Nile include
Tekezé, Atbarah, Sobat. The Blue Nile or Bahr al Azraq, so
named because of the water color, flows about 850 miles to
Khartoum, where it merges with the White Nile to become “The
Nile.” Regarded as the ultimate source of the Nile, the
Ruvyironza is an upper branch of the Kagera River. After flowing
through a series of lakes, joining other bodies of water, and taking
different names the Ruvyironza becomes Bahr al Abyad or White
Nile.
Due to the monsoon rains in Ethiopia, the Nile flooded every year
during the months of June through September. Termed the akhet
or inundation, this season provided the rich soil need to help this
civilization thrive. The other two seasons were peret (growing
season) and shemu (the drought or harvest season.)
Not only did the Nile provide the water and land necessary for
survival, it also played an enormous part in the Egyptian religion.
The Nile held so much importance, the people created a god, Hapi
to care for care of the river and the flood cycle. Together, he and
the Pharaoh controlled the cycle of the river. The Nile also held
religious importance because it was considered a causeway from
life to death and the afterlife. Following the path of the god Ra
(sun) and his cycle of birth and death, the east represented birth
and growth, while the west side represented death. This belief is
evident in the construction of some of their cities, Luxor for
example. The living city resided on the east banks and all the
tombs were placed on the side that symbolized death, the west
bank.
Aswan Dam
The Aswan Dam (Lower) was built by the British to help control
the flooding of the Nile. However, upon finding the damn
inadequate for a third time and raising the height again (first in
1907-1912, then in 1929-1933), the decision to build a new dam
was made. With construction beginning in 1960 and completion
on July 21, 1970, the second dam built, called the Aswan High
Dam, is 3,600 m in length, 980 m wide at the base, 40 m wide at
the crest, 111 m tall and contains 43 million m3 of material. Lake
Nassar, the reservoir created behind the dam holds 111km3 of
water and has a surface area of 5,250 km2. With the creation of
this body of water, archaeological sites risked submergence.
Under UNESCO, 24 sites were moved to safer locations, Abu
Simbel to name one. With Power generation beginning in 1967,
electricity was available to many Egyptian villages for the first
time. The dam helped dampen the effects of two dangerous
floods in 1964 and 1973 and droughts in 1972-73 and1983-84. It
has provided jobs in the fishing industry in Lake Nasser; however,
some worry about the fertility of the soil because the dams filter
much of the silt out.
http://www.nileriver.com/nile/main.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile