Egypt and 7000 years of History
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Transcript of Egypt and 7000 years of History
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 1 of 27 10/2007
Egypt and 7000 years of History
Your Quick Guide to its Mysteries
EGYPT THE COUNTRY
From tradition to modernity, Egypt is a country which has succeeded in creating a present that is as fascinating as its past.
Since the end of the nineteenth century, Egypt has been evolving at a very high speed. Its
political, economical and cultural life has undergone striking changes. From the inscription of the
first hieroglyph to the construction of the new hi-tech Smart Village, Egypt has always been a
pioneer on the frontier for emerging information technologies in the Arab world.
As well as virtual highways, Egypt's roads, railways and waterways form a 21,000 mile network
from Alexandria to Aswan. They include the world famous Suez Canal and 1,000 miles of subsidiary canals branching between the Nile and the sea.
Geography & Climate
Located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe, Egypt is built around the Nile Valley, a very
fertile land bordering the river and bounded by 2 seas: the Mediterranean Sea (to the north) and
the Red Sea (to the east). The thin area on either side of the Nile was historically where 90% of
the population settled.
To the east of the valley is the Arabian Desert, bounded by a high ridge of mountains. To the west
is the Libyan Desert which stretches across the top of North Africa.
The demarcation line in Cairo, the capital city, separates Lower Egypt (everything north of Cairo)
from Upper Egypt (everything to the south). To the east, across the Suez Canal is the triangular wedge of Sinai with Mt Sinai and Mt Catherine, the highest mountain in Egypt (2642m).
During the summer, from March to November, the climate is hot and dry in most of the country.
December to February can be quite cold in the north. The sky is usually blue and cloudless. The
temperature varies considerably in Egypt. It can be extremely hot during the day and very cold at night, especially in the desert.
It rains more often in Alexandria than in Aswan and Cairo. During the early days of the spring season, a hot wind called "Khamasin" blows in from the western desert at up to 150 km/h.
Population
With 72,000,000 inhabitants, Egypt represents one quarter of the population of the Arab world. The city of Cairo itself counts about 16,000,000 people.
The Egyptian population is composed of people from various origins. Most Egyptians originate
from Ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley. Others come from the Arabic and Levantine descents and the Nubians of Upper Egypt.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 2 of 27 10/2007
Language
Arabic is the official language spoken by all Egyptians. When Arabic is spoken in the streets, it's
like a dialect and differs a great deal from classical Arabic.
Although English is very widespread, people will appreciate you taking time to learn a few words
and phrases. In holiday resorts like Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, many other European
languages are spoken such as French, German, Italian and Russian.
Religion
Though the majority of Egyptians are Muslims, there are over 12 million Christians living in Egypt today. The two communities enjoy an easy coexistence.
During Ramadan, all Muslims fast during the day. But the evening meal called "Iftar" is a real celebration and it's followed by street entertainment until sunrise.
The Copts play an important part in Egyptian society, especially in artistic, economical and cultural
domains.
Cuisine
Although some dishes are similar to Middle East Cuisine, Egypt is famous for its typical, local
specialities such as "Foul" (Egyptian dry beans), "Molokhia" (a soup made of molokhia leaves and
chicken), or "Mahshi" (an assortment of different vegetables usually stuffed with rice and minced
meat).
Music and Dance
From Om Kalthoum to pop, from the Cairo Ballet to folk festivals, music and dance remain very
much present in the Egyptian soul and can be found throughout the country - in the cities, towns
and villages and even on the Nile cruise boats.
Music can be heard anywhere in Egypt. Classical Arabic music was represented by Om Kalthoum,
the most famous Arab singer of the twentieth century. Her long poems were the expression of
Arab identity. Despite her death in 1975, her presence is still strongly felt in the media. She is
most probably the only artist in history to have an entire radio station dedicated exclusively to her
music.
Pop music is very popular as the average population age has decreased. Egypt also provides the
best backing musicians, songwriters, production facilities and the biggest audiences in the Arab world.
Egypt is the only country in the Middle East with a residential classical ballet company - the Cairo
Ballet. Almost forty years ago, the Ministry of Culture invited Russian masters to train a new pool
of native ballerinas and dancers. Today, the Cairo Ballet boasts 150 full-time students, and is
gaining international plaudits for their progressive and inspiring work. Belly-dancing also gained credibility with the advent of cinema. It is still quite popular nowadays.
So is the "Tahtib" (stave) dance, performed by men.
Sufi dancing is more about spirituality and there's a Sufi troupe that performs regularly in Islamic Cairo.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 3 of 27 10/2007
Theatre
Theatre was at the heart of Egyptian culture long before the Greeks arrived and built their
classical auditoriums, including the theatre seating 10,000 spectators at Oxyrhynchos.
Nowadays, both classical and modern theatre, from the mainstream to the experimental edge, is
celebrated through international festivals. The highlight climax of the dramatic calendar is Cairo's
International Experimental Theatre Festival, bringing playwrights and performers from over 46 countries together.
Egypt was the first country in the Middle East and in Africa to have an Opera House. The first
Opera House was built in Egypt in 1869, with room for 2,000 opera lovers in its three theatres as
well as a museum, an art gallery and a music library. It is one of the Middle East's premier cultural venues.
Cinema
Egyptian cinema was the third largest industry in the world during the 1950's.
Yousef Chahine, known to most people as the Egyptian "Fellini", has had a very successful career
in cinema and was honoured at Cannes in 1997. His films, subtitled in English and in French, are present at international film festivals.
Literature
With a Nobel Prize for literature in 1988, Naguib Mahfouz shaped the nature of Arabic literature in
the twentieth century with his masterpiece "The Cairo Trilogy".
Egypt's women writers such as Nawal al-Saadawi, author of "Woman at Point Zero", or Ahdaf
Soueif, author of "The Map of Love", are enjoying more international success than the men.
Some famous western novels of Egypt are worth reading to feel the atmosphere of the country :
"The Alexandria Quartet" by Lawrence Durrell, "City of Gold" by Len Deighton (based on solid
research on Cairo) or "The Photographer's Wife" by Robert Sole (for details on nineteenth century Egypt).
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 4 of 27 10/2007
ETERNAL EGYPT
Even today, Egypt is still synonymous with the legends of the Ancient Egyptians. Names like
Ramses and Cleopatra, Tutankhamun and Nefertiti, echo through the art and literature of the
world's different cultures. The temples, the mummies and the pyramids, with their mysterious origins still fascinates school children, grown-ups, and even Egyptologists.
From their remarkably advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics and mummification to the
sleek beauty of their manuscripts, jewellery and monuments, the Great Pharaonic Kingdoms left a
vast and sophisticated legacy of mythology, arts and sciences over the course of 5,000 years, that still touch our modern lives.
Mummies
Religion was part of everyday life. The great enduring symbols and masterpieces of Ancient Egypt
were all part of an elaborate preparation for the journey which began after death. From Hollywood
blockbusters to oriental novelists and from classical verses to video games, the figure of the
mummy has fascinated audiences worldwide for centuries. Many modern embalming techniques and methods use the same processes perfected thousands of years ago.
Most mummies were found in the Valley of the Kings, the most renowned necropolis of them all.
Home to Tutankhamun's famous tomb as well as Seti I, Ramses the Great and Tuthmosis III, and
carved deep into the remote limestone hills at Thebes, the burial city for the Pharaohs of the New
Kingdom was designed to be inaccessible to robbers. Unfortunately, some robbers persevered,
lusting for gold and Lapiz Lazuli encrusted treasures. Luckily, a few tombs managed to escape
their attention and so treasures from Yuya, Taya and Tuthankhamun's tombs survived. Many of them can be seen in Cairo's famous museum of Egyptology today.
The Ancient Egyptians sophisticated knowledge of embalming is nothing short of astonishing.
Firstly, all of the internal organs were carefully removed, mummified and sealed in canopic jars,
but the heart was left inside the body, as Anubis, god of embalming, needed to weigh the dead
heart to judge its owners honesty.
A special combination of dehydrating salts known as natron was then left on the body for 40 days
to draw out all the moisture. Once dried, the mummy was anointed with oils to make it
watertight, and then rubbed with gum, cedar oil, wax and more natron. Stuffed with sawdust,
draped in funerary jewellery and bandaged in linen, the mummy was finally sealed in a succession
of coffins inside an ornately decorated sarcophagus.
Pharaohs
Tutankhamun, Ramses, Nefertiti… so many familiar names that evoke ancient Egypt at once. Over
more than 3,000 years and 30 dynasties, their social organisation has perpetuated one of the richest cultures in human history.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 5 of 27 10/2007
ANCIENT EGYPT
Names like Ramses, Cleopatra, Tutankhamun and Nefertiti, echo through the art and literature of
so many different cultures. Religion was the backbone of life in Ancient Egypt and mythology its
bloodline. Death and the afterlife were essential to Ancient Egyptian society.
5,000 years ago, the first Pharaoh, King Narmer, founded the world's first nation state, recording
it in the world's first written script. The pharaohs were not just kings or queens, they were gods
and they were worshipped as divine rulers. But they also commanded vast administrative armies, models of modern management and efficiency.
It was their sophisticated system of bureaucracy that enabled the construction of Egypt's greatest
monuments, the pyramids of course and also the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the great temples of Karnak, the ruins of Thebes not forgetting the Sphinx at Giza.
The relics of Ancient Egypt still survive to bear witness to the refinement and beauty of many golden ages.
Pyramids
Although the construction of the pyramids was only an episode in the long history of the
pharaohs, this period has left us some of the most impressive monuments that can be seen. Besides the three giants of Gizeh, more than 70 pyramids can be counted along the Nile.
Al Giza Pyramids
Guarded by the familiar lone lion-bodied Sphinx are the three Great Pyramids of Giza. Over 4,000
years ago, the mummified bodies of Kings Cheops, Kefren and Mykerinos were ferried down the
Nile to be buried and prepared for the journey to the afterlife within these massive monuments.
The largest, oldest and finest of all three is Cheop's Pyramid, simply known as the "Great
Pyramid". It was the tallest structure in the world until the end of the nineteenth century (145
meters). But Kefren's Pyramid, Cheop's son and successor, makes a bigger first impression. On
higher ground with its limestone cap still intact, it looks loftier even though it's 4 meters shorter.
The smallest of the three, Mykerinos' Pyramid, makes up for its size with its fine funerary and
valley temples.
Dahshur Pyramids
There were originally 11 pyramids at Dahshur, although only the two Old Kingdom Pyramids, the
Bent and the Red Pyramid, remain intact. Pharaoh Sneferu, father of Khufu and founder of the 4th
Dynasty, built Egypt's first real pyramid, the Red Pyramid, here. It is a quiet place where you will be able to enjoy the monuments in peace.
Saqqara Pyramids
Time has all but erased the once mighty Memphis from the Egyptian landscape, however, the city
of the dead has been excavated and exhumed from the desert sands, the vast necropolis of
Saqqara. Memphis is some 23km south of central Cairo, in the center of the floodplain on the
western side of the Nile. Memphis was traditionally founded in 3000 BC by Menes, the legendary figure credited with the creation of a politically unified Egypt.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 6 of 27 10/2007
Memphis served as the effective administrative capital of the country during the Old Kingdom and partly in later times.
It's eleven pyramids, countless mastabas and lone Coptic monastery stretch over 7km from north
to south, and span three and a half thousand years of Egyptian civilisation. At its centre sits King
Djoser's "Stepped" Pyramid, the very first pyramid and the first great stone structure in the world. North of the pyramid, inside a stone "serdab", sits the Ancient Pharaoh himself.
Saqqara also includes the Serapeum, represented by a life-sized sculpture of limestone, the
original of which is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and an astonishing collection of mummified
Apis bulls in gargantuan granite coffins. Of its eleven pyramids, King Teti boasts the best
preserved burial chamber, with pyramid text lined walls mapping out his journey to the afterlife.
The walls of Mereruka's multichambered maze-like tomb are covered with exquisite murals, showing scenes of everyday life.
Monuments
Most of the Egyptian monuments are from the pharaohic era, but are also complemented by
expressions of other cultures. Colossi and Sphinxes exist alongside amphitheatres, temples and
Greco-Roman columns. A history book open to the heavens …
The Great Sphinx (Giza)
Like the broken arms of the Venus de Milo, the Great Sphinx's long lost nose has made it all the
more iconic. Standing guard at the hallowed entrance to the Great Pyramids of Giza, the human-
headed, lion-bodied Sphinx is the oldest of all Egypt's superhuman stone sculptures. It is also the
most instantly recognizable. Originally hewn from a gigantic piece of limestone bedrock, it was
covered in plaster and paint in its youth. But the winds, waters and sands of the Giza Plateau
have taken their toll. Once upon a time, the Great Sphinx also wore a Pharaoh's royal beard. Part of it is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the other part is in the British Museum in London.
Though named by the Greeks after their riddle-loving mythological character, the Sphinx was
actually built by the Pharaoh Kefren in his own image.
The Valley of the Kings (Thebes)
Inconspicuous and unassuming, the Valley of the Kings hides its secrets well. The grand pyramids
of the earlier pharaohs proved too tempting to grave robbers, so from the eighteenth to twentieth
Dynasties, 26 pharaohs opted to build their tombs in the valley. Carving them deep into the
mountains, far from reach, Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great and Tuthmosis III's tombs lie in this single, sprawling necropolis.
There are interesting tombs to see in the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Nobles as
well.
Colossi of Memnon (Luxor)
These are the first ruins visible when arriving by ferry. They are the sole surviving remains of the
funerary temple of Amenhotep III which, according to recent discoveries, was more vast than the
complex of Karnak. Even with a great deal of imagination, it is difficult to picture.
The faceless giants stand in front of the first pylon with their backs to the mountain. They
represent the pharaoh’s sovereign majesty seated on his throne. The funerary complex, of which
nothing remains, was the biggest on the west bank.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 7 of 27 10/2007
The Ramesseum (Luxor)
The funerary temple of Ramesses II has lost much of its splendour over the centuries. Poets sang
of its glory in antiquity but the dream of self-glorification of Ramesses II, already responsible for
the construction of Abu Simbel, has not survived the passing of time or successive pillaging. The
broken columns and thorny trees create a romantic and moving sight particularly at sunrise when
the first rays brush the gigantic statue of Ramesses II lying in pieces in the ground. Calculations
indicate that the statue must have measured at least 17 m high and weighed around one
thousand tons.
Monuments of the Graeco-Roman era :
From Alexander the Great's grand entrance in 332 BC to Cleopatra's tragic exit when she
committed suicide in 30 BC, the Greeks thrust Egypt centre stage during their three-and-a-half century reign under the Ptolomeic Dynasty.
Not your average colonialists, the Ptolemaic rulers embraced the Egyptian culture and design,
continuing the great works of their predecessors. Their greatest legacy was Alexandria, the
glittering jewel of the ancient world. Its ancient library was a beacon of enlightenment and its now long gone Caesareum, an emblem of sophistication.
When Cleopatra finally chose death, Octavian brought Egypt into the Roman fold. Egypt was
relegated to being the Empire's bread basket. The Romans also built on the works of the Greeks,
staying true to native traditions until 394 AD. This is when Christianity ushered in the Coptic era
and Ancient Egypt was finally buried.
Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria
The Roman Amphitheatre was found buried, quite literally, under a pile of rubble ˜Kom-el-
Dikkah'. Unearthed beneath a Napoleonic era fort, it's the only known example of a typically circular Roman theatre in all of Egypt.
Pompey's Pillar
Majestic but solitary, Pompey's Pillar is a 25 meter column of solid red granite, from the bottom of
its Greek inscribed base to the top of its Romanesque capital. Surprisingly, Pompey's Pillar has nothing to do with its namesake. It was built in honour of the Emperor Diocletian in 292 AD.
The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa
Hewn in the bedrock of the mountains in the second century, Kom ash-Shuqqafa is the largest
burial place in Egypt with three underground storeys that accommodate over 300 bodies. The
lowest level is now submerged, but a spiralling staircase descends to the first two levels, complete
with banqueting hall (triclinium) for funerary feasts, and the principal tomb with its eclectic clash of Egyptian, Greek and Roman symbolism.
Temples
Life in Ancient Egypt revolved around religion. The pharaohs traced their ancestry back to the
gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Different pharaohs allied themselves to different cults, and the
elaborate temples they built cemented their own political status. With intricately painted walls,
vast colonnaded courts and columned hypostyle halls, the temples of Ancient Egypt are among its
greatest cultural triumphs.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 8 of 27 10/2007
The Temples of Abu Simbel (Nubia)
Of all the pharaohs, Ramses II was the most prolific builder of monuments and temples. Two of
his greatest temples, the Great Temple of Abu Simbel and its smaller cousin, the Temple of
Hathor are at Abu Simbel. Both temples originally sat some sixty metres below where you find
them today. They were part of a massive UNESCO operation to save Egypt's Great Temples from
Lake Nasser's rising waters. Embedded into the mountain itself, the temples had to be cut free from the rock and painstakingly dismantled and rebuilt.
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Thebes)
At the base of a lofty limestone mountain in the desert at Thebes nestles Queen Hatshepsut's
astonishing terraced temple. Hatshepsut was Egypt's greatest female Pharaoh. She fought off
male pretenders to her throne for over 20 prosperous and peaceful years. Partly embedded into the mountain itself, the temple is almost forty metres wide.
Its honeycomb colonnades pick up the natural lines and recesses of its mountainous backdrop.
Hatshepsut's temple is essentially an extension of Mentuhotep II's temple, though several times
its size. The two blend in so well together, they are indistinguishable from a distance.
The Temple of Luxor
Though Ramses II's triumphant twin statues stand sentry at its entrance, it was Amenhotep III who built the bewildering Temple of Luxor.
Over the years, several of Egypt's legendary rulers added to the glory of the Temple of Luxor,
from Tutankhamun to Alexander the Great.
The Temple of Karnak
The most important place of worship in all Egypt during Theban power. It was built, dismantled,
restored, enlarged and decorated by several pharaohs.
It's a complex of sanctuaries, obelisks and pylons, dedicated to the glory of the pharaohs. It's a
gigantic site : 1.5km by 800m. Impossible to describe, this immense monument has to be seen, to be believed.
From the entrance to the Amun Temple Enclosure you pass down the processional avenue of ram-
headed sphinxes that originally flanked a canal connecting the temple to the Nile.
The Temple of Horus (Edfu)
A very well preserved Egyptian temple, much newer than other temples. Its state of preservation
helps to fill some historical gaps. The sanctuary of Horus contains the granite shrine that once housed the gold cult statue of Horus.
The Temple of Amada (Nubia)
Saved from the waters of Lake Nasser and moved to higher, drier land, the Temple of Amada
boasts the most wonderfully preserved wall reliefs of the Nubian style. Dedicated to the gods of
the New Kingdom, Amun-Ra and Ra-Hor-Akhty, it was a collaborative effort between Tuthmosis
III and his son Amonhotep II. Ramses II also restored much of the temple that had suffered
under Akhenaten's rule.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 9 of 27 10/2007
The Temple of Dakka (Nubia)
It takes fifteen minutes to walk through the desert to these sites from Wadi es-Sebua. The
Temple of Dakka originally stood forty kilometres further north. Dedicated to Thot, god of wisdom,
its construction lasted from the reign of the Nubian pharaoh, Arkamani, in the third century BC to
that of Emperor Augustus. It is worth visiting in particular for its twelve-metre high pylon which
offers a striking view over the lake. Maharraqa, the smallest of the three temples, is interesting
for its spiral staircase, a rare feature in ancient Egypt.
The Temple of Isis (Aswan)
Small in scale, the temple was designed as an ode to Isis and the Nile, creator of all things.
Legend relates that Isis had chosen to live on the island to grieve for Osiris, her brother and
husband, murdered by Seth, and that it was on Philae that she found the heart of Osiris.
Construction of the temple and its surrounding buildings dates back to the first centuries AD. The
worship of Isis continued here until the closure of the temple in 537 and its transformation into a church.
The Temple of Hathor (Dendera)
The site of the Dendera temple may have been occupied since very ancient times but the temple
itself dates ―only‖ from the first century AD. Construction was started in the reign of Ptolemy IX
and was completed by the Roman emperors. The temple was dedicated to Hathor, goddess of celebration, music and love, and was absorbed into the cult of Aphrodite by the Greeks.
Kom Ombo Temples (Kom Ombo)
The Temple of Sobek and Haroeris is visible from and overlooks the Nile at a wide bend in the
river. Built during the Ptolemaic period, its stands on a rock rising out of the sands. It is unusual
in that it is in fact two temples – one devoted to the crocodile-god, Sobek, and the other to
Haroeris, the falcon-headed god (Horus the Great). The whole site is laid out along two parallel
axes.
The Temple of Khnum (Esna)
The temple of the ram-god, Khnum, has withstood the ravages of time. This may be because it
was buried beneath layers of silt deposited by successive Nile floods. The hypostyle hall is an
excellent example of Graeco-Roman architecture.
Museums
The most enduring images of Egypt are its pharaonic treasures and its history, such as the relics
and artefacts that live in Cairo's Egyptian Museum. But with a written history stretching back to
3,100 BC, at the time of Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic empires, every age and culture demands a museum of its own.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Sitting in the shadows of Cairo's modern town hall, the elegant coral-pink and copper-domed
Egyptian Museum strikes a gentle pose. The restrained neo-classical French exterior is little
preparation for the awesome array of treasures and ancient wonders that wait silently behind it's arched windows.
Stepping through the entrance into the grand central atrium, monumental statues tower overhead from the imposing Colossus of Amenhotep III to King Djoser's life-size sculpture.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 10 of 27 10/2007
The ground floor galleries take you on a trip through time, each room filled with the splendours of
a great kingdom. King Narmer's 5,000 year old palette is an item of major artistic and historical
importance.
Ancient Egypt's cultural wealth is also shown in many other artefacts that reveal the skill of
ancient artisans.
But it's the upper floor that holds the greatest allure. The Tutankhamun Galleries house over
1,700 items including Tutankhamun's famous tomb, discovered in the Valley of the Kings in West-
Thebes, opposite modern Luxor.
The Egyptian Museum is just simply unrivalled with over 136,000 items on display, not
mentioning the hundreds of thousands in the basement. These items date back to the very origins
of a united Egypt in 3,100 BC. The museum is renowned for holding the finest collection of
Egyptian antiquities in the world.
The Cairo Museum will be moved to a new giant location on Cairo-Alex road by 2008.
The Islamic Ceramic Museum
A harmonious hybrid of Turkish, Moroccan and Andalusian architecture, Prince Amr Ibrahim's
palace now houses the Museum of Islamic Ceramics amid the European-style villas and mansions
of riverside Zamalek.
Cluttered around the lobby, with its stained glass panels, central fountain and marble walls, are a
series of galleries dedicated to Fatimid, Ummayad, Ayyubid, Mamluk and Ottoman period
ceramics. The collections inside the galleries include exquisitely patterned plates and vases,
ancient oil lamps and detailed glazed tiles. The collection also includes fine examples from Syria, Persia, Andalusia, Tunisia and Iraq.
The Grand Museum (Giza)
Alongside the Great Pyramids, a new architectural marvel is waiting to rise from Giza's rippling
sands. With an estimated budget of over 500 million US dollars, the new Grand Museum will be a
technological innovation, with displays designed to be interactive and cyber-friendly.
Once completed, it will hold the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities in the world, dwarfing
even the Egyptian Museum with over 100,000 artefacts from the Coptic, Islamic, Graeco-Roman
and Pharaonic Dynasties.
The Graeco-Roman Museum (Alexandria)
Spanning from the fourth century BC to the seventh century AD, the objects and artefacts of the
Graeco-Roman museum show the slow but sure morphing of the Egyptian and Greek pantheons
into the cult of the god Serapis. Opened by Khedive Abbas Helmy II in the dwindling years of the
nineteenth century, the museum brings together over 40,000 items from ancient coins, portraits and statuary to archaeological excavations around Alexandria and the Fayoum Oasis.
The Nubia Museum (Aswan)
Nubian distinctive culture and artistic achievements.
Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil & his Wife's Museum (Giza)
Personal collection of paintings, sculptures and vases of nineteenth century Europe
The Coptic Museum (Old Cairo)
Relics from Egypt's early Christians.
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GIP4U_ Egypt and 7000 years of History 11 of 27 10/2007
EXCITING EGYPT
Diving in the Red Sea
Where could you meet an emperor, step aside for a pretty damsel, and dodge a surgeon’s scalpel?
Well, right here, of course… in the Red Sea! Although here, deep blue is the predominant colour.
Numerous new towns have sprung up around this sea, each promising fresh undersea adventures.
There’s the pioneering town of Hurghada, the unmissable Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, now enjoying
its golden age, Safaga, El Gouna with its almost Venetian townscape, and Marsa Alam with its
quiet dive camps.
Any historian will tell you that it’s fascinating to take a plunge into the Red Sea’s past. Moses
called it the ―Sea of Reeds‖, Ferdinand de Lesseps connected it to the Mediterranean Sea, and
Moshe Dayan’s victorious soldiers bathed in it… what diver would not jump at every chance to dip
and wiggle their flippers in its waters?
The Sea has been a highway of communication for many centuries, and was a source of
fascination for Henry de Monfreid, the adventure loving ―pirate‖, and much later, the legendary
and pioneering couple Hans and Lotte Hass perfected the art of underwater photography here. In
their wake came Cousteau who, somewhat controversially, introduced all the thrills and
excitement of its depths to the general public: reef fishes and precious corals, pelagics and
nudibranchs, spectacular shipwrecks and fascinating archaeological sites. Nowadays, the Red Sea
can pride itself on a more eco-friendly approach. There are conservation measures –
consequently, divers are now fined if they break the rules. Divers have readily taken these
changes on board, and their continued support for the region has turned the Egyptian ―aquarium‖
into one of the finest scuba diving regions in the world. So, don your masks, slip into your
flippers, and take the plunge!
Geography, Fauna and Flora
The Red Sea is an enormous basin, 2350km (≈1400 miles) long by about 350km (≈220 miles)
broad at its widest point, enclosed to the north by the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, and at its
southernmost point the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is hundreds of metres deep. The sea is has a
truly unique ecosystem, surrounded as it is, by red-hued bauxite mountains that some believe to
be the origin of the name Mare Rostrum – the Red Sea. It was formed 25 million years ago by the
separation of the African Continent from the Arabian Peninsula. It is distinguished by the volcanic
activity in its shallows, its regular currents, the small tidal range, a salt content of 4.1% (the
world’s seas average 3.2%), and a water temperature that drops only slightly in its depths.
The Red Sea has been a commercial highway between the East and the West since classical
antiquity. Boats departed loaded with copper, pottery, and cloths to return laden with silks,
spices, wood, and even elephants. The cutting of the Suez Canal in 1869 boosted and encouraged
a tradition of many centuries of sailing, interspersed with shipwrecks and piratry. Today the Sea is
an essential destination for divers the world over.
Over 250 species of coral exist in the Red Sea, 8% of which are endemic. The organism is made
up of ―heads‖ of polyps.
Half animal and half vegetable, the corals have invaded the reefs like an army of builders. When a
colony dies, another starts building on its calcareous skeleton… But this activity can be misleading
as, depending on the species, it only grows at a rate of a few millimetres or centimetres per year
– so it takes thousands of years for the coral to carpet the seafloor and model out the relief.
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With 1248 species, of which 17% are endemic, the Red Sea is like a magnificent aquarium, and its
reefs are a haven for many species of fish. Some use them to hide from predators, others lay
their eggs there, and for most the reefs are their feeding grounds.
FATAL ATTRACTION
There is a seemingly infinite aquatic palette of shapes, colours, spots, and stripes. But great care
must be taken – it is forbidden to touch these creatures, and some of them can be dangerous. So,
keep your hands out of harm’s way and concentrate on controlling your buoyancy instead!
THE PREDATORS
Although they are rarely aggressive in the Red Sea, it must always be remembered that sharks
are predators. Resist the temptation to provoke a reaction from reef and whitetip sharks, which
are known for their curiosity and timidity, and the nurse sharks that skim the seafloor. The vast
majority of sharks are found away from the reefs, like the curiously shaped hammerhead shark,
or the leopard shark, with the same spots as his terrestrial counterpart, and less frequently you
can encounter the oceanic whitetip shark (Longimanus) and the whale shark, the real colossi of
the seas.
UNDERSEA LIFE AROUND THE WRECKS
The wrecks provide the ideal environment for a whole range of different organisms: alcyonarians,
fan corals, and stony corals can transform the rustiest of hulls into a wonderful garden that is
home to shellfish, molluscs, parrotfish, and also morays, lionfish, and crocodilefish. But, the star
of the wrecks is undoubtedly the grouper, the ever-present guardian of sunken ships.
A MULTICOLOURED WORLD
Are you a diver who is thirsting to find a solemate in the blue? Well, to help you out a little, here
is a list of the main inhabitants in the Red Sea.
NUWEIBA
This is one of the greatest oases of the South and an excellent way of getting to Aqaba, in Jordan.
The gold-tinged white sandy shores of Nuweiba, which means ―bubbling springs‖ in Arabic, are
one hour’s drive north of Dahab.
This is a shore dive, though some of the sites need to be accessed by camel! There is an
abundance of fauna around the reefs that are rich in soft coral with a backdrop of drop-offs and
canyons. This area is an excellent place for snorkelling and for beginners.
DAHAB
Situated ninety-five kilometres from Sharm el-Sheikh, the village has a view out to the Gulf of
Aqaba and the mountains of Saudi Arabia beyond. Dahab is, in fact, known for its steep drop-offs.
Blue Hole and the Canyon are, nevertheless, only for experienced divers.
Dahab remains a relatively unexplored place and offers, within a twenty kilometre radius, diving
sites that are accessible in 4x4s or by camel. Steep drop-offs, caverns, and coral gardens are all
only a few metres from the coast. The area is also an ideal spot for snorkelling.
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SHARM EL-SHEIKH
At the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Suez. Located 28km away
from the reserve of Ras Mohammed, the ―village‖ has attracted and continues to attract many
visitors, most of them divers.
And, every morning, the same ritual takes place ― the divers, equipped with flippers, computers
and cameras, pour out of their hotels and converge by minibus on the Travco Marina to board one
of the many diving boats. They spend the day at the coastal sites, the Strait of Tiran, or the
Natural Park of Ras Mohammed ― a two-dive programme with an on-board lunch.
Underwater
Steep drop-offs, multicoloured reefs, and an abundance of fauna ― all right on the coast! Whilst
the closest sites are extremely popular and within the reach of beginners, those of the Straits of
Tiran and Gubal, and Ras Mohammed Reserve are for more experienced divers.
When they created Ras Mohammed National Park in 1989, the authorities took steps to protect
the environment and, by controlling the diving, they limited access to this endangered area. So
there is a fee per diver per day and an entry fee per person for Ras Mohammed Reserve.
Pleasure Cruise
You can also discover the finest sports in the Sinai by departing from Sharm el-Sheikh on a
week’s cruise that combines the reefs of the Strait of Tiran, the drop-offs and fauna of Ras
Mohammed, with shipwrecks off the Strait of Gubal, including the Thistlegorm and the Rosalie-
Moller. Programmes will vary, of course, according to the weather conditions and the divers’
experience. This voyage has something for everyone, and is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the
pleasures of a dive cruise. Even the most demanding – and experienced – of divers will love this
experience!
Sailing conditions are always pleasant, because there is no swell, and the diving programmes all
take place at carefully selected and exceptional sites ― there are magical underwater reliefs,
numerous shoals of fish, splendid growths of coral, and exhilarating encounters with the large
pelagic species.
The Egyptian Coast and the Northern Cruises
EL GOUNA
El Gouna is a striking place. Situated south of the Gulf of Suez and 21km north of Hurghada, it is
the realization of Samih Sawiris's dream ― an Egyptian business man, who is famous for both his
fortune and his discretion. Welcome to the most stylish diving station on the continental coast!
Underwater
There are superb and varied dives, comprising drop-offs, coloured coral reefs rich in marine fauna
– there are dives for people of all levels. El Gouna’s position makes it an ideal place for visiting the
famous shipwrecks in the Red Sea, the numerous sites of the North and those of Hurghada.
HURGHADA It is now difficult to imagine that in the 1970s, Hurghada was only a small fishing village. It was
promoted by President Sadat, who saw its potential as an excellent tourist site, and has now
become the best resort on the Red Sea's western coast.
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Underwater
Most of the sites require a 1/2-hour to 1-hour boat trip. This means that the trips generally take a
day and comprise a two-part dive with a lunch break. From Hurghada, it only takes a few hours to
reach the Gubal islands, and the reefs of Shaab Abu Nuhas with their shipwreck cemetery.
Diving over the coral reefs, which have unfortunately been damaged, is like visiting a giant
coloured aquarium. They are doubly interesting in that they are not particularly deep and they are
very rich in fauna – this is a real godsend for novice divers and snorkellers. There is the additional
advantage that the large pelagic fishes do not really come to this site.
The result is plain to see – the reef species have flourished here! The region has suffered heavily
from the intensive anchoring by diving boats. These days the dive centres that are regrouped
around the HEPCA, do everything they can to preserve the integrity of these sites. Important: all
divers must pay the local fee and an entry fee for the Giftun Islands Park.
THE NORTHERN CRUISES
If you go on a northern cruise, usually from Hurghada, you will be able to dive right into the
history of the Red Sea, and you will be guaranteed dives in places that are very rarely visited.
Because these sites are relatively far away, they are rarely programmed as places for day trips.
It is also one of the best ways to explore the legendary shipwrecks the Giannis D, the Carnatic,
the Chrisoula K and, of course, the Thistlegorm that was wrecked on the reef of Shaab Ali and,
less frequently, the Rosalie-Moller.
These sites are suitable for novice divers with around twenty hours’ diving experience, but this is
just an indication — only the boat’s skipper and the supervising diver can decide on the diving
sites, depending on the weather conditions and the divers’ experience.
The South and the Southern Cruises
SAFAGA
60km south of Hurghada. Safaga serves as a gateway to southern Egypt, and still continues to
operate as a small busy port. The area is, in fact, famous for its phosphate and bauxite mines.
Many pilgrims sail for Mecca from this port. Some call it the ―new Mecca for divers‖, but Safaga
does not receive as many visitors as Hurghada, and is less isolated than Quseir.
The city is divided into two main areas – the north, with its beautiful beaches lined with hotels and
a marina where diving boats leave for the sea; and the south, which with its small and typically
unpretentious shops, remains very much a part of the old city. You can get around on foot or use
the minibus.
Underwater
The area boasts 80 dives located in 20 different sites. The drop-offs and many masses of coral are
home to a fauna and flora that is as rich as it is colourful. Add excellent visibility and generally
weak tidal currents, and you can be assured an excellent stay!
There are very few clubs, which means that they use the same anchor buoys. Remember: all
divers have to pay a local environmental protection fee at their club.
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EL QUSEIR 83km from Safaga. It will take you about two and a half hours to travel the 150km between
Hurghada and Quseir. Nestled in a cove, this village is bustling with activity and people who have
managed to maintain their traditional way of life. It is from this port, one of the oldest in the Red
Sea, that Queen Hatchepsut launched her expedition to the Land of Punt (Abyssinia).
The carvings on her funeral temple tell the story of her adventures. This large commercial port,
which used to ship marble, granite and even emeralds and corn from Upper Egypt, has now been
abandoned in favour of the Suez Canal.
Today, like Safaga, it is mainly used by pilgrims travelling to Mecca and some diving cruise ships.
There is also a fortress at Quseir, built in the 16th century by Sultan Selim, which still seems to
watch over the old houses with their wooden balconies.
Underwater The reefs at Quseir have the distinctive feature of being close to the coast and within a radius of
30km – polychromatic coral, cathedrals of coral, and plentiful fauna… you will find everything here
and the currents are weak. You can enter the water directly from the shore, and the sites are
accessible with a 4x4, and sometimes by boat.
The main characteristics of these dives are the varied relief of the sites, an abundance of marine
life, and incredible fringing reefs. Moreover, the sites are not overused. There are 15 sites at
distances of between 20-minute and 1½-hour boat trips. Quseir has also become a departure
point for cruise ships sailing in the south of the Red Sea.
MARSA ALAM 240km from Hurghada. Marsa Alam is located between Quseir and Ras Banas, and is a 4-hour
drive away from Hurghada. It is part of a nature reserve that stretches to Jibal Alba.
This village with its stone quay, known for its fishing, now also attracts divers. The sites, with
their plentiful coral reefs, are still relatively quiet as they are not visited by many divers.
Underwater
There are many bays, and each one is different. But all of them have wonderful fringing reefs that
are rich in coral and fauna. You dive in at the beach (House Reef), where the bays sink down
gradually into the water to depths of between 10 and 40m, or cross the reef flat. There are always
plenty of playful dolphins in the area and numerous face-to-face encounters with turtles and
Napoleon fish. The coral is intact and the visibility excellent. There is an entry fee to enter the
Shaab Samadai site.
Camping
With so much outstanding natural and man-made scenery to explore and such a welcoming climate, camping is a great way to see Egypt on your own.
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You can spend your nights beneath the starlit skies of the Western Desert and then explore its
lush oases : the Bahariya, the Farafra and the Dakhla, during the day. Or, if you're a die-hard
explorer, you can brave the remote, rippling sandscapes of Great Sand Sea with its cool nights
and spectacular views. The Nile is also a good place to pitch your tent in the shadows of the Pyramids.
Make sure you're fully stocked up on all the essentials, especially water.
Trekking
Whether you're looking for mountains to climb or plains to trek, sands to stroll or oases to
explore, Egypt's astonishing diversity of natural terrains and landscapes are the perfect
ingredients for some truly memorable trekking.
The lush, green oases of the Western Desert : Bahariya, Farafra and Dakhla, are packed to the
gills with historical gems from the Pharaonic, Graeco-Roman and Islamic Dynasties.
If you're looking for open sands, the Great Sand Sea might be more your cup of tea. But if
you're after a rockier ride, the mountainous peaks of the Sinai Peninsula or Jebel Uweinet are the best places to go.
Test all your equipment before setting off.
Trekking locations :
You can trek almost anywhere you like. If you're looking for some culture along the way, the
oases Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Siwa are your best options. There are endless sandscapes in
the Western and Eastern Deserts and in the Great Sand Sea on the Sahara. There are also
mountains at Jebel Uweinat and at Sinai Peninsula.
Bird watching
In Egypt you can combine bird watching with sightseeing as birds have always played important
roles in both the secular and sacred spheres of Egyptian culture. Falcon, hawk and vulture-headed
gods, the splendid frieze of the 'Medium Geese' and the heron-like Bennu bird (the Egyptian
correspondence to the phoenix, a mythical sacred firebird), are only a few of over 76 bird species
that can be identified in many other wall paintings, reliefs and artefacts.
Amateur ornithologists have been searching the skies for well over a century. With
improved environmental protection and conservation, Egypt's national parks are a delight
for budding bird watchers. Over 150 indigenous species of birds live all year round in Egypt and another 280 migrate from their winter homes to the Nile's fertile banks.
From the herons and flamingos of Lake Bardawil to the blue-cheeked bea eaters of Wadi Natrun,
and from the songbirds and sunbirds of the lush Nile Valley to the ospreys and eagles of the Ras
Mohammed National Park, there are endless opportunities for bird watching all along the Nile, the Suez, the Red Sea coast and Egypt's great lakes and oases.
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Windsurfing
With their minor swells, glorious sunshine and winds that regularly reach 30 knots, the Egyptian
seas boast perfect conditions for windsurfing in some truly idyllic settings. Whether you're a first-
timer or a full-blown fanatic, there are sites and schools everywhere to suit your level of
experience. Just a couple of hours from Cairo, Ras Sudr has a growing reputation as one of the
world's top windsurfing destinations, with its steady climatic conditions as well as its famous
dolphins that frolic beside you in the water.
Windsurfing locations :
The Bay of Masbat and Moon Beach on the Sinai Peninsula have the best conditions for
windsurfing. Dahab and El Tur have some of the best conditions too. Other good spots include
Safaga and Hurghada on the mainland Red Sea coast, especially Makadi Bay.
Sailing
Nothing beats the exhilaration of catching the wind in the sails of your very own felucca. It's the
most private, personal way to enjoy Egypt's calm saltwater lakes and seas. Whether on your own
or with a few good friends, you can go sailing down almost all of Egypt's major waterways, including the clear, warm Red and Mediterranean seas and the majority of its myriad lakes.
Sailing locations :
Many of the most popular sailing spots are on the Red Sea coast : Hurghada or El Gouna on the
mainland, or Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula. There are several specialist
sailing schools and rental centres at Sharm and around Alexandria, on the Mediterranean coast.
Fishing
The Nile does not only have stunning scenery, it is also the natural habitat for some of the biggest
freshwater fish in the world and is famous for its gargantuan, 200 pound perch. From Lake
Nasser's tiger fish and vundi catfish to Lake Tilapia's bread and butter fish, there are endless
places to cast off for your catch of the day.
As well as it's freshwater lakes and rivers, the salty Red Sea is teeming with big game. Every
year, Hurghada plays host to an international fishing tournament, attracting off season fisherman from all over the world, in search of their own prize specimens.
Yachting
With new marinas springing up all over the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt's quickly growing into a major
regional hub for yachting. So if a cramped felucca or crowded cruise aren't quite your scene, you
can yacht your way down the Nile, the Red Sea or the Mediterranean in full-blown, five-star
luxury. Whether you're after a single day trip or several days of rest and relaxation, there are flexible itineraries enabling you to plan your time as you wish.
Yachting locations :
The best places for yachting are on the Red Sea. Yachts are available in Sharm el-Sheikh and
Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula. Hurghada and El Gouna are also great spots if you are on the
mainland. And there are other locations all along the Mediterranean coast and along the Nile.
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Snorkelling
Egypt's underwater seascapes of technicolour coral reefs and tropical fish are seen at their best
close-up, but you don't have to be a diver to sample the spectacular view. Snorkelling is a safe,
simple alternative if diving is a bit too daunting. You don't need bulky equipment or much instruction and you can go virtually anywhere.
Snorkelling locations :
You can go snorkelling almost anywhere you find a hospitable stretch of water. All the best views
are along the Red Sea coast, in Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab on the Sinai Peninsula or Hurghada
and El Gouna on the mainland.
NILE CRUISES
It's also one of the most relaxing and luxurious ways to take in a great many of the major cultural
landmarks and sites.
Long ago, Egypt's green and fertile savannahs turned into barren, sandy deserts, obliging its
inhabitants to leave. And so they clustered around coasts and waterways, from the Nile's fertile
banks to the Red Sea and Mediterranean coast.
Long cruises
If you have time, it's well worth taking a longer cruise to really soak up the atmosphere and take
things in at a more leisurely pace. A long cruise gives you the chance to make stop-overs along
the way and so you can spend time fully exploring all of the great monuments and temples, and do them the justice that they deserve.
On one of the 300 Nile Cruisers, you can retrace the same routes as Egypt's great kings and
queens. You can opt to set sail from Luxor to Aswan, passing the great Pharaonic temples of Esna,
Edfu and Kom Ombo. Or maybe you'd rather head for Luxor's west bank, where Ramses the Great
recorded his military campaigns on the walls of its temples. Or even the Valley of the Kings, where the legendary Pharaohs of the New Kingdom built their hidden hillside tombs.
Short cruises
If you don't have days on end to glide slowly along the Nile's waters, there are short half-day or
one-day cruises available, for sightseeing and spectacular views. As you sail along, your
knowledgeable guide is on hand to point out the highlights and satisfy your cultural curiosity. You can take a short cruise down the Nile from practically any beach.
The coptic church
Most people associate Egypt with Islam today, but Christianity was actually the dominant religion
between the fourth century AD and 641 AD, when Islam officially took over. St. Mark first
preached Christianity in 50 AD, and Egypt was one of the first countries to adopt the still young
faith.
The Egyptian branch of Christianity is called the Coptic Church. Unlike other branches of
Christianity, the Coptics believe that Christ was a wholly divine being and not God made flesh.
One in every ten Egyptians is a Coptic today. The Coptic Church has its own Pope, and many
ceremonies are still held in the ancient Coptic language.
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The Holy Family's Journey
If you know the bible well, you'll remember that Jesus and the Holy family fled from Bethlehem to
Egypt, seeking refuge from a bloodthirsty King Herod. They made an arduous 2,000km trek by
donkey over four years which took them over 30 different places in Egypt, from Al-Farma down to the Al-Muharraq monastery.
Needless to say, the Holy Family's Journey is an extremely important event in the Coptic tradition,
and they celebrate Jesus' arrival in Egypt every year on June 1st (the 24th day of the Coptic month Bashans).
Coptic Monuments
Alexandria was once one of the major seats of the Roman Empire and many beautiful Coptic monuments record the great triumphs of those years of glory.
Virgin's Tree
Many places are named in honour of the Virgin Mary, but the Virgin's tree is one of very few to
have been visited by Mary herself with young Jesus by her side.
They're thought to have taken shelter beneath the tree's bowed branches, refreshing themselves
from the same spring that waters its old roots.
Al-Muallaqa (Hanging) Church
Dating the al-Muallaqa church definitively has proven difficult due to its various makeovers
throughout the years, but it was completed sometime between the seventh and ninth century on
top of what was the Water Gate on the southern wall of the fortress of Babylon. In fact, the gate
is still visible through a hole in the baptistery's floor.
The church's two bell towers soar to an awe-inspiring 13m at their highest peak. Beneath its
hallowed vaulted ceilings, the major events of the Coptic calendar are celebrated to a spectacular
effect. During the Enthronement of the Patriarch, its impressive collection of censers, chalices and
crosses in gold, silver and gilt go on full display.
Saint Catherine's Monastery
It was at the top of Mt Sinai that Moses received the ten commandments from God. At its base,
besides what is rumoured to be the burning bush of biblical fame, is the Greek Orthodox
Monastery of Saint Catherine.
The monastery was named after an early Christian martyr from Alexandria and the Emperor
Justinian had a basilica built to house her recovered remains many centuries later. Today, the
church is lined with spectacularly ornate icons and scriptural paintings. Its monastery museum is
home to the world's second largest collection of illuminated manuscripts in Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, Coptic and Georgian.
Church of Mar Guirguis (St George)
Not to be confused with England's dragon-slaying hero, Mar Guirguis was an early martyr from
Palestine, put to death by the Romans in the fourth century. The first church to bear his name
was built some six centuries later.
The elegant circular domed church you see today stands on its fire-ravaged remains, built at the
turn of the twentieth century. Inside, the church is bathed in the magnificent multicoloured glow of its striking stained glass windows.
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The Coptic Museum (Old Cairo)
Just approaching it's first century, the Coptic Museum in Cairo is a treasure trove of relics from
Egypt's early Christians, where you can find : scraps of painted textiles, manuscripts and icons,
frescoes and carvings in wood, ivory, glass and stone.
Behind its understated scallop-shell archways, the 13 halls of the old wing are currently
undergoing a massive face-lift. However, the 17 halls of the new wing house the bulk of the
exhibits and an enclosed garden.
Church of Abu Serga (St Sergius)
Built on the site where the Holy Family is said to have taken refuge on the flight into Egypt.
Church of St Barbara The church supposedly holds the relics of the saint.
Church of Abu Mina (St Mena)
Church of Abu Sefein (St Macarius)
Islamic monuments
In 642 AD, the Byzantine Empire (the empire that introduced Christianity to Europe) was
conquered by an army of Arabs and Egypt became part of an expanding Islamic Empire. Islam
became the dominant religion and it's stayed that way ever since. Today, nine out of ten Egyptians are Muslim.
A new capital was established at Fustat, the first Islamic city of Egypt (modern day Cairo). When
the Fatimids invaded in 969 AD, they built a new seat of power and Fustat became al-Qahirah (the
official name of the city of Cairo). Only traces of their legacy survive to this day. It was the
legendary Saladin who finally vanquished the Fatimids in the twelfth century and he built the magnificent Citadel as we know it today.
Regarding the Fatimids, the Mamluks and the Ottomans, each dynasty left its own unique mark
through elegant domed mosques, "Madrassas" and mausoleums, with slender, soaring minarets.
Well over a millennium of uninterrupted Islamism, Egypt has a wealth of architectural, historical and religious mosques and these are just a few of the 'must-see' across the country.
The Citadel (Cairo)
The seat of Egypt's power and the lifeblood of Cairo for seven centuries, the Citadel was Saladin's creation of an imperial Islamic complex with unrivalled views over the medieval city.
Partly a palace, partly an inaccessible fortress, the Citadel is split into three different sections
inside its tremendous walls. Though entirely Islamic, its myriad mosques and palaces were shaped by different kingdoms.
The Ottomans rebuilt the Citadel in their own image. Mohammed Ali's nineteenth century typically
Turkish Mosque dominates the entire city. Its bubble-like domes loom over the modern city
skyline. The Mosque of an-Nasr Mohammed, with its towering spiral minarets, is the only of
Mamluk's fine buildings to survive the Ottoman's demolition derby.
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Today, the Citadel's grand palaces have been given a new lease of life to their medieval masters as modern museums.
Mosque of Amr Ibn al-As
It was Amr Ibn al-As who brought Islam to Egypt, and his namesake was Egypt's first ever
mosque. In fact, it's the oldest mosque in Africa, as well as one of the most unconventional.
The original mosque was rather rudimentary, rumoured to be built of mud bricks, palm trunks and
leaves. What you see today is the result of endless re-invention. Most striking is the conspicuous
absence of the usual minaret or domed roof. With its rectangular figure, clean lines and eclectic clash of styles, it looks as different to the average mosque today as it must have then.
Al-Azhar Mosque
It was the Fatimids of Tunisia who built the Al-Azhar Mosque in 970 AD, with its myriad minarets
and assortment of domes. The modern day mosque has evolved architecturally over many
centuries.
But its purpose and status remain unchanged as It is still the epicentre of study and teaching for
Egypt's Sunni Muslims to this day. Al-Azhar's Mosque is not just a religious school, it is a fully
fledged academic institution, the equivalent of the Ancient Greek academies only older. Lectures no longer happen in the mosque itself, but it is still the official home of the university.
Mohammed Ali Mosque
No, not that Mohammed Ali, this Mohammed Ali ushered in Egypt's modern age. Now the finest
jewel in Cairo's fantastic Citadel and an unmissable part of the city skyline, this is a modern
mosque, in honour of a thoroughly modern man.
Designed in the grand Ottoman style by a Greek architect, the construction of the alabaster began
in 1830. It opened its sacred door 27 years later. Its needle-like minarets pierce the clouds at a
dizzying 270 feet.
The Blue Mosque (The Aqsunqur Mosque)
The Blue Mosque gets its name from its most spectacular feature, a blue mosaic of majolica tiles
that cover the eastern wall. The Blue Mosque is a Mamluk monument, commissioned by Prince
Aqsunqur al-Nassery in 1347. It's also renowned for its unorthodox 4 storey minaret, its magnificent marble mihrab, and its vine leaf and grape patterned Minbar (pulpit).
Mosque of Sultan Hassan (Cairo)
Standing at the foot of the Citadel, this building (1356-1362) is a perfect example of Mameluk
architecture – austere and imposing outside, curving and spacious inside. The Rifai Mosque
opposite, where kings Farouk and Fouad and the Shah of Iran are buried, is merely a showy
pastiche constructed at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Mausoleum of Aga Khan (Aswan)
The Mausoleum of the Agha Khan, an austere and isolated building, overlooks the river. The
tomb’s architecture was inspired by that of the Cairo Fatimids and it was built at the request of
the begum, wife of the forty-eighth imam of the Ismaili sect of Islam, who died in 1957. The
begum still has her house below and closed the mausoleum to the public in 1997 to allow the
deceased to rest in peace away from the bustle of the living.
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Mosque of Al-Muayyad (Cairo)
Two beautiful minarets which can be climbed for a beautiful view of the city.
Al-Refai Mosque (Cairo)
The Rifai Mosque, where kings Farouk and Fouad and the Shah of Iran are buried, is located in
Salah Al-Din square at the Citadel north of Sultan Hassan mosque.
Mosque of Qaitbay (Cairo)
Anyone keen on Mameluk architecture will want to visit the two mausoleums of Qaitbay and
Barkuk in the northern part of the necropolis (El-Khalifa).
BEACHES
The Mediterranean offers stunning azure water and you'll find Egyptians flocking to its beautiful
beaches.
Along the coastline between Sallum and Alexandria you can still find quiet places such as Sidi
Abdel Rahman, an unspoilt beauty spot west of El Alamein.
If diving in turquoise waters and discovering exotic creatures of the deep is your goal, choose the
Red Sea Coast. It stretches for more than 800 km from Suez in the north to the village of
Shalatein, near the border of Sudan.
Mediterranean beaches
Since the 1990s, the coast west of Alexandria has offered a wide range of seaside resorts. Tourist
complexes include sports and shopping centres and, in some cases, marinas. In summer the
climate here is gentler than on the Red Sea and the wonderful white sandy beaches attract many
holidaymakers. As elsewhere in Egypt, natural beauty and archaeological remains are found side-
by-side offering the possibility of multi-interest holidays.
Mariut
15 km west of Alexandria. The region’s climate is ideal for spa tourism and relaxation. In addition
to Lake Mariut, there are the extensive remains of the early Christian city of Abu Mena.
Agami
25 km west of Alexandria. Now the meeting-place for the jet set, the village of Agami has been
nicknamed the "Egyptian Saint-Tropez‖ and fashionable restaurants, nightclubs, luxury cars and
villas abound. Swimming is only possible from private beaches such as Bianci Beach.
Abu Sir
50 km west of Alexandria. Abu Sir is the name given by the Bedouins to the ancient Ptolemaic city
of Taposiris Magna. All that remains of the city today is the 30m-high lighthouse, a quarter-sized
replica of the one which stood at Alexandria. There are three lovely beaches nearby.
Borg el-Arab
60 km west of Alexandria.
A new town founded by President Mubarak in 1988, Borg el-Arab has become a prestigious
destination thanks to the arrival of the Hilton Hotel. The beach is perfect for water sports and an
ideal playground for children.
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Sidi Abdel Rahman
125 km from Alexandria.
This wonderful bay is one of the best-kept secrets of the whole coast. The village has managed to
preserve its traditional Bedouin way of life and remains relatively underdeveloped, guaranteeing
an air of authenticity. Today only the El-Alamein Hotel caters for visitors seeking out pristine,
family beaches.
Red Sea beaches
With its enchanting technicolour coral reefs, the Red Sea Riviera has seduced divers and
snorkellers for decades. But its sun-drenched, powdery sands and lively resorts are tempting
enough by themselves.
From the earthy buzz of Hurghada on the western coast to the sophisticated charms of Sharm el-
Sheikh on the mountainous Sinai Peninsula, there's a Red Sea resort to suit sun seekers, culture
vultures, amateur archaeologists and even ardent adventurers.
When you've lounged around on its silvery sands and soaked up enough sun, there's plenty to
explore just beyond Sharm el-Sheik. Ras Mohammed National Park is for nature lovers with its
majestic birds, graceful gazelles and striped and spotted fish.
And, St. Catherine's Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai is just a short trip away. It's an absolute
must for history buffs.
GOLF
Picture yourself teeing off in the shadow of the Great Pyramids and the thoroughly modern
decadence of Cairo's Mirage City, with the Alexandria Sporting Club's colourful exotic birds flying
overhead and greens set against stunning landscapes, ancient monuments and luxurious hotels.
Where better to perfect your swing than on Egypt's fine fairways.
From Cairo to Luxor, every area has its own flagship courses. The worlds greatest golfers have
designed their own custom courses from Gary Player to Arthur Davis.
And with rain being rare, you don't have to worry about getting soaked before you've reached the
18th hole !
SAFARI
Experienced guides take their visitors to Bedouin encampments to discover the nomadic culture.
Invariably there is an invitation to take tea and share the fruits of the oasis.
When on safari, it is possible to observe the species which have adapted to the difficult climatic
conditions. Among them are the Agama, a lizard in a bright variety of colours, the small Dorcas
Gazelle, which bounds along at up to 80 km/hr, and the wild ass. The desert is also home to a
wide range of plants, some of which have therapeutic properties.
Whilst 4 x 4s have gradually replaced the caravans of camels, the latter make any voyage of
discovery more relaxed and offer the ideal mode of transport for an outing at sunset. After
nightfall, a Bedouin-style barbecue under the stars provides the perfect end to the day.
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Two regions of Egypt are particularly suited to safaris:
- To the west of the Nile, the Western Desert contains numerous oases. Scattered in a wide arc
like islands in an ocean of sand, the oases are accessible from Cairo and Luxor. In both cases, a
week is needed for exploring these desert wonders and, in particular, visiting the Dakhla Oasis
where the inhabitants have preserved their traditional settlement. The White Desert with its
astonishing limestone formations and the Black Desert with its black, pyramidal hills are another
two stopover sites en route.
- The desert on the Sinai Peninsula adds a spiritual dimension to the rich array of landscapes in
this region. At the summit of Mount Moses (Mount Sinai) or in the coloured canyon close to
Nuweiba, the atmosphere of serenity can be experienced to the full. A safari to south Sinai is not
complete without a visit to the biggest of the region’s oases, Wadi Feiran.
Jeep safaris
Jeep safaris offer the excitement of rough riding over the desert with all the mod cons like air
conditioning. There's plenty of culture to soak up too, on either a half or a full day outing. With
your trained guide, you'll visit typical Bedouin camps and experience their unique nomadic culture
for yourself.
You'll also get the chance to go camel riding into the sunset, before sitting down to a candlelit
barbecue dinner beneath the stars.
Full day safaris
Most jeep tours offer full day safaris. With a full action packed itinerary, you'll get the chance to
go dune bashing and sand surfing. Like snowboarding, but in powdery sands instead of snow,
you'll hike to the top of a sandy ridge before strapping on your board and swooshing your way
down to the bottom. After a day of action and adventure, you'll sit down to dinner beneath the
stars. For the full experience, look for a camp with traditional food and belly-dancers.
Quad Bike Safaris
Fancy putting yourself in the driver's seat ? Grab a qualified guide, jump onto a quad bike and get
ready to go tearing across the desert sands. Sand biking offers enough challenge for even the
most seasoned pro's.
Overnight Camel Safaris
For the most authentic desert experience, there's no substitute for an overnight camel trek.
See the shifting colours of the sky and sand as the sun sets and rises and as the moonlight casts
its night-time glow. Surrounded by sandscapes that seem to stretch to the horizon, it's a
humbling and moving experience, not just a physical journey but a spiritual one too.
AFTER SUNSET
Egypt isn't just for beach bunnies and culture vultures. Once the sun goes down, Egypt's lively
resorts spring into life with bars and night-clubs, discotheques and casinos, all open from
sundown to sunrise or even 24 hours a day. Cosmopolitan Cairo has the lions share of night-clubs
and bars, with all their international hotels competing to put on the most spectacular shows.
If you want to hit the dance floor, you'll be looking for discotheques. But if you'd rather let
someone else do the dancing for you, go to a night-club. They entertain you with their live shows
while you eat, drink and chat the night away.
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But it's not all noise and mayhem. If your idea of night-life is more cultural, you can go cruising
down the Nile at sunset or beneath the glittering stars. Otherwise, you can immerse yourself in
Egypt's traditional coffee-house culture by sampling a fruity, bubbly shisha pipe or by tasting
sumptuous Egyptian and Lebanese dishes.
Bars & Restaurants
With a cultural heritage that's been coloured by all of the great Mediterranean cultures, Egyptian
cooking is a fabulous combination of different dishes. It's sumptuous delicacies are seasoned with
a host of exotic spice, from mouthwatering bite-sized mezze to charcoal-grilled skewers of chicken
or stuffed lamb. Nothing washes a meal down better than a cup of steaming mint tea or an
intense shot of arabic coffee with a piece of sweet baklava on the side.
But it's not all so traditional, there are plenty of contemporary restaurants serving up modern
twists of the old favourites. From the traditional to the trendy, you can easily find an atmosphere
to suit your mood. And after dinner, Egyptian bars are a good place to sample the local lagers and
wines.
Coffee Houses
Modern Coffee Houses
When you talk about Egyptian coffee houses, most people will naturally imagine it's more
traditional ones. But there are plenty of modern coffee shops where you can get your dose of
caffeine, whether you're after an arabic concoction or a more western cup of cappuccino.
And there are always plenty of fresh juices and teas on offer if you want to soak up the
conversation without all the caffeine.
Traditional Coffee Houses
For a taste of real Egypt, you have to experience its famous traditional coffee house culture. Down
every alley and on every corner, you'll find Egyptian men huddling over backgammon tables or
relaxing over a bubbling shisha pipe filled with sweet, fruity tobacco.
Just like western coffee houses, these are gathering places where friends get together to tell a
joke or two, play a game or debate the hot topics of the day.
Amusement parks & Casinos
In some ways, Egypt is like the ultimate amusement park. Real pyramids and temples to explore,
real camels and boats to ride, real mummies and mystical mythology. You are constantly
surrounded by all of the excitement and adventure that make theme parks so magical.
But sometimes children prefer make believe monuments to real life history. Egypt has plenty of
amusement parks to keep them entertained too, like the American-style Dream Park, Family
Land, Cairo's Al-Fustat Garden and Sindbad.
Being an Islamic country, you wouldn't really expect gambling to be very high on the agenda.
Nevertheless, Cairo has its fair share of casinos where you can practice your poker face, pit your
wits against the blackjack dealers or risk the spin of the roulette wheel.
Every casino has its own house rules, and it's a good idea to read up on them before you place
your bets.
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Shopping
Whether you're after souvenirs or spices, sequins or shishas, you can give your wallet a workout
in Egypt's traditional souqs or modern-day malls.
In its bustling bazaars, you can pick up everything from exquisite jewellery to hand-woven
carpets, papyrus paintings, pipes and perfumes.
Herb shops serve up ancient remedies like licorice powders and other mysterious medicines.
But there's plenty to satisfy contemporary tastes with the sprawling western style-shopping malls
in the major urban centres, catering for fashion victims and die-hard spendaholics!
Modern Shopping
Cairo's seen an explosion of western-style shopping malls over the past decade with the average
mall boasting up to 500 local shops and international chains. You can shop for your favorite
brands or be daring and try something completely different.
Egyptian malls aren't just places to shop, they're places to socialise with friends and families. At
weekends, families from Cairo often meet up in one of its many malls. There are plenty of places
to stop off at and recuperate like coffee shops and full-blown food courts.
Traditional Shopping (Markets and Bazaars)
The Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
Built at the tail end of the fourteenth century, the magnificent Khan el-Khalili is the biggest bazaar
in Egypt and the Middle East. It fulfils the ultimate orientalist fantasy with its ramshackle
corridors, brightly coloured stalls, heady scent of incense and the din of its hagglers. It's just like
a virtual Aladdin's cave with its meandering maze of stalls glittering with endless lamps and
lanterns in gold, copper and silver.
The air is heavy with the smells of its essential oils and multicoloured mounds of herbs and spices.
Though swamped by souvenirs, there are real treasures to be found from backgammon boards to
beautiful boxes inlaid intricately with mother-of-pearl.
Wellness
Socrates himself was singing the praises of Egypt's healing therapies and spas some thousands of
years ago. While Aswan was renowned for its rheumatic remedies, ancient tourists swarmed to
Safaga to cure certain skin diseases such as psoriasis.
Whether you want to bathe in sand or salt-rich seas, soak yourself in hot springs or wrap yourself
in curative clay, Egypt has centuries of experience in catering for its therapy keen tourists.
Aswan:
Good for traditional Nubian therapies and environmental therapies including sand bathing and
massages.
New Valley:
With an abundance of bubbling hot springs, the hot water wells of the New Valley are naturally
heated between 35-45 degrees all year round. You can also opt for sand bathing or sample
various traditional medicinal herbs.
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Red Sea:
The whole Red Sea coast including Marsa Alam and Safaga offers a practically perfect climate for
healing in rich mineral waters, with up to 35% more salt than the average sea.
Old Helwan:
With its hot sulphuric springs containing natural clay with therapeutical properties, Old Helwan is
famous for curing numerous bone, skin, kidney and respiratory diseases as well as other
problems. The Helwan springs have been renowned for their healing powers for thousands of
years.
Oyoun Mossa and Hammam Pharaon :
As well as having the most sulphuric waters in the world, both Oyoun Mossa and Hammam
Pharaon boast a warm, dry climate that's perfect for recuperating. Their success rate for curing all
kinds of aches and pains is astonishingly high.
Other noteworthy sites :
The Siwa Oasis, Hamamat Cleopatra, Gabal Takrour, Helwan, Hurghada and Fayoum Oasis are
also famous for their climatic therapies.
REF: Ministry of Tourism – Egypt