ABU SIMBEL

EGYPT

Land of the Pharaohs

EGYPT Land of the Pharaohs

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Daily Life In Ancient Egypt For most of ancient Egyptian history, there existed a polytheistic religion in Egypt where individuals were free to worship any god or goddess they chose. In most cases multiple deities were worshipped. Some gods and goddesses enjoyed fame throughout Egypt while others were limited to worship in select cities and villages. Each town had a patron god and a temple dedicated to that deity. An order of high priests oversaw the temple, the rites and the daily activities associated with the temples.

Due to the lack of wood, in ancient Egypt temples were constructed of stone. The only other building material that was readily available was mud brick, which was known to crumble after just a few years. The temples built to house the gods were required to last for eternity and therefore stone was the only other viable choice.

Inside these ancient Egyptian temples, there existed a segregated system of sanctuaries. The sanctuaries were divided by the spiritual level of the persons allowed to enter them. Those who had not yet reached a spiritual worthiness were not allowed to enter the innermost chambers. In ancient Egypt temples there was also sometimes an exterior complex comprised of gardens and courtyards.

Ancient Egypt Temples-Home to the Gods 9

Through the years in ancient Egypt temples served a variety of purposes. Without a doubt, it appears that the primary purpose of most temples in ancient Egypt was to house and care for the gods to which they were dedicated. It seemed the very existence and good fortune of the entire land of Egypt rested upon tending the gods. The worst fate that could befall a city was failing to care for the temple of the patron god. A god who lacked attention would become angry and flee the temple, leaving the citizens of that town open to all kinds of disasters.

Beyond serving the needs of the god who resided in the temple, some temples also served other purposes. No king could rule the Egyptian nation without first becoming a god.

In an elaborate ceremony the new pharaoh would enter the temple, along with the high priests. Once inside the most exclusive chambers of the temple, rites would be performed which would transform the mere mortal pharaoh into a deity to be revered and worshipped by the Egyptian people. Still yet, some temples in Egypt were reserved for the worship of the king, who was also considered a deity, after his death.

The wealth and sophistication in design of the temples in ancient Egypt vary greatly. The Temple of Karnak at Luxor and the Temple of Deir El Bahari are two of the most well known ancient Egypt temples.

Today, the remains of some ancient Egyptian temples are nothing more than crumbled ruins. Other ancient Egypt temples have stood the test of time and rise up alongside modern apartment complexes and shopping centers; a testament to the fact that much of the ancient world is still a tremendous part of modern Egypt.

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Queen

Nefertiti Little info on Queen Nefertiti and her early life is known. There is some speculation as to her parentage.

When Nefertiti married a pharaoh, Akhenaton, she became Queen Nefertiti Akhenaton. Although her husband also had several other wives, it is apparent from the autobiography of Queen Nefertiti found in ancient depictions that the pharaoh was completely enamored of her. It is not hard to imagine why, when even in modern times, Nefertiti is celebrated for her incomparable beauty. The couple is known to have had six daughters, although none of the daughters inherited the throne of Egypt. That role was reserved for a son born to the Pharaoh by a minor wife.

It is widely believed that Nefertiti was influential in her husband's attempts to convert the nation of Egypt from a polytheistic religion to a monotheistic religion, dedicated to the worship of the deity Aten. The number of reliefs and artwork that were eventually found bearing the likeness and info on Queen Nefertiti indicate that she was much beloved by the people of Egypt.

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When a small bust of Queen Nefertiti, absent the now infamous and modern Nefertiti costume, was finally discovered in almost perfect condition the world rejoiced. The queen had long been celebrated for her beauty and now lovers of Egyptian history would be able to personally view the features of the queen up close. The statue was placed on display in Berlin and quickly became one of the most easily recognized and famous pieces of Egyptian art.

For several decades the bust was enjoyed by visitors from around the world; however it would eventually become the subject of much outrage and controversy, when a Nefertiti costume was added to the bust.

The almost perfectly preserved bust reveals an extremely beautiful woman wearing a tall

headdress and ornate jewelry. There is no clothing of Nefertiti traditionally included on the bust and it actually ends with the jewelry. The Egyptian public became outraged when the bust was lowered onto a supposed Nefertiti costume that consisted of little more than low cut sheer fabric. The new Nefertiti costume was considered to be vulgar by most Egyptians, who are quite conservative, and dangerous to the antique bust by many historians who were concerned for the safety of the precious artifact. There was so much controversy over the Nefertiti costume that the bust was almost immediately removed. Today the Nefertiti costume that is most remembered is the regal headdress that adorned the most beautiful woman in the world.

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Anubis The God of 13

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all the ancient Egyptian Gods Anubis is frequently the deity referred to as the god of death.

Anubis is also sometimes known as Anpu and Inepu and is believed to have been married to Anput; according to popular Egyptian mythology.

Together the couple sired a daughter, Kabechet. She would later assist Anubis in one of his more famed roles.

The parentage of Anubis himself is sometimes unclear. Some versions credit his father as Ra, while others state he was sired by Seth, the adversary of Horus and his father, Osiris. The identity of Anubis' mother also varies from tale to tale and region to region. Some folklores tell that Anubis was born to Bastet, while others indicate it was instead Hesat. In versions involving Osiris as his father, Anubis' mother is Nephthys; wife and sister of Seth.

Regardless of his parentage, Anubis achieved fame throughout Egypt.

Like many other ancient Egyptian gods Anubis is most frequently associated with the jackal, an animal that is representative of tombs and death. In this form, Anubis is sometimes seen as either, half-human and half jackal or completely in the form of a jackal.

It is believed that of all the ancient Egyptian gods Anubis is perhaps one of the oldest. Many tales suggest that Anubis might even outdate Osiris; one of the most prominent of the Egyptian deities.

References to Anubis are found even in texts dating back to the Old Kingdom. Despite all the other ancient Egyptian gods Anubis received the most cult worship in the city of Cynopolis.

Death

Anubis God of Death‌.

The most frequent association of Anubis is his role as the gatekeeper of the underworld and god of death.

This role takes on many different forms. In very ancient history Anubis was known to be the absolute ruler of the underworld. Later theories indicate that this role was taken over by Osiris when he was finally murdered by Seth. Anubis still managed to maintain many important duties. In a mythological tradition that encompasses innumerable ancient Egyptian gods Anubis is seen as the guide who directs the dead either to Osiris or the worser fate of Ammit.

Those souls who were found to be pure, were led by Anubis to Osiris. It was also believed that Anubis held the important role of overseeing the embalming and mummification of the dead. Some versions credit the mummification of Osiris' body following his death to Anubis. The daughter of Anubis, Kabechet, is frequently seen as his assistant in the mummification process of the dead.

Rather than any of the other ancient Egyptian gods Anubis was chosen to take a prominent place in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. The statue representing Anubis as a full jackal was discovered when King Tut's tomb was uncovered. Today, Anubis is still worshipped by sects of pagan religions.

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Egyptian Symbols the wordNot all symbols represented single letters; some pictures represented words. The symbols that make up the alphabet in Egyptian hieroglyphics are sub-divided into categories including phonograms and ideograms.

Ideograms were used to write the words they represented. An example of an ideogram would be a picture of a woman that actually looked like a woman and represented the word 'woman'.

Phonograms were used to spell out the sound out the words they represented and they usually had no relation to the word they were sounding out. As a result, symbols could be both ideograms and phonograms and the reader would need to determine the context of the 'sentence' in order to find out which word was intended. To indicate whether a symbol represented a complete word or merely a sound scribes would place a straight line after .

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CHURCH OF SAINT BARBARA (SITT BARBARA)

We are told that Saint Barbara was a beautiful young lady possibly of Asia Minor descent (though some stories say she lived in Heliopolis). She apparently lived during the early part of the 4th century (though again some references place her in the early part of the 3rd century). She was the daughter of a wealthy nobleman and merchant, Djoscorus, who was a pagan.

Tradition provides that Djoscorus built a magnificent tower to safeguard his daughter, perhaps from the growing influence of Christianity. However, during his frequent business trips abroad, she was converted to Christianity.

Legend has it that when her father discovered her conversion (possibly when Saint Barbara tried to convert him), in a fit of rage, he turned her over to Marcian, the Roman prefect who, under the watching eyes of her father, was to torture her until she denied Christ. She was stripped and struck with whips and clubs until she stood in a pool of her own blood, yet she would not deny Christ. Afterwards, she was thrown in to prison where, during the night, god completely healed her wounds and filled her with heavenly joy.

The next day, while Marcian was amazed to see her wounds had healed, he demanded that she denounce Christ, and when she refused. After additional torture, Marcian became frustrated with her, and ordered her to be taken out and killed. It was her father himself who led her from the city and with his own sword, decapitated her (along with her servant and friend, Juliana). On his way home, however, a god had him struck by a bolt of lightning, killing him instantly.

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As with Ramesses’ own temple, the cliff face was cut back to resemble sloping walls of a pylon. Six colossal standing figures 33 feet high four of Ramesses and two of Nefertari, were cut from the rock face, along with smaller figures of the royal family. An inscription over the entrance reads "Ramesses II, he has made a temple, excavated in the mountain, of eternal workmanship, for the chief queen Nefertari, beloved of Mu, in Nubia, forever and ever, Nefertari for whose sake the very sun does shine."

Inside, Nefertari’s temple has a single pillared hall, with carved Hathor heads atop the pillars. On the sides facing the center of the hypostyle; Ramesses is shown smiting his enemies and offering before various gods, while Nefertari is shown, graceful and slender, with hands raised. Three doors lead to a vestibule with ancillary rooms at either end.

The sanctuary is complete, though two spaces were left on its side walls for doors to rooms, which were never cut.

The inner chamber contains a number of images interrelating the royal couple and the gods. On the rear wall, Hathor is depicted in high relief as a cow emerging from the western mountain, with the king standing beneath her chin. Nefertari is shown repeatedly participating in the divine rituals on an equal footing with the king. On the left wall, Nefertari is seen worshipping before Mut and Hathor, and on the right, Ramesses worships before images of his deified self and his wife.

When Greek mercenaries passed by in the 6th century BCE, sand already reached the knees of the statues. These ancient sight-see-ers left an inscription which reads "When King Psammetichus came to Elephantine, this was written by those who sailed with Psammetichus the son of Theolces, and they came beyond Kerkis as far as the river permits."

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GETTING AROUND IN CAIRO

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Here’s a list of standard black and white taxi fares (vary according to time and traffic. Note that Tahrir Square is central downtown, location of the Ritz Carlton and the Egyptian Antiquities Museum): Tahrir Square to the Citadel - 7 to 10 LE Citadel to the Khan el-Khalili - 5 to 8 LE Tahrir Square to Al-Hussein (Khan al-Khalili) - 6 to 8 LE Tahrir Square to Mohandiseen - 8 to 10 LE Tahrir Square to Ramses Station - 4 to 7 LE Tahrir Square to Maadi (Grand Mall) - 15 to 20 LE Tahrir Square to Giza Pyramids - 15 to 20 LE Tahrir Square to Old (Coptic) Cairo) - 10 to 12 LE Tahrir Square to Zamalek - 4 to 6 LE Tahrir Square to Heliopolis - 20 to 30 LE Tahrir Square to Airport with bag handling - 65 to 75 LE Dokki to Zamalek - 7 to 10 LE Dokki to Manyal Palace - 5 to 7 LE Ramses Station to Nasr City (Ginena Mall) - 20 to 25 LE Ramses Station to Heliopolis (Horreya Mall) - 20 to 25 LE Garden City to Giza Zoo - 4 to 6 LE Garden City to Zamalek - 5 to 7 LE The second type is the new white taxis. These are the revamped versions of the black ones. They have air conditioning, a meter (make sure the driver sets it when you get in though) and are newer safer cars. However, when you don’t know the way they tend to take the longer route to get you to pay more. It’s not uncommon to tip the drivers of those taxis. Those two types of taxis you can stop on any main street. Try not to catch taxis right outside of hotels though as they tend to overcharge you.

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The Cairo Metro Cairo has two metro lines (and one under construction that will take people from the airport to Lebanon Square. This will change lives). The metro lines extend vertically and horizontally across the city. The metro system runs efficiently. It is without doubt the quickest and cheapest way to transverse the city, costing just 1 L.E. There are also nominal discounts for re-usable tickets for 10 journeys or more. Of course the metro won’t get you everywhere but it will get you around. It’s very cheap, fast and safe. It is very recommended to use. Note that the first two carts of every train are only for women. That is not for religious reasons, but to encourage women to use the metro since they usually experience some harassment on buses.

Also, women can ride on all the carts not just the ones designated for women. So if you’re a man try not to get in one of these carts, however if you look foreign most women would probably not comment and just assume you aren’t aware of the rule.

Using the metro in Cairo is the same as anywhere in the world, you go to the station, get a ticket, find the right track, and get on the train. Metro tickets can be purchased at any of the kiosks in the station.. The kiosks are one of the best places in Cairo to make change, once you get a ticket, feed it into the turn style upon entering, and hang onto it until exiting.

The metro operates daily from about 5:30 am to half past midnight. Intervals between trains vary throughout the day, but waits are never more than 15 minutes. Breakdowns are infrequent, but trains sometimes linger at stations for no apparent reason. Delays are also caused by riders holding the doors open for friends behind them, sometimes far behind them.

The two metro lines vary slightly. The older French-built line running from El-Marg to Helwan has 32 stops, its downtown stations being underground while the rest are on the surface. The underground platforms are comfortably warm in the winter and stuffy, humid and hot in the summer when the only breezes come from passing trains.

The newer Shoubra-Cairo University line is better and it has 18 stops. Consider yourself lucky if your daily commute uses this line.

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Some useful exits: Sadat Ground zero downtown, this station is under Midan Tahrir and just minutes from the Egyptian Museum, Ritz Carlton, American University and Nile Corniche.

Its tunnels double as a pedestrian underpass. This is where the two metro lines meet.

French-Built Line Sayeda Zeinab This station further south is a useful departure point because it is within walking distance of the ninth century Mosque of Ibn Tulun, one of the oldest Islamic structure preserved in Cairo, and a further walk will take energetic tourists to the Citadel, Al-Refa'i Mosque.

Mar Girgis This stop is for the Coptic Museum, the churches and monasteries of Old (Coptic) Cairo and the Synagogue of Ben Ezra.

El-Maadi Good for visits to this affluent suburb, but most of the district requires a car. However, the fifth century Church of the Holy Virgin is only a 15 minute walk from the station.

Helwan This is the last stop. Once a health resort of some renown with curative sulphur springs the suburb has now become an industrial area.

Japanese built Shoubra Mubarak Station Cairo Railway Station itself is worth a visit. The building is of historical interest being the first terminal in the Middle East; it was built in the reign of Khedive Ismail in 1851. Round the corner is the little-known Railway Museum. It is a two-story building that dates back to 1933 and covers transportation in Egypt from ancient to modern times.

Mohamed Naguib Station Exit here for Abdeen Palace which was built in the reign of Khedive Ismail between 1863 and 1879, taken over by the government after the 1952 Revolution and recently converted into a national museum.

Opera (Gezira) station Exit this station for the Opera House. There is an Opera ticket counter in the subway and one exit leads directly into the Opera House garden which is adorned with statues of Egyptian celebrities in the field of culture.

Dokki The station to exit for the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Giza Street

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Egypt's Party Town

Egypt's Red Sea Coast Egypt's Red Sea coast is famed for its crystal clear blue waters and exotic marine life, attracting thousands of tourists yearly. The reputation is well deserved - in 1989, an international panel of scientists picked the north part of the Red Sea as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. The sea carries over 800 fish species, including the lethal stonefish and butterfly fish as well as shark and over 200 coral species. In addition, the shores of the sea are visited by thousands of migrating birds every year and bird watchers are bound to have a good time here.

The waters have a constant temperature of 21- 25 degrees centigrade. Visibility is good at 10-50 m and upto a distance of about 200 m. Visibility is best in summer but can be reduced in spring by plankton growth and sediments. However, the sea is also known for its strong winds and unstable currents.

So named because of its red tint mountain ranges, the Red Sea is an important tourist destination and is home to a number of resorts, the biggest of which is Hurghada. The coastline is particularly famous for its diving sites, which include Ras Mohammed, Elphinstone, The Brothers and Rocky Island. The Austrian biologist and scuba diver, Hans Hass put the Red Sea in the limelight in the 1950's - and this has resulted in it being one of top diving destinations. The renowned French environment explorer, Jacques Yves Cousteaus, through his writings and movies cemented this reputation.

Egypt's Red Sea Coast has since then experienced rapid development. More hotels and resorts have sprung up here than anywhere else in the country. This growth has however at times resulted in over development and resultant challenge to the environment. An estimated 60% to 80% of the coral reefs around the coast have been damaged due to illegal and irresponsible activities. The authorities have in recent years woken to this reality and this will hopefully lead to restoration and more balanced development in the future.

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From the city you can access numerous uninhabited off shore

The major centers along Egypt's Red Sea coast are Ain Sukhana, Berenice, Bir Shalatein, El Gouna, Hurghada, Mersa Alam, Al- Zuseir, Safaga, Suez and Zafarana. Hurghada emerged in early 20th century and was until recently an isolated fishing village. It terms of historical pedigree it cannot hold its own against some of the other Red Sea towns such as Berenice which was founded in 275 BC by the Ptolemy II Philadephus during the Greek period. But from the 1980's onwards, the city has prospered and is now the leading resort along the Red Sea coast.

Hurghada lies 380 km to the southeast of Cairo.

Hurghada has today a population of 40,000 and is home to numerous hotels and resorts offering first class aquatic sports facilities for sail boarding, windsurfing, yachting, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. If you do not want to get wet, you can still catch a glimpse of the impressive diversity of marine creatures by visiting Hurghada's aquarium and museum. The aquarium has a wide selection of fish and various other odd- looking yet fascinating marine creatures. Sunbathers will also find excellent white sand beaches. The resort has a good choice of bars, restaurants, boutiques, and discos and is well known for its vibrant nightlife.

reefs and islands. They offer a wide array of exciting activities. At Giftun Island you can indulge in snorkeling and view the Red Sea underworld from a submarine! The Island is lined with shops and boutiques, which will allow some retail therapy. There are also some historical sites such as the Roman era porphyry quarry remains at nearby Gebel Abu Dukhan. In addition, you can take day trips to explore the Red Sea Mountains by camel or jeep.

Between El Gouna and Safaga, is an area that is known as Europe's playground. The area boasts among other things an airport, a hospital, an open- air amphitheatre, and golf course. It is an area frequented by the rich and famous and is host to concerts and sporting events. The beaches are clean and a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of inner town. Safaga- 60 km from Hurgada, specializes in diving. On account of its pristine beaches and strong breezes, it was chosen as the venue for the 1993 World Windsurfing Championships.

You will find El Gouna 20 km to the north of Hurghada. This is a purpose built leisure resort that boasts of 10 km of beachfront. It has international standard diving facilities and a myriad of opportunities for windsurfing, snorkeling, parasailing, and water skiing. Golfer may also relax at the El Gouna's 18-hole USPGA Golf Course.

The area is also home to islands - Shadwan Island, Shaab Abu Shiban, Shaab el- Erg, Umm Gammar Island, which are all famous for snorkeling, diving and fishing. The southern side of Egypt's Red Sea coast is more tranquil than the central areas and is popular with honeymooners. Here you enjoy breathtaking nature, excellent resorts and good diving sites.

For those on a spiritual journey, the Red Sea coast is home to Coptic Christian monasteries, which are the oldest monasteries in Egypt as well as the whole of Christendom.

You can view the monasteries by taking a hike overseen by the monks and novices residing within.

There are few international flights to Hurghada, though most visitors fly or travel overland by bus from Cairo. There are a variety of hotels and resorts in the Red Sea area- with Hurghada having the largest share. In this city, you will find top tier international chain accommodation and other digs suitable for budget travelers. To get more value from your trip to the region, you can add on a Nile cruise- the best way to experience the wonders of ancient Egypt.

The best time to visit Egypt's Red Sea coast is March to May and September to November. In these periods, you enjoy warm days and your fellow tourists are mercifully away. The summer months are uncomfortably hot and humid, while winter days can be chilly especially in the evenings.

Remember to pack cameras to capture images and sunglasses for protection against the scorching sun, light clothing, hats and some sunscreen.

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EGYPTIAN FOOD

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Kofta Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water to cover for 2 hours. Drain the apricots and place them in a food processor or blender and puree. Then, with the motor running, slowly add 3 cups of chicken stock. (Note: I found that 2 cups of chicken stock was sufficient.) Add salt and pepper to taste, transfer to a saucepan and simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes.

Kofta * 1 pound of ground lamb * 2 small leeks, cleaned and finely chopped * 1 tablespoon raw rice * 2 eggs * 1 tablespoon olive oil * 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro * salt & pepper * 1 ½ cups chicken stock * flour * 2 tablespoons butter or margarine Mix the ground lamb with the leeks, rice, eggs, oil, cilantro and salt & pepper to taste. Form balls the size of walnuts. (If you have a cookie scoop, use this and you will get uniform sized meatballs.)

Place the meatballs in a large saucepan with the chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes, adding water if necessary. Drain the meatballs and cool.

Roll the meatballs in flour and melt the butter or margarine in a large skillet. When the butter is hot, add the meatballs and saute for 5 to 6 minutes, until nicely browned.

Pour the Apricot Sauce on the Kofta and serve. Makes 4 main dish servings. This recipe may also be served as an appetizer (mezze) or used as a filling for a pita sandwich with salad greens.

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EGYPT Land of the Pharaohs

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