EGYPT Land of the Pharaohs

EGYPT Land of the Pharaohs

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Ancient Egypt Temples-Home

to the Gods

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.

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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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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.

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.

Queen

Nefertiti

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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

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Of 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.

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.

Death

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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 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.

Egypt's Party Town

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From the city you can access numerous uninhabited off shore

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.

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.

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EGYPTIAN

FOOD

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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.

Kofta

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Hatshepsut