There are currently about 110 known pyramids in Egypt

There are currently about 110 known pyramids in Egypt, many in a state of great neglect and almost unrecognizable. Some were built as burial places for kings and others for queens. A pyramid also may have represented a stairway for the king to ascend to heaven.Another possibility is that it was a symbol of the primordial mound in which he was born the sun god / creator.
How the Egyptians managed the complex organization of work and the physical movement of large stone blocks is still under debate.Pyramid construction may have involved the ramps being erected around the pyramid. Blocks of stone would have been pulled on sleds and ramps dismantled later. It is believed that most of the work for the construction of the pyramids would have come from farmers who were on hand during the flood season, when the Nile River flooded and farmland was underwater. In addition, it would be the ideal time for the shipping of large blocks of stone from their quarries to the pyramid sites.
The first pyramid was the Pyramid of King Djoser of the Old Kingdom's Third Dynasty over 4,600 years ago. The pyramid (right) was the largest structure ever built at Saqqara, the necropolis that overlooked the ancient capital of Memphis. Its construction was initially in the form of a low mastaba tomb upon which extra levels were added gradually to give it a look similar steps.

Who built the pyramids?

Contrary to some popular depictions, the pyramid builders were not slaves or foreigners. Excavated skeletons show that they were Egyptians who lived in villages developed and overseen by the supervisory authorities of the pharaoh.
Villages Manufacturers' boasted bakers, butchers, brewers, granaries, houses, cemeteries, and possibly some types of health care workers there is no evidence of survivors crushed or amputated limbs. Bakeries excavated near the Great Pyramids could have produced thousands of loaves of bread every week.

Cairo, khan el Khalili, dealing

Khan al Khalili may seem another tourist trap, but it is not. It is a bazaar full of life, where locals go to buy what they need. You will, of course, see many tourists here, because it is one of the city's main tourist attractions. But you will also find many locals.

As in other Arab markets, sellers will try to sell you everything they can. The words you will hear more often are: "where are your from?" (or "where you from?") and "how much?". Even if you didn't want to buy anything, most probably you will be seduced.

Cairo, khan el Khalili, juices

The first thing you need to know is how to get from the airport to your hotel. The best option is to arrange a pick up service with your hotel. If you have not booked a hotel room, you can try to take a taxi to the city center, but you have to know this is the worst way to start your travel in Egypt. Taxi drivers will try to charge you as much as they can, and will try to take you to one of their "recommended" hotels. If you need to negotiate with a taxi driver at the airport make clear you are talking about Egyptian pounds, because most of the times when you try to pay them, they will say they were talking about US dollars (that's 3 times the price in Egyptian pounds!). Fortunately taxi divers in the city of Cairoare much more friendlier.

The second thing you need to know is how to move around Cairo. Traffic is so chaotic in this city, that renting a car is an option I cannot recommend. You better use public transports. I knew buses were not recommended either, but I wanted to experience a bus ride. Now I am sure: you shouldn't take local buses. They are dirty and it is almost impossible to know where they are going. If you don't want to waste your time, don't take a bus.

I can only recommend taxis and the underground. Underground is usually overcrowded, but it is easy to use and cheap. The name of the stations is written in English. The only inconveniences are the heat and the crowds.

welcome to Cairo (Egypt)

Hello, welcome to Cairo, Egypt! Cairo is not only the capital of Egypt, but the biggest city in Africa, with more than 16 million inhabitants. Although it is a huge and chaotic metropolis, it is also a lovely destination.

If you stay with me I will show you why this city is so fascinating. I will share my experiences in this overcrowded city with you. You will learn how to get around, what to see, when to go, where and what to eat, how to deal with locals, some street scams and everything else you need to know before visiting this city. I will also give you some information about its history, culture and traditions. I hope you will enjoy this Photographic Tour.

In the photo you can see the reaction of some tourists in front of the magnificentTutankhamun mask. i am sure you have seen this mask several thousand times. If you complete the tour you will have the chance to see it one more time.

By the way on this tour I will not show a single photo of the pyramids, they impressed me so much that I have dedicated a Photographic Tour to them. If you want to see the pyramids before (virtually) visiting Cairo.

Now it is time to visit Cairo's main bazaar: Khan al Khalili

Luxor Temple, Ramses II courtyard

 Luxor, Luxor Temple, Ramses II courtyard

In this photo you can see the two big statues of Ramses II. In front of the statues there used to be two big obelisks, only one remains today --the other one is in the Place de la Concorde, Paris. Ramses II is one of the most famous pharaohs. One of his works is the most amazing monument you can visit in Egypt: the Abu Simbel temple.

As you can see in the photo, thousands oftourists come here everyday to visit the temple. Most of them come with a tour operator and visit the temple with a guide. If you don't have a guide, you can join one of these groups.

Although I visited the temple in the morning, if you can, visit it in the afternoon. I was told the afternoon lightand the lower temperature make the visit to the temple more enjoyable.

welcome to Luxor 2

The Luxor Temple was dedicated to theThebes triad: Amon (king of gods), Mut (his wife) and Khnum (their son, the moon god). Every year, during the floods, a great celebration took place here. The three gods crossed the river on a boat to celebrate the Opet festivals.

In the photo you can see the huge pillars in the Amenophis III courtyards. Behind these pillars there is the temple of Amon, which Romans used for their cults.

Luxor Temple, reliefs

On the walls of the temple you will find many reliefs carved on the stones. They depict the procession of Opet, and episodes from historical wars. These reliefs are in the part of the temple that used to be open to the public during the ceremonies. There were also some rooms closed to the public. One of these rooms was the sanctuary of Amon, where there used to be a statue of this god.

In another room there are the reliefs that relate the birth of Amenophis III. He was supposed to be the son of Amon. This god, disguised as Amenophis's father, met his mother and conceived him.

welcome to Luxor

Hello, welcome to Luxor, probably the most interesting destination in Egypt. In this city, the former Thebes, some of the biggest and best preserved temples of the ancient times can be visited.

If you have plans to visit Luxor, you are on the right web site. If you complete thisPhotographic Tour, you will (virtually) visit the old town of Luxor, the temples of Karnak and Luxor, the Hatshetsup Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. I will also give you some information to prepare a stay in this city and some other useful tips.

In the photo you can see one of the statues in the Karnak Temple. This temple is so big that you would need many days to visit it. But as you will see, there are many other reasons to come to this city.

Abu Simbel Temple

Here it is: The Sun Temple of Ramesses II! It is one of the most impressive temples I saw in Egypt.

Ramses II, son of king Sethi I, reigned 67 years (1290-1224 BC). He was famous for the amount of wives and children he had; more than 6 wives, and more than 100 children. You may think he didn't have time for anything else. This is not the case; he was a military strategist and a builder.

Some of the monuments constructed during his reign are: the temples of Karnak(Luxor), The Ramesseum (on the West Bank near Luxor) and the monumental temples of Abu Simbel. He also commanded his troops in many glorious battles, the most famous of them is the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, with whose king he signed the world's first peace treaty in 1280 BC.

 Abu Simbel, Abu Simbel Temple, Ramses II statues

In the dictionaries' entry for egotistic there should be a picture of Ramses II. This was not his only defect though, he is also one of the most megalomaniac celebrities of all times.

Officially, he dedicated this temple to the triad Amon-Ra, Ptah and Ra-Harakhte. The main purpose to erect this temple was to glorify himself, though.

Four colossal statues of the great pharaoh more than 65 feet high (20 meters high) take up almost all the space of the 108 feet high and 125 feet wide facade. Smaller size statues of his wives, sons and daughters appear beside his legs.

5 Quirky Things to do in Cairo

When in Cairo, you’ll be tempted to limit yourself to doing typically tourist activities. But Cairo, being the huge city it is, offers much, much more than typical tourist activities.  When I travel, I like to actually do things that aren’t always offered on tour operators’ itineraries.  Here are my top 5 things to do in Cairo that are a little on the quirky side!

1. Sit and enjoy shisha at Kahwa El Borsa

The Middle East is known for many things, and shisha is definitely one of them.  Known as a narghila in countries in the Levant region, shisha is the Egyptian word for this strange device.  Basically this concoction is a water pipe where flavored molasses covered tobacco is smoked.  This may not be for everyone, but for those who are interested in trying it, Kahwa El Borsa is definitely the place to go!  While Cairo is teeming with these cafés, El Borsa is a really authentic and interesting place to go.  Located in the Stock Exchange area of Cairo, the café offers an interesting ambience with both indoor and outdoor seating.  If you want calm, head indoors.  For a really authentic atmosphere, sit outside and watch the crowds go by and patrons compete in backgammon, while enjoying the great flavors of the shisha.  The best thing is, lots of expats enjoy this café as well, so you won’t feel so out of place!

The Temple of Karnak at Luxor

Writing an introduction to ancient Egypt temples is considerably more difficult then examining any specific structure, for a number of different reasons. First of all, the term "temple" is misleading, and secondly, the term covers a huge variety of different structures that evolved over such a vast period of time that many people have a difficulty comprehending just how long a time this period spans.

The Ramessuem on the West Bank at Luxor (Ancient Thebes)

A REVOLUTION THAT INSPIRED A NATION TO CAMARADERIE

Egyptians have long been known for two things: their great history, and their sense of humor. Now, one more thing can be added to that list – their spirit of camaraderie. Egyptians have been unhappy for many years with their government, often feeling that corruption was rampant and that the standard of living was unbearable for the majority, with far too few jobs for the growing workforce.

After being patient with the promise of better wages and more jobs, the Egyptian people had finally had enough! Selecting January 25th, a day which had always been spent celebrating the Egyptian Police force, the Egyptian people staged a peaceful protest in front of Alexandria's Al Qaed Ibrahim Mosque, in the port city of Suez, and in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which became so lovingly referred to by the foreign press as Liberation Square. Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in these three locations, as well as some smaller groups gathering at various locations nation-wide.

There are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt than the Great Pyramids

There are no more famous ancient sites within Egypt, or for that matter elsewhere in the world, than the Great Pyramids at Giza. They are, without question, the icon most associated with the Egypt. They have been both the main destination for tourists, and a source of imaginative thought to the world for over three thousand years.

However, there are actually over 100 pyramids in Egypt, many of which are relatively unknown to anyone who is not an ancient Egypt enthusiast. All but a very few are grouped around and near the City of Cairo, just south of the Nile Delta. Otherwise, only one royal pyramid is known in southern Egypt (at Abydos), that being the one built by Ahmose, founder of the 18th Dynasty and Egypt's New Kingdom.It may have also been the last royal pyramid built in Egypt.

ABU SIMBEL BY MARIE PARSONS

Perhaps after the Giza pyramids, or coincident with them, the great temple of Abu Simbel presents the most familiar image of ancient Egypt to the modern traveler and reader. When the conservation efforts to preserve the temple from the soon-to be built High Aswan Dam and its rising waters were begun in the 1960s, images of the colossal statues filled newspapers and books. The temples were dismantled and relocated in 1968 on the desert plateau, 200 feet above and 600 feet west of their original location.

Abu Simbel lies south of Aswan on the western bank of the Nile, 180 miles south of the First Cataract in what was Nubia. The site was known as Meha in ancient times and was first documented in the 18th Dynasty, when Ay and Horemheb had rock-cut chapels hewn in the hills to the south.

Ramesses II, called "the Great," built seven rock-cut temples in Nubia. The rock-cut temple of Ramesses II on the west bank of the Nile at Abu Simbel is the greatest of these. This temple was not seen by Europeans until J.J. Burckhardt discovered them in 1813.

The temple, called Hwt Ramesses Meryamun, the "Temple of Ramesses, beloved of Amun," was begun fairly early in Ramesses’ long reign, commissioned some time after his fifth regnal year, but not completed until his 35th regnal year. The massive facade of the main temple is dominated by the four seated colossal statues of Ramesses. These familiar representations are of Ramesses II himself. Each statue, 67 feet high, is seated on a throne and wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. Each is taller than the famed Memnon Colossus at Thebes, and all are sculpted directly from the rock face. The thrones are decorated on their sides with Nile gods symbolically uniting Egypt.

Burckhardt said of the first face on the left that it "was the most expressive, youthful countenance, approaching nearer to the Grecian model of beauty than that of any ancient Egyptian figure I have seen."

An ancient earthquake damaged the statues. One is demolished from the waist up.

Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world

Not only are the two temples at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an historic event in itself. When the temples (280 km from Aswan) were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the High Dam, the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a world wide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone have now been filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside the man made dome and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different stages of the massive removal project.

Abu Simbel was first reported by J. L. Burckhardt in 1813, when he came over the mountain and only saw the facade of the great temple as he was preparing to leave that area via the Nile. The two temples, that of Ramesses II primarily dedicated to Re-Harakhte, and that of his wife, Nefertari dedicated to Hathor, became a must see for Victorians visiting Egypt, even though it required a trip up the Nile, and often they were covered deeply in sand, as they were when Burckhardt found them.

Timeline of Egypt

Dating Egyptian History

The dates in this resource reflect the latest scholarship and are used with the permission of the late Dr. William J. Murnane. For the third millennium, dates are deliberately rounded in order to avoid a misleading appearance of precision. All dates before 664 B.C.E. should be treated as approximate. Dates following 664 B.C.E. can be taken from any standard history published in the last thirty years. For the second millennium, the dates follow closely the chronologies of Rolf Krauss and Detlef Franke.

Also, the dates use B.C.E. (before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era). These replace B.C. (before Christ) and A.D. (anno Domini), respectively.

Brief Timeline of Ancient Egypt

Predynastic (ca. 4300-3000 B.C.E.)

Naqada I (Amratian) (ca. 4300 - 3600 B.C.E.)
Naqada II (Gerzean) (ca. 3600 - 3150 B.C.E.)
Naqada III (Semainean) (ca. 3150 - 3000 B.C.E.)

Temple Dedicated to Hathor at Abu Simbel

Temple Dedicated to Hathor at Abu Simbel

The Temple of Hathor at Abu Simbel was built by Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.) to honor both Hathor as the goddess of love/music and his wife Nefertari as a deified queen. The facade, resembling a pylon, has six standing colossal (over 33 feet/10 meters high) statues. On each side of the entrance, two statues of Ramesses flank one of Nefertari dressed as Hathor. The colossal statues are, in turn, flanked by smaller statues of their children.

Abu Simbel - The Great Temple of Ramesses

Abu Simbel - The Great Temple of Ramesses II

Abu Simbel is a temple built by Ramesses II (c.1279-1213 B.C.E.) in ancient Nubia, where he wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature. Four colossal (65 feet/20 meters high) statues of him sit in pairs flanking the entrance. The head and torso of the statue to the left of the entrance fell during ancient times, probably the result of an earthquake. This temple faces the east, and Re-Horakhty, one manifestation of the sun god, is shown inside the niche directly above the entrance. The alignment of the temple is such that twice a year the sun's rays reach into the innermost sanctuary to illuminate the seated statues of Ptah, Amun-Re, Ramesses II, and Re-Horakhty.

The temple was cut out of the sandstone cliffs above the Nile River in an area near the Second Cataract. When the High Dam was being constructed in the early 1960s, international cooperation assembled funds and technical expertise to move this temple to higher ground so that it would not be inundated by the waters of Lake Nasser.