A Tour of Egypt

Egypt is a Middle Eastern country in northeast Africa; it is in the center of the Arab world. Egypt controls the Suez Canal which is the shortest sea link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The country is defined by desert and the Nile, the longest river on Earth. Ancient civilizations arose along the narrow floodplain of the Nile, protected by the deserts that were natural barriers to invaders. Egyptians take pride in their heritage and their descent from what is considered the first great civilization. One of the reasons people travel to Egypt is the interest in the pyramids which have survived the centuries as lasting symbols of Egyptian culture, the same might be said for the camels that haul visitors around to see the many wonders.

Egypt has several different tourist super-sites, each one has its own flavor and each serves a different purpose.

Cairo is considered the jewel of the Orient, the melting pot of ancient and modern Egyptian civilizations. On the east side stands the evidence of 2000 years of Islamic, Christian Coptic and Jewish cultures still flourishing, on the west side lays the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis , the capital of the old kingdom and the site of the pyramids, the only wonder left of the seven wonders of the world, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time. The area around Cairo is considered the heart of Egypt, with all aspects of Egypt represented including some of the famous Pharaonic, ancient Christian and Islamic monuments, great hotels and restaurants. Shopping in Cairo is very enjoyable and ranges from the famous Khan el-khalili souk (bazaar) unchanged since the 14th century. No visit to Cairo is complete without visiting the great Pyramids and the Sphinx. The Egyptian Museum and the sound and light show at the Pyramids area are spectacular.

Alex is the second largest city and is the main port of Egypt; it is one of the most notable summer resorts in the Middle East known for its temperate winters. Sites worth visiting are the Greco Roman Museum, the Roman Theater, Qaitbay Fort and the catacombs of Komel-Shokafa.

Aswan is larger but much quieter, it is a beautiful city which is positioned alongside some of the best stretches of the Nile, it is dotted with pretty islands and high desert hills topped with the Aga Khan's Mausoleum. The Nile is beautiful as it makes its way down from High Dam and Nasser Lake, watching the sun set over the Nile is an experience not to be missed.

Luxor has been called the world's greatest outdoor museum because of the number of ancient Egyptian monuments, this is why it is one of Egypt's greatest tourist attractions. A trip to Luxor would not be complete without a visit to the Valley of the Kings, which incorporates the famous tomb of Tutankhamen, and the Valley of the Queens with Nefertiti's decorated final resting place. If you want a thrill take an early morning balloon trip over the west bank of the Nile.

Enid Glasgow is a travel writer who enjoys traveling to remote destinations. She enjoys traveling with Big Five Tours, providers of Egypt tours and Galapagos cruises.

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5 Must See Places While You Are in Luxor in Egypt

1. Luxor Temple:

The city of Luxor became named as such because it grew up around the temple. There has probably always been life around the ancient monuments, their functions were very crucial in ancient Egypt, hereby making people settling around them through history. Luxor temple has its own odd structure and opposition in architectural construction. On one hand we see Ramesses II huge statues sitting by the entrances at the first two gates/pylons. And on the other hand we find Hatshepsut's exceptional fine carvings. If you go into the inner courts, the wall just before you reach the holy of holiness, then you will see a Christian Roman image. It is painted and very visual even to this day.

2. Karnak Temples:

Not one temple, but many temples. One puzzling place to be, so much history embedded everywhere, and from so many different kingdoms (time periods).

The temples there are dedicated to many gods and goddess, but mostly the god Amun/Amon. He became a great god among the middle and new Kingdom. The name Amun/Amon means 'the hidden one'. No matter how you approach the history these temples cannot be viewed probably in one day, it is a place that will leave you overwhelmed.

Karnak temple's is actually connected with Luxor temple, there once laid a long passage of Sphinx's between them, connecting them. These temples were often used in very important festivals in ancient day, one of such is like we know it today 'New Years Eve.' Their calendar follows the Queen of the stars who is Sirius, and when she arrived by the Nile it was the New Year's beginning.

3. Local streets of Luxor:

The most walked street in Luxor city is referred to as the tourist street. People coming from the boat cruises mostly settle for walking upon this long and beautiful street, which is a shame. Further away from the Nile, going parallel of the tourist street is the local's area. There are many advantages to visiting this area of Luxor, but foremost must be for the people. They are kind, and no one will be hunting you for business, you will be able to walk in peace and truly enjoy another culture and its daily life. The shops here are more exciting for the eye, than anything found by the Niles tourist street.

WESTERN SIDE OF THE NILE - Through death they walk.

Was the 12 hours of Dark/night. Ra's the sun's journey into the night and into his daily confrontation with death, and each night many gods and goddess would join his fight, to keep the real death at bay.

4. Valley of the Queens:

Mostly underestimated and neglected by people, the Valley of the Kings has always outshined the Queens valley, yet another shame in history. What I find most revealing in the Queens tomb, is the paintings and decorations upon their walls. Even in ancient days, the female was underestimated, this is Hatshepsut a clear evidence of. Women have always been holding the shortest stick in the bunch, no matter what culture no matter what time in history. There seems to be a completely different story written in the Queens tombs, and it seems much shorter than the king's story. There seem to be less focus upon the souls journey itself, were as the kings tombs have much more details of curtain things/topics. But it could off course also mean the opposites of what I stated earlier here, that they did not underestimate women, but the opposite. It could also mean that the ancient man already regarded the women divine in some way, thinking that her soul automatically already knew the way, and therefore did not need a 'guide' as one finds in the men's tombs.

5. Valley of the Kings:

A place all new to ancient Egyptian history must visit, but everyone should also show the respect, because this is an ancient graveyard that one visits, a place of eternal silence in the given life. Their tombs are magnificent even today, they offer so much of the ancient beliefs and how their ideas were formed. The painted walls have stood as they are, for over a thousand years. The colors fascinatingly clear, truly one of the hundreds pleasures for the eyes.

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King Tutankhamun's Tomb - Luxor - Egypt

King Tutankhamun (King Tut) was the young Pharaoh who succeeded his father Akhenaten towards the end of the 18th Dynasty. During his short 9 year rule he restored Thebes (Luxor) as the Capital of Egypt and started the return of worship of Amon. Little was known of the King other that he came to a sudden end.

Egyptologists were not interested in finding his tomb as they assumed it would have poor content. At the time it was determined that that Valley of Kings had yielded all its' tombs. Lord Carnarvon a wealthy Englishman thought differently and was convinced that there was an intact tomb.

Howard Carter, headed up Lord Carnarvon's Team and worked dedicatedly for six seasons. Approximately 200,000 tons of rubble were moved, and Howard Carter was forced to accept that there were no more tombs to be found in the Valley of the Kings. There was one last remote possibility, the site immediately beneath the tomb of Ramses VI. It was covered with workmen's huts and Carter had his men remove them.

In 1922 a doorway of a tomb was found at the bottom of some steps. The seals appeared to be intact and Lord Carnarvon was informed while preparations were made to open the tomb. When they entered the tomb it far exceeded their wildest dreams.

We can only imagine the awe and amazement on finding the treasures now found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Lord Carnarvon attended the opening but never lived to see the full contents of the tomb. The death of Lord Carnarvon was attributed to 'The Pharaoh's curse - a sting from a mosquito.

The tomb was small but packed with furniture, statutes, jewelry and a wealth of treasures that where meant to be used by the King in his after life. Carter spent 10 years cataloging the contents and recorded 171 objects in the first room alone. When he made a small opening in the door of the tomb chamber, there appeared to be a solid wall of gold. It was an enormous gold gilded shrine with 3 other shrines layered inside. In the center was a stone sarcophagus and three mummy coffins. The one holding King Tut's remains was solid gold and weighed 2,488.8 Ibs.

The mummy itself was covered in gold objects, bracelets, chains, collars, gold beads and necklets of precious and semi-precious stones, engraved scarabs and garlands of flowers. A solid gold mask covered the head. Only the inner mummy case, which contained the actual mummy of the Pharaoh has been left in the tomb itself. The rest of the treasures are now displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

The tomb is the smallest found in the Valley of the Kings the first chamber measuring 8 x 4 meters with bare walls. The small second annex contained containers for oils, baskets of fruit and seeds, wine jars and pottery, all decorated in alabaster, ebony, turquoise, gold, lapis-lazuli and Ivory. The walls in this chamber were also bare.

The burial chamber itself is the only one with decorated walls. The paintings of religious scenes and inscriptions are in excellent condition retaining the vivid colors of the days they were painted. There are full-length figures on three of the walls beneath a dark colored roof which represents the sky. The figures appear top heavy which is characteristic of the Amarna period. Another wall has representations from the Book of the Dead.

Why were there so many treasures in the young King's Tomb and why did it appear that they were in total disorder rather than placed in a tidy pattern? This can be readily explained. Tutankhamun was the last of his family line and his tomb was filled with family treasures as well as his own. Many of the pieces were taken from the royal Temples of Tel El Amarna. For example the priceless royal throne on display in the Egyptian Museum shows King Tut being anointed by his wife with a background of the Sun God Aten, the symbol of his father Akhenaten's heresy. Tutankhamun completely renounced his father's teachings but carried the symbols to his grave with the artifacts left in his tomb.

Many of the glazed vases and sceptres clearly belonged to his father's reign. Some of the funerary objects were proved to have been made for Semnekh-Ka-Ra, Akhenaten's son-in-law and co-regent. This included one of the larger shrines, some of the mummy ornaments and the miniature canopic coffins.

This is a sign that the tomb was used in a hurry as a result of the King's sudden death at a young age. It is clear the there was no time to finish the tomb. It is unlikely if it will ever be known exactly if the King died by accident or was murdered. It appears from forensics carried out that he likely died from a blow to the head.

If it is proven that the young Pharaoh was murdered, it raises another question as to who was guilty? Was it his tutor Eye, who probably married his wife after his death. Or was it General Haremhab (Horemheb) who wanted the throne and seized it from the blue-bloods at the beginning of the 19th Dynasty? We will likely never know.

Avril Betts CHA - I am an owner of A-Z Tours and Action Travel with my partner Khaled Azzam. We are travel and tour specialists. I have been in the travel business for over 30 years and specialize in custom tours to any destination and Khaled is an Egyptologist specializing in Egypt tours.

A-Z Tours is our online agency offering personalized one on one travel and tour services around the world. Action Travel is our retail agency in Richmond, BC, Canada offering Corporate and Leisure travel to any destination.

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Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - Luxor - Egypt

The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut also known as Deir El-Bahri is located on the West Bank of Luxor framed by steep cliffs and cut into the side of the mountain. This magnificent Temple was the inspiration of the Queen who would be King - Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I. To know the history of the Temple one needs to know something of the Queen who built it.

Queen Hatshepsut was prevented by her sex from succeeding to the throne after her father Thutmose 1st. although as daughter to the Great Royal wife of Ahmose her lineage made her the only lawful heir as all his sons were from minor wives. She married her half-brother Thutmose II and retained the regency during his reign and co-regency during the subsequent reign of Thutmose III retaining power in her capable hands.

There is no doubt that Queen Hatshepsut was not about to let the fact she was a woman stand in her way of becoming King. She was iron-willed and wore a royal shirt and ceremonial beard, the badges of Kingship. She assumed the throne name-Makere and proved her right to the throne through numerous reliefs of her divine birth.

Once Hatshepsut had secured the throne she embarked on building Temples and Monuments and restoring damaged sanctuaries. As she could not record her name in history through military conquests she sought to record herself in history through architectural achievements.

She erected obelisks in the Karnak Temple is such a way that the glittering tips would shine over the Two Lands just as it appeared in the horizon of heaven. She planned Del El-Bahri to be no less spectacular. She worked with her architect Senmut, drawing ideas from the adjacent 11th Dynasty Temple of the Pharaohs Mentuhotep II and III, but on a larger scale. Using the idea of a terrace and adding an extra tier, he designed a terraced sanctuary including courts, one above the other with connecting sloping ramps at the center. It included shrines dedicated to Hathor and Anubis and chambers devoted to the Queen and her parents.

For Senmut it was a labor of love. He started his service with Hatshepsut as a tutor to her daughter Neferure. He was ambitious and had strong abilities that moved him high on the ladder of success. He was Queen Hatshepsut's strong supporter, lover and no doubt her political adviser and conducted himself as a member of the royal family having no fewer than 40 titles enjoying privileges and perks never before given to a man of humble birth. He was allowed to construct his tomb near the Temple of Hatshepsut something never allowed for any official before or after.

Queen Hatshepsut's body has never been found although she had two tombs. The first tomb was in the Valley of the Kings where all members of the 18th Dynasty were laid to rest. After she became Pharaoh she built a second tomb in the Taker Zeid Valley overlooking the Valley of the Kings. The first tomb was designed so that the corridors, burrowed 213 meters beneath the barrier hill would lead to the tomb chamber itself directly beneath the mortuary temple. It appeared that she wanted to be buried in the Valley of the Kings but wished to conform to the ancient practice of linking the tomb with the mortuary temple. The passage was very basic and bad rock among other things prevented the passage from being completed and was abandoned.

Hatshepsut's sarcophagus was enlarged to receive the body or her father Thutmose I, until the priests of the 20th Dynasty moved his mummy to the shaft of Deir el Bahri for safe keeping. His own tomb had already been used by Thutmose II, who died prematurely after a short co-regency with Queen Hatshepsut. When Thutmose III asserted himself as Pharaoh he expelled Queen Hatshepsut from the throne. In his anger he waged a campaign of destruction obliterating her name, statues and any reference to her from every temple in the land, including Deir el Bahri.

Later King Akenaten further mutilated the inscriptions at Deir el Bahri.They were further mutilated when Ramses II endeavoured to restore them with shoddy workmanship. Later the Christian monks setup a convent there adding further to the overall desecration, leaving the temple much as it is today.

Avril Betts CHA - I am an owner of A-Z Tours and Action Travel with my partner Khaled Azzam. We are travel and tour specialists. I have been in the travel business for over 30 years and specialize in custom tours to any destination and Khaled is an Egyptologist specializing in Egypt tours.

A-Z Tours is our online agency offering personalized one on one travel and tour services around the world. Action Travel is our retail agency in Richmond, BC, Canada offering Corporate and Leisure travel to any destination.

http://www.a-ztours.com
http://www.actiontravel.ca

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