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1. Amazing Egypt
- More than Just the Wonders of Antiquity
Egypt is one of the most fascinating destinations
on the world tourist map. This extra ordinary country is today
the favourite vacation spot for many, just like it was in
the days of the early Greeks and Romans. The thoroughly cultured
Greeks, in particular, were fascinated by this civilization
that predated theirs by at least 2000 years. The biggest draw
continues to be the amazing abundance of historical treasures-
temples, pyramids and museums -contained in this one country.
But the destination offers more than just the wonders of antiquity.
Your visit to Egypt can be rounded off by a cruise down the
Nile and a beach vacation at the top notch Red Sea and Sinai
resorts.
The unification of the Kingdoms of Lower and
Upper Egypt around BC 3180 marks the point from when Egypt
became a significant power. This event is credited with Menes,
who thus became the first Pharaoh. Menes went on to establish
a new capital at Memphis, just to the south of where Cairo
stands today. For the next 3000 years and under 30 dynasties
of the Pharaohs, a dynamic and culturally sophisticated civilization
flourished. It was not however smooth sailing for the descendants
of Menes and power was for short periods in the hands of foreigners.
Historians as usual want to simplify things and have now divided
up the reign of the Pharaohs into three periods: the Old Kingdom
(2575-2134 BC), Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 BC) and New Kingdom
(1550-1070 BC).
It is a curious fact that most monuments of
the Pharaohs relate to death. Though moderns may see this
as an unhealthy preoccupation with death, some scholars see
it as an indication of the ancient Egyptians great love for
life and desire for continued existence. The pyramid was the
highest evolution in the practice of preparing elaborate tombs
for the departed. Pyramids were the final resting place, from
where the Pharaohs enjoyed the afterlife. The most famous
of these edifices are the Pyramids of Giza, built in the 4th
Dynasty (2575-2465 BC), when the power of these ancient kings
was at its peak.
Religion was another reason for the great
monuments of ancient Egypt. The deities found deserving of
worship were truly diverse. And many, many temples were built
in honour of these gods. Temples for the most esteemed gods
were quite elaborate and were administered by high priests.
Auxiliary buildings housed libraries, granaries, and what
may today be considered as research laboratories for astronomers,
biologists and other scientists. Most gods were linked with
specific animals and to whom special powers were attributed.
Some gods came and went but the sun god was one of the most
enduring. It has been suggested that the design of the pyramids
had some association with practices of the sun cult. The Pharaoh
was considered to be a living god.
The Greeks, in the name of Alexander the Great
finally brought the Age of the Pharaohs to an end in 332 BC.
He founded that city that bears his name, Alexandria. The
Greeks ushered in a period of comparative prosperity and stability
under descendants of Ptolemy. Ptolemy was the Macedonian general
who was appointed by Alexander as governor. The Pharos Lighthouse,
one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the Great
Library of Alexandria were built in this era.
As the Greeks declined, so did the Romans
rise, and they too cast a covetous eye upon Egypt. The last
of the Ptolomies was the notorious Cleopatra, lover to both
Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The Roman Empire too declined
Egypt was torn apart by foreign armies. The most significant
event at this time was the invasion of the Arabs in 462 AD.
Though other foreigners including Ottoman Turks, French and
British, subsequently ruled the country, it is the Arabs who
brought Islam whose legacy has been the most enduring.
Egypt is today a modern vibrant nation that
carries the burden of its 5,000-year history graciously. Just
like in ancient times, the Nile sustains the country and upto
95% of the population live in close proximity of the river.
The rest of the country is desolate desert, mitigated only
by a few isolated oases and the habitable narrow strips along
the African Red Sea and the Mediterranean coastlines. According
to the tourism ministry, Egypt for the visitor is best seen
as six tourist super-sites. This covers the most popular destinations
and excludes off-the-beaten-track locations. The six super-sites
are anchored on: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada
on the Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh in Sinai. Except for Luxor,
none of these destinations relies entirely on ancient monuments
to attract visitors. See the Egypt
Tours and Vacations page of our website to view
info and make a reservation for these destinations.
Cairo is a huge, sprawling and chaotic metropolis.
It has all the amenities of a modern city and is the usual
gateway for the visitor to Egypt. Cairo is a young city relative
to nearby Heliopolis, Giza and Memphis that are associated
with the Pharaohs. The city began as a Roman trading post
called Babylon- in the area now referred to as Coptic Cairo.
This area was a settlement of one of the world's first Christian
communities. This predominantly Christian locale houses a
museum that is a repository of religious art, manuscripts,
paintings and pottery.
But it is the Arab invaders who arrived in
the 7th century who can be said to have founded the city.
They settled just north of the area referred to as Old Cairo.
The medieval district of Islamic Cairo is densely packed with
people and lots of mosques and temples. This is where many
still go during the month of Ramadan to eat and spend the
night after a days' fast. Giza on the Niles' west bank is
where you will find the Great Pyramids. These truly magnificent
monuments were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You will appreciate the achievement of the builders of these
edifices when you reflect on the fact that until the 19th
century they were the world's largest buildings.
The visitor to Cairo will easily tuck in trips
to see museums, mosques and monuments such as Pyramids and
the Sphinx. To commemorate your visit to this unforgettable
city, visit the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. The wide array of
souvenirs on sale here includes jewelry, brass, silver and
copperware, carpets, perfumes, alabaster and soapstone carvings.
You will also find reproductions of antiquities, which you
are advised to buy as opposed to anything presented as original.
Such "originals" are usually counterfeit, and it
is in any case illegal to export the real article.
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