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Cairo
The capital of
Egypt and the largest city in
Africa, the name means "the victorious city". It is located on both banks of the River Nile near the head of the river's delta in northern
Egypt and has been settled for more than 6000 years, serving as the capital of numerous Egyptian civilizations.
Cairo is known locally as "Misr", the Arabic name for
Egypt, because of its centrality in Egyptian life. Greater
Cairo is spread across three of
Egypt's administrative governorates. The north eastern part is known as Kaliobia Governorate, while the west bank is part of the governorate of Giza, and the eastern parts and south eastern parts are another governorate known as Cairo, the three parts are known together as greater Cairo. The city is marked by the traditions and influences of the East and the West, the ancient and the modern. However, the city also reflects
Egypt's growing poverty, and it struggles to cope with problems caused by massive population growth, urban sprawl, and a deteriorating infrastructure.
The city of
Cairo covers an area of more than 453 sq km (more than 175 sq m), though it is difficult to separate the city from some of its immediate suburbs. Bracketed by the desert to the east, south, and west and bounded by the fertile Nile delta to the north,
Cairo sits astride the river, though it spreads farther on the east bank than the west.
Cairo also includes several river islands, which play an important role in the life of the city. As the region's principal commercial, administrative, and tourist centre,
Cairo contains many cultural institutions, business establishments, governmental offices, universities, and hotels, which together create a dense pattern of constant activity.
The centre of downtown
Cairo is
Tahrir Square( Midan Tahrir, if you are asking a taxi driver) located on the east bank. A hub of tourist activity, the vast and open square contains numerous attractions, including the
Egyptian
Museum, the Arab League headquarters, and the modern Umar Makram Mosque. Extending from north to south along the east bank of the
Nile is the Corniche,
Cairo's main thoroughfare. Located nearby is the narrow strip of land known as Garden City, one of the city's newer residential areas. In the centre of the city is the river
island of
Zamalek (also called Jezerah, meaning "the Island"), which contains the upscale residential and commercial neighborhood also known as Zamalek, the
Cairo.
Opera House (founded in 1869), and the
Cairo
Tower (1961). Three bridges link the island with both banks of the river. The
island of
Al-Rodah, located to the south, is linked to the mainland by two additional bridges, while another bridge to the north carries road and rail traffic across the
Nile.
Outside the city's central area on the east bank, spanning from the northeast to the southeast, are the neighborhoods of Islamic Cairo. These neighborhoods are known for their narrow streets, crowded markets (bazaars), and hundreds of Mosques, many dating back to the medieval period. South of the Islamic district is Old Cairo, where some of the city'soldest architectural monuments can be found. Old
Cairo is the home of
Cairo's Coptic Christian community, and the site of the
Coptic
Museum plus a number of Coptic churches.
Population:
In 2006
Cairo was estimated to have a population of 18 million. The people of
Cairo are known as Cairenes; nearly all of them are Egyptians with small number of foreigner. The city is an important centre of the Islamic faith, and Cairens are predominantly Sunni Muslims; however, the city is also home to a sizable Coptic community, which traces its origins to the
Christians who populated
Cairo before the arrival of Islam.
Cairo's population swells daily as workers flow into the city from the surrounding area, clogging roads and rail lines every morning and evening. Many Cairenes are recent arrivals from villages along the
Nile. These rural migrants arrive with few skills or resources, and compound the existing problems of unemployment and scarce housing.
Education and Culture:
The most famous educational institution in
Cairo is the
Al-Azhar
University, the oldest in the Islamic world. The institution has grown up around the Al-Azhar Mosque, the oldest Mosque in
Cairo. The Fatimid founded both the university and Mosque in 970.
Al-Azhar
University is an authoritative voice throughout the Islamic world, and its positions on important issues are influential in
Egypt and the Arab world. Other institutions of higher education include
Cairo
University (Founded in1908) and
Ain
Shams
University (1950), which together enrolls more than 100,000 students; and the
American
University in
Cairo, founded in 1919, where the children of
Egypt's elite mingle with students and faculty from abroad. Egyptian history is displayed and preserved in the city's numerous Museum collections.
The
Egyptian
Museum (Founded in 1902) contains hundreds of thousands of artifacts, including more than 1700 pieces from the collection of Tutankhamen. The
Museum of
Islamic Arts (1881) contains a vast collection relating to early Islamic civilization, and the
Coptic
Museum (1910) traces the history of the Coptic community in
Egypt. Other Cairo Museums maintain collections relating to more modern themes; these range from the El-Gawhara Palace Museum, built in 1811 in the Ottoman style, to the Mahmoud Khalil Museum, founded in 1963, which contains works by Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Peter Paul Rubens, and other European and Egyptian painters of renown.
What to See in
Cairo:
Cairo contains numerous religious and governmental structures. The ornate architecture of the Citadel, in eastern
Cairo, enhances the city's skyline. Begun by Saladin in 1176 and modified and expanded by later sultans, the Citadel is famous for its Mosques, Museums, and fort; within the complex the Mohammad Ali Mosque (1830) is particularly notable, with its storied domes and twin minarets. The Coptic Church known as Al Mu'allaqa, located in Old Cairo, is believed to be the earliest known site of Christian worship in
Egypt; the church was built in the 3rd century, though it has been almost entirely replaced through successive restorations.
Old
Cairo also contains the Ben Ezra synagogue, the central house of worship for
Cairo's small Jewish population, and the distinctive and imposing gates of
Cairo. Once part of a wall that encircled the city, these three gates are all that remain of the original eight. Among
Cairo's modern buildings are the
Cairo
Tower, which stands at a height of 187 m (about 614 ft) and commands a view of the Pyramids and the Citadel.
THE PYRAMIDS OF
GIZA
The Pyramids of Giza are perhaps the most famous ancient monuments in the world. Located on the west side of the
Nile, thousands of visitors from around the world spend hours walking around the grounds trying to comprehend the scale of the monuments. Although smooth-looking from a distance, the pyramids were actually constructed using large irregular stone blocks. Today, the remains of the outer casement stones used to finish construction are still visible near the apex of Chephren Pyramid. When new, they would have gleamed brilliant white in the sunlight.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) was not only the first pyramid built at
Giza but also the largest. When completed, it stood some 480 feet tall and contained nearly 6.8 million tons of limestone. Nearby, three smaller pyramids were constructed for Khufu's queens. Located around the base of Khufu's pyramid are five large boat pits, two of which contained the perfectly preserved remains of royal barges. Early last century, one barge was removed from its pits and painstakingly reconstructed and placed in the
Solar
Boat
Museum located on the pyramid's south side.
THE SPHINX
Carved from the bedrock of the
Giza plateau, the Sphinx is truly a mysterious marvel from the days of ancient
Egypt. The body of a lion with the head of a King or God, the Sphinx has come to symbolize strength and wisdom. The most popular and current theory of the builder of the Sphinx holds that it was commissioned by the 4th Dynasty King, Khafre (2558-2532 BCE) one of the sons of Khufu (Cheops) who himself is recognized as the builder of the Great Pyramid. The Sphinx lines up with the Pyramid of Khafre at the foot of its causeway.
LUXOR
LUXOR is the world's greatest open-air museum, filled with the awe-inspiring monuments of ancient civilization. As it was the capital of
Egypt during the New Kingdom; as
Thebes it was described by Homer as "the 100 Gates City", Its later name, Al-Uqsur, means "City of the Palaces". Today it is famous for its temples and the nearby
Valley of the Kings with approximately 450 000 inhabitants.
On the East Bank is the modern town of
Luxor. Running alongside part of the river bank and separated from it by the Corniche is
Luxor
Temple. Modified over many centuries, its main pylons, or gates, are on the northern end. In front of them is one obelisk – its companion was given to
France and taken to
Paris where it was erected in Place de la Concorde on October, 25th 1836.At the northern end of town is the sprawling
Karnak complex of temples built over a span of about 1,500 years. About halfway between
Luxor and Karnak temples is located the
Luxor.
The
West Bank was the domain of the deceased and it is dominated by mortuary temples and hundred of tombs. The major temples include the Ramesseum – the Famous mortuary temple of 19th Dynasty pharaoh Ramesses II, Medinet Habu – Ramesses III's attempt to copy his ancestor the mortuary temple of 18th Dynasty Queen Hatshepsut built into a natural amphitheatre in the cliffs constructed during the early 15th century BC, Deir el Medina – the workmen's village - , the Colossi of Memnon, the Valley of the Queens, where queens of the 18th and 19th Dynasties were buried.
Most famous of all on the West Bank is the
Valley of the Kings. Although its modern paths detract a little from its atmosphere, it is stillpossible to feel the link to the distant past. Tutankhamen's tomb is worth visiting just to appreciate how small was the area that contained the riches now partly on show at the
Egyptian
Museum in
Cairo. However, there are many other more impressive tombs such as Thutmose III (The Napoleon of Ancient Egypt), Ramesses III, IV and VI, and Horemheb. That of Horemheb contains examples of how workmen created wall reliefs. The Tomb of Seti I is a masterpiece, but structural problems keep it closed these days. The official name for the Valley of the Kings in ancient times was The Great and Majestic Necropolis of the Millions of Years of the Pharaoh, Life, Strength, Health in The West of Thebes (see above for the hieroglyphic spelling), or more usually, Ta-sekhet-ma'at (the Great Field).
A walk in
Luxor is a walk through the history!
ASWAN
Aswan,
Egypt's sunniest southern city and ancient frontier town located about 81 miles south of
Luxor, has a distinctively African atmosphere. Its ancient Egyptian name was Syene. Small enough to walk around and graced with the most beautiful setting on the
Nile, the pace of life is slow and relaxing. Days can be spent strolling up and down the broad Corniche watching the sailboats etch the sky with their tall masts or sitting in floating restaurants listening to Nubian music and eating freshly caught fish. In
Aswan the
Nile is at its most beautiful, flowing through amber desert and granite rocks, around emerald islands covered in palm groves and tropical plants. Explore the souk, full of the scent and color of spices, perfumes, scarves, and baskets. View the spectacular sunsets while having tea on the terrace of the Old Cataract Hotel.
Aswan has been a favorite winter resort since the beginning of the 19th century, and it's still a perfect place to get away from it all. 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 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 worldwide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over a third of a mile 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. Antiquity experts have now filled most of the joints in the stone, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut. Located near
Aswan, the world-famous High Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s.
Today, it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of
Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam built by the British between 1898 and 1902 down river, provides a wonderful view for visitors.
EDFU
Edfu (Idfu) is about 65 miles from
Aswan but it houses the best preserved cult temple in
Egypt, known as The Temple of Horus at Edfu, which is essential viewing for archaeological enthusiasts. The town was known as Tbot by the early Egyptians, by the Greeks as Apollinopolis Magna, and as Atbo during Coptic times. It was the capital of the second
Nome (Horus) of
Upper Egypt. The
Nile
River is possibly the most famous river in history. It was by its banks that one of the oldest civilizations in the world began. Not surprisingly, the
Nile teems with life. Many different types of animals, birds, and fish all call the
Nile
River home. Hundreds of years ago even hippos and lions could be found here in the
Nile
Valley.
The Nile, a lifeline connecting Upper and
Lower Egypt is also vivid with cultural scenes: the scattered villages, the feluccas sailing quietly, the boats, laden with sugar canes, cotton bales, or pottery of ancient design.
As you cruise the
Nile these sights transfer you centuries back to the past. During the entire journey you will admire fascinating scenery and almost unimaginable combinations of colors: the deep blue waters of the Nile, the pink of the distant hills, the light yellow of the Infinite desert, the emerald green of the fields, and the palm groves, orange trees, red camellias, jasmine and lotus. As if emerging from thousands of years in the past, you will witness the grand and impressive temples and monuments of the Pharaohs. A cruise on the
Nile is an incomparable experience that we offer you in superb conditions.
The river cruise fleet consists of modern and luxurious "floating hotels" with high-quality engines, air-conditioning systems, and modern amenities, all of which contribute to the comfort and security of the guests. All rooms are spacious and have a wide panoramic view of the river. Food served on board equals that of the best restaurants.
NUBIA
The area to the south of Kom Ombo until the
Sisal
Mountains in the south of the Nile valley is basically known as
Nubia,
Nubia is divided into two parts:
Upper Nubia which is part of
Sudan now, and lower
Nubia which the most southern part of
Egypt and ends up in to Wadi Halfa. It is in our modern time that attention has been given to this part of
Egypt since the construction of the Aswan First Dam and then flowed by the Aswan High Dam, ever since that time the eyes of the Egyptologists over the world turned to this site.
The etymology of the name of
Nubia is uncertain but some researchers believe it is derived from the ancient Egyptian word Nbu, meaning gold, referring to the gold mines for which
Nubia was famous. The ancient Egyptian texts have no reference to this name, but they referred to
Nubia generally as Ta-Seti, meaning the land of the Bow, a clear reference to the weapon favored by the Nubians.
Nubian was a very important commercial route for African trade, as it was rich with gold, fine stones and temper. At the times of the 6th dynasty ancient Egyptians send expedition to upper
Nubia to trade and recruit Nubian people into the army. At the time of the Middle Kingdom the more military expeditions were sent to control bigger areas of
Nubia and prevent immigrants to come t
Egypt expect for trade. At the time of the New Kingdom especially during the 18th dynasty, more of these campaigns were sent to
Nubia to secure the northern borders of
Egypt. King Thutmosis II took over the city of
Dongula which is located at the fourth cataract, he added a new principality to the country by appointing a new ruler for Kosh, it was also when many of the Egyptian monuments where constructed ,
By the end of the New Kingdom the
province of
Nubia was controlled directly by the priests of the god Amon. They established a cult centre in the city of
Nabat for the god Amon Ra.
During the seventh century AD the capital of Kosh moved from the city of
Nabata to the city of
Morei, and the influence of the ancient Egyptian civilization started to fade gradually.
By the Greco-Roman times, the area had once again flourished, and many temples were built or rebuilt at this time. In the Roman times the many roman emperors sent military campaigns to suppress the Belimy tribes who have waged many raids on the southern provinces of
Egypt.
When Christianity became the prevailing religion in
Egypt, many Christian monasteries were built in
Nubia and many of the Nubian monuments wereconverted into churches. Including the Temples of Philae and the temples of Dendour,Tafa, Beit EL Wali, Gerf Housian, and Wadi-Es-Sebua. With the spread of Christianity through Nubia Pagan beliefs began to dwindle along with Morai culture. A new age was beginning, in which Christianity played an important rule, during the eight and ninth,
Nubia enjoyed growth and prosperity in both political and cultural spheres, at the rate which had not been for a long time.
The Coptic patriarch at Alexandria was acknowledged as head of the many churches, monasteries and cathedrals built in the style of the basilicas common in the Byzantine Empire.Folk Heritage of Nubia Because of its long cultural history, the folk heritage of Nubia is rich, varied and wonderfully original. It is has distinctive features since its the result of the mingled groups that make up the Nubian people. The Kenzi who speak the Matouki language and the Faijke who speak their own language, and the tribe of Aliqat who moved to
Nubia from the Sinai in the 18th century. Nubian folk heritage naturally includes building, furniture, arts, crafts, jewelry and costumes.
Houses:
The Nubian houses are built of stone, clay and sand; the roofs are commonly built of Jareed and grain stalks. The roofs of the well-to–do are arched domes of clay bricks. The walls of the house especially the façade are decorated with ornaments and paintings of flags, flowers birds and animals. Crockery is often used for wall decorations; a plate usually occupies the centre of the wall decor.
A Nubian house is usually composed of:
- The entrance hall opens to a courtyard.
- Domed bedrooms.
- The kitchen and toilet.
Amulets, charms and talismans:
Nubians use amulets, charms and talismans for good luck and protection from the evil eye; some are painted on walls in the form of scorpions, eyes or triangles. Some are made of braided beads, shells or hair which hang on he post of the bed, or hang thickly form the ceiling. Baskets made of palm branches and decorated with white shells hanging from the ceiling may have the same function.
Dancing:
Nubian folk dancing is practiced in groups by women and men of all ages. A number of folk dances are performed in seasons of sowing and harvest, in prayer for prosperity and more crops.
Marriage and birth:
In
Nubia marriages are usually arranged by the elder relatives. The most common marriage is between cousins. The dowry at that case is much lower than what an outsider would have to pay. The amount varies in different tribes. Presents and money gifts are given to both families to help with the wedding expenses. Since the
Nile plays a very important role in Nubian culture, the couple have to go down to the river on their wedding night and wash into water to ensure prosperity, good health and many children.
When a male child is born, the birth is celebrated on the seventh day with the slaughter of a sheep. They recite passages of the Quran and the boy is given a name. But when the child is a female, they invite close friends and go together to the Nile bank where the baby is named.
Nubian art and its symbols:
Nubian art reflects Nubian culture. Many of it symbols and motives are significant experiences of folk traditions. This can be easily seen in wall paintings that decorate the façade and entrances halls of many Nubian houses. These symbols reoccur in the designs of beadworks and many kinds of baskets.
- Sward in the Nubian culture stands for courage and heroic achievements.
- Stars and crescent are Islamic symbols of good fortune.
- The black cat, crows and owls carry bad omens
- Roses and flowers in general stands for friendship and love
- The apple stands for feminine attraction
- Prayer rug stands for purity and chastity
Nubian monuments:
When the High Dam was built, the rising water of
Lake
Nasser threaten to flood the many Nubian monuments, therefore a Worldwide rescuecampaign was launched to save all Nubian monuments. Thanks to the collaboration of many different nations under the supervision of UNESCO, we were able to save many monuments
Some of these monuments are Ramses II Temple and
Nefertari
Temples in Abu- Simbel,
Temple of
Amada,
Temple of
Deer,
Temple of
Wadi es-Sebua and
Temple of
Kalabsha and Kasr Ibrim.
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