Egyptian Tourism: April 2016

City of Abu Simbel

City of Abu Simbel :

City of Egypt on Lake Nasser, Abu Simbel is situated 290 km from Aswan not far from the Sudanese border.Access is by plane and also by road, in perfect condition, from Aswan. Abu Simbel is easily explored on foot in one day.

On the plane taking me to Abu Simbel, I look out the window this huge lake that has displaced more than 100,000 Nubians and engulfed towns, villages and temples (both speak the Nubian culture). Between 1963 and 1970 fourteen buildings were saved at the cost of a titanic work. Abu Simbel is the most famous of them. It seems always to have been there, hieratic in the desert, far, far from Thebes, the capital of the Pharaohs located some 1000 km further north. Hard to realize that the original location of the Abu Simbel temple is 65m lower under water and that each of the Colossi of 20m high was cut and reassembled block by block. Ramses II, the builder of genius, would not have denied such a performance. Its four gigantic statues are always serene, wearing beard hairpiece, Nemes and pschent -the attributes of his Rang facing the sunset.

His mother, Queen Tuya, his wife Nefertari and her daughter seem Meritamun snuggling between the huge legs of pharaoh protector and warrior like like to remind the frescoes engraved on the interior walls of the narthex. The sun itself participates in the omnipotence of the king. 20 February and 20 October, dates of birth and coronation of Ramses, its rays pass through the temple sanctuary until illuminating one by one the statues of Amun-Re, Ramesses II and Re-Horakhty. One remains in the shadows, that of Ptah, the god of death. Ramses, no doubt, knew he was immortal. The best evidence: he was also rescued from the water!

To know :

Between 1963 and 1970 fourteen buildings were saved at the cost of a titanic work. Abu Simbel is the most famous of them. The temple seems to have always been there, hieratic in the desert, far, far from Thebes, the capital of the Pharaohs located some 1000 km further north. Hard to realize that the original location is 65m lower under water and that each of the Colossi of 20m high was cut and reassembled block by block. Ramses II, the builder of genius, would not have denied such a performance. Put it also identical, the temple of Hathor dedicated to Queen Nefertari, wife of Pharaoh, adds to the magic of the place. Clad colossus of Ramesses, these two temples seem to keep an invisible door, that of the omnipotence of the Pharaohs face of nothingness, facing barbarism of land lifeless and hopeless.

Written by: Antoine Lorgnier

Elephantine Island Egypt

The Elephantine position in the middle of the Nile and on the borders of Nubia would be enough to distinguish this ancient city from the different places of Egypt, when she would not be remarkable for its antiques and its rank in the country's history. The greenery and the freshness of his campaigns so pleasantly contrast with the arid soil that surrounds it, which was nicknamed the Flower Garden Island and the tropics.

The traveler whose curiosity is tired, exhausted by painful steps, and by the same number of monuments and paintings of all genres he has seen since Philae addresses with a sense of joy in this island, which shows him suddenly as an enchanted place, amidst these blackish peaks and the sparkling sands that occupy and fill the horizon. It's not that this territory is a richer culture than the rest of Egypt; it draws all its horrible price website and desert that surrounds it. Mulberry trees, acacias, napecas are, with DUM and the date palm, the only trees Elephantine: some are used as hedges and borders the gardens, others have spread into small wood in the fields; others form an irregular Avenue on the north side. When browsing the trails of the island, was the ear continually struck by the sound of many pots with wheels which still serve, as in the time of Strabo, irrigation of the country, and who have an inexhaustible fertility. Nothing in this island is left uncultivated the rock: each portion of silt that the Nile deposits, is utilized every year, and we are immediately sown vegetables, until landing take enough space to receive the plow. Thus the island almost a whole was formed gradually by river alluvium; the rock which the terminal at noon, served as core to these alluvial deposits.

We walk, we rest with delight in the shade of these evergreen trees; the pure and fresh air that breathes because inexpressible sensation, whose charm may well be felt by those who have approached the tropics. This is the sweet impression that less hot temperature, the opposition meadows and rocks, fields and desert, greenery and sand, gardens and wildest site, in a word contrast of nature and art, that give this district a distinct physiognomy and quite different from the too monotonous aspect of all other points of Egypt.

Finally, amidst all these pictures so varied, so picturesque, the traveler still enjoys the spectacle of several ancient monuments that have remained standing; small but precious remains of the ancient power of Elephantine. This is the first cultivated land of Egypt, and such is the entrance of the Nile in this country when he crossed the granite chain therethrough, and the countless pitfalls of the last cataract.

By: http://www.visite-egypte.com/histoire-egypte/ile-elephantine/

The Lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria

The Pharos lighthouse was built to protect them from the coast of Alexandria, of course, but also, according to Jean-Yves Empereur, as a work of propaganda. The entire city was built disproportionately and the Lighthouse was to be the symbol. The result was such that from the lighthouse word (from the island of Pharos, Latin Pharus) is commonly used to designate this type of building. Moreover, although there was in Alexandria other buildings just as famous as the Lighthouse (La Grande Bibliothèque, the Tomb of Alexander), it will become emblematic of the city and still is today.

Le Phare dominating the coast and allowed the sailors to have a landmark, the coast is relatively flat.One can read in Strabo that the Lighthouse was built in white stone that would actually be a local limestone (white stone Mex) which has the characteristic to harden on contact with water. It is also believed that the most critical parts of the Lighthouse were made in Aswan granite. Besides Fort Qaitbay, built on the Lighthouse site was built using the same process.

Written by: Charles Rossignol

City of Luxor

Finally we arrive in Luxor, the boat docks to the ledge in front of the Museum of Ancient Egyptian art.

A gem, the ancient Egyptian art museum. His visit is a must prior to that of the surrounding temples. The statues are perfectly informed, appear out of the mists of time, allow us to imagine the wealth of temples.Egyptian statuary reaches its perfection, from classicism cold, impersonal and timeless Middle Kingdom to the expressionism of the New Kingdom or under Amenhotep IV, statues finally come to life, character and humanity. Luxor and Karnak, Luxor or Karnak, in what order do the visits?
The dilemma will be resolved quickly. Luxor Temple is closer to the boat, smaller and as the day declines already, I chose to start with this site. Brought under Amenhotep III (fourteenth century BC. J.-C.) and Ramses II (thirteenth century BC. J.-C.), the Temple of Luxor does used it only once a year when the statues of the gods Theban were out of the temple of Amun at Karnak to celebrate Opet, the New Year holiday. the procession then borrowed the dromos, long triumphal way 2.5km lined say 700 sphinx human head, today largely buried beneath the new city.
The dromos reappears just in time to welcome visitors at the entrance of the site and support the feet of the impressive tower of Ramses II guarded by three giants of the pharaoh. The Paris obelisk must feel really alone since he knows that he will never join his alter ego Egyptian. In 1980, France has indeed renounced this gift from Mohammed Ali. 1831 but it is still! The vast courtyard of Ramses II is dominated by the minaret of the mosque Abu el-Haggag. Optical illusion, mirage of history, power of faith, I know, but the mosque appears suspended in the air carried by the millennia shaped columns papyrus. All over the walls, scenes recount the progress of the Opet festival, the procession of solar boats, complicated and sumptuous ritual linked to the ceremony, one time of year or the people could see the statues of the three Theban gods Amun, Mut and Monthou. Unconsciously, my feet are heavy and hard on the stones and I suddenly realize why. In 1989, an American archaeological mission from probing the foundations in the court of Amenhotep III was discovered an underground hiding containing twenty extraordinary statues. I was hoping to repeat the feat in stamping his foot, dreaming of a clear harbinger of his secret rooms and hidden treasures that suddenly shoot out of the ground.Ridiculous, I admit, but how to prevent?

How many extraordinary discoveries were the result of chance? In the oasis of Baharîya, a donkey gets a foot in a hole and hundreds of mummies appear. In the Valley of the Kings, a worker scans the rubble and the steps of the tomb of Tutankhamen arise from oblivion. Hope is crazy and exhilarating play. The hall of the birth of Amenhotep III sweeps these childish dreams. On the walls reveals the secret alchemy that presides at the birth of the pharaohs. A galaxy of gods is requested. Amon, Thoth, Thoueris, Bes and Hathor are in the game but Khnum is central to everything. It was he who, on his potter's wheel, shaping the future pharaoh. Clay, again and again. Night fell unveiling another site.The game lighting has changed the outlook, unveiled details unnoticed past. The metamorphosis is surprising. A new visit is required. Back at the boat, discussions are far from the Egyptian pantheon. I went through the souk and like everyone else I succumbed to the temptation. I am proud of my spice sachets and my cups of blown glass, negotiated on any property at best bitter moult palaver and stratagems force.
Cruel disillusion. " How many ? ", " You are crazy ! I have had them for much less! "" You're done you have! "" Ah, my poor, next time come with me. " are just some examples of these cultural exchanges high fly that will occupy most of my Theban nights. But what a joke. The human soul is literally put a cloud in these crucial moments. There are those that border apoplexy have paid more than others, sadists who remit a layer type "and besides it's fake," the champions who have purchased any "cheaper than free" the farsighted who took the opportunity to buy gifts next Christmas, who resigned anyway know they will roll and indifferent that annoy all the world remembering that this vain agitation represents the final few cents euros. Links are forged, teams are formed, "tomorrow, ah tomorrow, he will see what he will see this merchant."
The competition is launched.

Translator: http://www.visite-egypte.com/

Pyramids of Giza

On the Giza Plateau throne three of the most famous of the Egyptian pyramids. Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus, massive, certainly, but slender, proudly wear this elegant nonchalance acquired over the centuries which makes them even more beautiful.

To start numbers: Cheops, 148 meters high at the origin (currently 138 meters), 230 m square, 2.3 million stone blocks around, average weight 2.5 tonnes each block, spread on 201 levels, Chephren 136.50 meters high, finally Mykérinos 66 meters high and includes a block that weighs 290 volumes. The scholars of the Egyptian expedition calculated that cobbling all blocks. Everything distance affair. Too close, the prospect is crushed. Too far, it's not that either. So it takes a walk, or even rent a camel to find the best view. The place remains the one known of all raw camel. There to the south, this slightly elevated rocky outcrop is unforgettable in the late afternoon when the low-angled light is caught in the dust tourist camel.

Formerly, each pyramid was covered with limestone plates, reflecting the sun hid the eyes of looters entering the building. At the top, a golden pyramidion would shine brightly. All that has disappeared.Plunderers and builders have used transforming the vast necropolis of Giza in vast stone quarry. Only the pyramids remain large and small. Dromos, mastabas, funerary temples and other palaces were leveled. Stubborn archaeologists nonetheless miracles. In 1818 an adventurer named Giovanni Belzoni is the entrance to the pyramid of Khafre opening one way of understanding the Egyptian funerary rites. In 1926, the tomb of Queen Hetepheres mother of Khufu and wife of Sneferu, was discovered intact. In 1954, two large pits perfectly concealed engage each a solar boat as a clever giant puzzle of 1224 pieces. That set at the foot of the pyramid of Cheops will need ten years of work and reflection. Many mysteries still hang on the Giza Plateau.

Conclusion

Do we ever discover the famous secret chamber of the Great Pyramid? Pierce it ever the enigma of the Sphinx, its meaning? Under questioning, the sand and under the sand ... the mystery!