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Egypt in Focus
On the western bank of the Nile, facing Cairo over the Giza plateau,
rise three pyramids, built by Cheops, Chepren, and Mycerinos, pharoahs who
ruled at the height of Egyptian power. Nearby, the Sphynx, etched
by centuries of wind and rain, keeps watch over the desert. Of the seven
wonders of the ancient world described by the historian Philon in 146 B.C.,
only the Pyramids of Giza still stand. Among the many archaeological
and historical treasures of Egypt, the pyramids and their majestic stone
guardian are one of the world's most important tourist sites. At night, the
the monuments are illuminated with spotlights to the accompaniment of traditional
Egyptian music and a narration of the history. The sound and light performances
are staged year-round and presented in Arabic, English, French, and
German.
The ancient site of Menf (Memphis), the first capital of Egypt,
is filled with monuments and tombs. The step pyramid of Saqqara, the oldest
large-scale stone structure in the Eastern Hemisphere, was built in 2916
B.C. for the pharoah Zoser. Pyramids abound in Egypt, starting with the Pyramid
of Abou Rawash in the north and ending with the Pyramids of Illahous at the
mouth of the Fayoum.
Cairo is a city of religious sites, museums, shopping bazaars,
and night life. Amr Ibn El Aas, built in A.D. 642, was the first mosque in
Egypt and the fourth in the world. The first pillars were made from the trunks
of palm trees, and the roof was covered with fronds. Ibn Touloun was the
third mosque built in Egypt and is one of the largesy. The mosque of El Azhar
houses one of the oldest Islamic universities with an extensive library of
books and manuscripts. The Mosque and School of Sultan Hassan is one of the
most impressive Islamic monuments in Egypt.
The Al Moalaqa Church, which dates from the fourth century, was built
on the pillars of the Roman fort of Bablyon. According to tradition, Abu
Serga Church is the place where Joseph and Mary fled with the infant Jesus
to escape from Herod. Among the most important Christian monuments in Egypt
are the monasteries that date from the early Christian era. Nine of them
are still inhabited by monks.
The Cairo tower, one of the most recent landmarks, offers sweeping
views of the city and suburbs. Cairo has an aquarium and a zoo, as well as
several scenic gardens, including Andalousian Garden, the Nile Garden, and
the Japanese Gardens.
The Egyptian Museum in El-Tahrir Square houses 250,000 artifacts
and art objects dating from 3000 B.C. The Coptic Museum in old Cairo has
rare collections of relics, textiles, and manuscripts from early Christian
times. The Museum of Islamic Art in the Public Library has some 65,000 art
objects from the Persian, Mamluki, and Turkish schools. The Egyptian Civilization
Museum has exhibits and artifcats depicting the development of Egyptian
civilization.
Night life in Cairo is focused on night clubs, theaters, casinos,
restaurants, and tea shops. Nile River cruises and camel rides are also popular
leisure pastimes. Helwan, known as the "city of health, beauty, and
sunshine," lies about 10 miles south of Cairo. Since ancient times, the city
has been noted for its dry climate and mineral hot springs.
Alexandria is the largest seaport in Egypt and a popular summer
resort area. Situated on the Mediterranean coast west of the Nile delta,
the city was built for Alexander the Great in 332 B.C. as the Greek capital
of Egypt. Alexandria is famous for its beaches, gardens, museums, archaeological
sites. Pompei Pillar was erected in 297 A.D. in memory of the Roman emperor
Diocletian. Montazah Palace, the former summer residence of the royal family,
was built on a bluff overlooking a picturesque beach. The Royal Jewelry Museum
houses a collection of precious jewels, paintings, tapestries, and sculptures.
Other noteworthy attractions include the Nozha garden, zoo, and Grec-Roman
Museum. Mersa Matrouh, a small seaport about 120 miles west of Alexandria,
is noted for its long strecth of white sand beach and calm, protected
waters.
The ruins of the ancient city of Thebes can be viewed in
Luxor, along with ancient Egyptian temples and the Colossi of Memnon.
The Temple of Luxor has huge papyrus columns adjoining the remnants of a
Christian church and Abu Haggag Mosque. The Temples of Karnak are noted for
their mysterious row of sphinxes bearing the faces of rams. In the City of
the Dead, at the base of a huge cliff, are two collosal statues of Memnon
guarding the tombs of Egyptian pharoahs and their queens. The tomb of Tut
Ank Amun lies in the Valley of the Kings, and that of Nefertari, the wife
of Ramses II, in the Valley of the Queens.
The Mausoleum of the Aga Khan can be explored at Aswan, in
southern Egypt near the shore of Lake Nasser. Several beach resorts are found
on the east coast south of Suez. Ain Sukhna and Hurghada are year-round resort
areas and the starting points for deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and boat
charters on the Red Sea. Other villages that cater to water-sports
enthusiasts include Safaga, Kosseir, Mars Alam, and Bernice. Facing the Red
Sea are more than 24 islands, including Zabargad opposite Bernice, and Gefton,
near the coast at Hurghada. Egypt's famous beaches are at Ras Mohammad, Sharm
el-Sheikh, Dahab, and Newebaa. The Red Sea is one of the best scuba-diving
sites in the world. The warm, clear waters and strong currents support a
thriving community of marine life, with multicolored formations of soft coral
and several species of fish that exist nowhere else. Most coastal towns have
facilities for scuba diving.
Country Profile
Egypt is the political, educational, and cultural center of the Arab
world. With a total land area of 385,229 square miles, Egypt has over 1,500
miles of coastline and a population of about 54.7 million. The capital, Cairo
(El-Qahira), is the largest city, with about 6 million residents.
King Menes, the first Egyptian ruler, united Upper and Lower Egypt
in 3200 B.C. The Egyptian empire reached the height of its power and
prosperity in 1085 B.C. Later, Egypt was conquered by the Persians, Greeks,
Romans, Byzantines, French, and Ottoman Turks. In 1840, Muhammed Ali established
a dynasty that ruled Egypt for over 100 years. The Suez Canal was completed
in 1869, under the rule of his grandnephew, Ismail. The British controlled
Egypt from 1882 until 1982, when the country became an independent kingdom.
Gamal Nasser, who became the head of state in 1952, improved the economy
and constructed the Aswan High Dam.
Copyright (c) 2002, Dennis L Foster. All rights
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