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.