Till now the mystery  behind the name “Sphinx” is unknown but it was considered as a mythical figure mostly found out in front of the temple doors or pyramids as if it was guarding the same.  The sphinx comprises of a head of the lion with wings of a great bird & body of a human male.  Out of many such sphinxes being found out all across the world, the largest & the most celebrated one is the one in Giza. The face of it is believed to be of the Pharaoh Khafra. Its location is on the western banks of the Nile River facing the East. It is one of the oldest discovered monumental architecture  is visited by a number of tourists all over the world everyday.

Giza, the home of the great Sphinx is just around ten to twelve km from Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. You can either take a taxi or avail a bus for reaching over there. There is also metro service from Cairo which will drop you just ten minutes walking distance from the Sphinx. You can spot the thing from quite a distance because of its massive architecture & size. Its situated just in front of the pyramid of Khahra facing east.  When you will stand in front of the guardian deity you will get to know about the exceptional architectural talent & engineering marvel being depicted in the construction of the Sphinx. Not only these but the pyramid of Khufu is also there which is a must visit for you. It can give you a very clear idea about the structure of the pyramid & every details that you will always want to know.

Many of us are having the belief that the great pyramids of Giza were built by the slaves, but it is not true. Nearly  around one lakh people were employed in making those structures because of the annual flood of the Nile made majority of the population that time unemployed. Khufu, the Pharaoh employed them in the construction of the pyramids & provided them with food, water & clothing & he was kind to his subjects. He was remembered in folktales for a long period of time.  It was built in such a way so that the center chamber where the mausoleum lies was very well connected with all the corners of the pyramid. It was built large in size as compared to the narrow passage of the pyramid.

At last the sphinx was erected as if to protect the pyramid from the evil powers & raiders. The sphinx depicts the portrait of the guardian deity & is a mythical figure as mentioned in the article earlier. Although it is not clear till now that the face of the Sphinx really depicts Khufu or not but Historians are speaking for it. It is also declared by many historians that the workers gifted the Sphinx statue as a mark of gratitude to their Pharaoh for helping them & employing them during the time of their need.

Welcome to Giza & enjoy The Sphinx.

The process & methods that were involved in mummification technique is quite very interesting. Many of us are having this notion that Mummies were made only of the kings & queens, also known as The Pharaohs at that time. But the truth is that anyone who could afford the expensive process of being a mummy after death was able to do it. If we take a look at this process in a very magnified way we can see that the dead went through two processes during the mummification technique. Those were:

Embalming.

Wrapping.

The embalming process was the immediate process carried out on the dead & the persons doing so were called embalmers. Firstly the internal organs were taken out & the hollow body was stuffed with natrons. The natrons used to dry very quickly with the water of the body & allowed the dead to remain intact without decaying or becoming a victim of the natural decomposition process. After that the body was washed thoroughly with the water of Nile & messaged with oils & scented liquids. Scientists have found out that these oils were mainly antiseptics & natural preservatives used to prevent the body from decaying.  Then the body was  left for nearly around forty days till it dried & contracted completely.

After forty days the wrapping procedure starts which included washing the body with water of Nile & repeating the process of oil & liquid message. Then the body was placed on an elongated piece of cloth & wrapped completely. This process was repeated several times till it was made sure that the cloth covering was enough in preserving the dead. The hands were folded  a Godly figure was placed between which was spell casted & purified with hymns.  The mummy was ready for its burial & it was placed inside the coffin allocated for it with great care.  It was the time when the body was kept in front of the dead’s relatives for  mourning & finally taken to the burial place for cremation. But before the burial process, a ritual called :Opening of the mouth” was performed so that the dead could eat & drink again.

Finally the body was cremated with all the dead’s required items for his afterlife. It included foods, drinks, furniture, gold & jewels & sometimes even the dead’s favorite pet animal.

Some of the mummies discovered by the historians & excavators gave all the details of this process of mummification.  It is yet to be discovered what the Egyptians used to think about the after life & final judgment. Although it has been found out that they used to believe that the dead  travelled through the underworld where all his earthly deeds were being judged & if he was found out to be a pure heart he would live for eternity in the beautiful “Garden Of Reeds”.

Whenever we say The Pyramids, the huge architectural marvels situated on the banks of the longest river of the world…The Nile flashes in our mind. These pyramids are not only the miracles of engineering but also a witness of many incidents (& accidents) since thousands of years. Sometimes when we gaze at these structures, especially when the golden hues of sunset covers them up we can interpret them just as a vulgar extravagant whim of the extremely rich & powerful kings of Egypt- The Pharaohs of that time. But if we turn back the pages of History, their importance is unveiled in a very sumptuous way & will really never cease to amaze us.

The ancient Egyptians belief in life after death was very powerful. It was mainly based on the philosophy, That a person who attained death travelled through the underworld  was judged by the eternal God of Death, Maat. If the judgment turned out to be a favorable  one on the  basis of all his deeds & works on earth he would be sent to enjoy a heavenly life in The Garden of Reeds for eternity. These beliefs & superstitions led them to indulge in making the dead comfortable as well as preserving the body in such a way that natural exposure never became a reason in decomposing.

The dead had to undergo through a process called as Mummification. It was a long process  & involved, washing the body with fresh water, separating all the internal organs of the dead since they can rot & decompose the body as a whole. Only the heart was kept intact because it is the place from where everyone thinks & takes decision. After the separation, the body was embalmed with oil & numerous preservatives. The body  was then stuffed with natrons which used to dry out after a certain span of time. The body was kept away from any natural exposure for around forty days & after that it was again washed with fresh water & covered with a specific type of oil for making the skin stay elastic.

Then the process of wrapping started with covering the body with elongated pieces of Cloth & placing it inside the coffin. The coffin was placed at the centre of the pyramid with all the necessities required by a person in earthly life including food,water,jewels  & even the pets. The tomb of the dead was made in such a way that it had access to all the corners of the pyramid with ease.

Modern day excavations are successful in discovering one thirty eight pyramids in Egypt, majority of them being constructed by the Pharaohs & their consorts, & no doubt that they are given the crown obf the world’s oldest architectural & monumental miracles

If we try to find out the cultural patterns of this country we will have to go more than six thousand years back, in the period of Pharaohs & pyramids. Egypt has come under the influence of many cultures & practices & it has developed a completely new form of the same at the present. After the Pharaohs, Egypt came under the influence of The Hellenic Civilization & after that it was a Christian State smothered by the Uncivilized Arabs thereafter. These changes gave a unique blend of a total new culture in Egypt & its influence also bore results in the west & the east respectively.

LANGUAGE:

As far as languages are concerned, Arabic is spoken in mainly over there since it’s an Islamic majority state. Afro-Asiatic languages which developed due to the language exploitation over a period of time is also widely spoken. English forms the minority over there & are largely the described as the Coptic Language.  If you visit Egypt now you can hardly find any evidence that it used to be a Christian state in the past before being plundered by the Arabs.

LITERATURE

When we come to the literature of Egypt, its having a rich & a very old one. It dates back to the third century BC & was found mainly in the form of hymns. The pyramid text & the book of the dead are some of the many examples of the rich literature extravaganza of the country.  Works in Greek & Syrian languages are also found & adds to the literature fertility of Egypt. Egyptologists & Historians believe that it is having some of the oldest & richest texts treasured which is yet to be discovered.

RELIGION

Coming to religion, Ninety percent of Egypt’s population is Muslim, with a Sunni majority. Nine percent of the population is Coptic Christian; other religions and other forms of Christianity comprise the remaining one percent.

THE PEOPLE

The people of Egypt are very friendly & warm in nature. Ah-Salome-Wahlikum  is the usual form of greeting over there & if you see two males walking with there hand locked, please don’t take it as a gesture of Homosexuality, since Egypt is an Islamic state & be it homosexuality or lesbianism is strictly prohibited. Drinking in public places is banned & indulging in such activities can lead you land behind the bars. Even in the most visited tourist spots you can hardly find any drunken tourist or person. Be a good ambassador of your country. Smiling while talking is very necessary since smiling is considered as a mark of friendship & love. Egyptian men can compliment your women. Please note that these will be compliments only & wont go further.

Enjoy the country & its culture to the fullest because what Egypt can offer you can hardly be rendered by any other country.

Egypt is a transcontinental country located in the northern parts of Africa with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land connection with the South Western parts of Asia. With a population of approximately more than 16 million & an area of around 10 lakh square kms, Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in the north & Red Sea in the East. It also forms some of the very important international borders with Libya in the west & Sudan to the South. It is the home of the infamous Sahara Desert & that’s  the reason why most of the parts of Egypt is not very well cultivable. It is located on the banks of the river Nile with a majority of Islam population & a very minority of Christians & Jews.

Get in by Air:

Egypt has several international airports with The Cairo International Airport being the busiest one. Other important airports which serves as a good connection with the other parts of the world are:

• Cairo International Airport
• Alexandria Nozha
• Luxor International Airport
• Aswan International Airport
• Hurghada International Airport
• Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport
• Burg Al-Arab International Airport
• Marsa Alam International Airport

Get in by Boat:

Taking a boat can be a good choice & you will cross by the borders of Sudan & Jordan. But it is suggested to the tourists not to do so since the border formalities are sometimes much time consuming & may include military check ups in several places. Adding to this the boats are not always very comfortable, since they are mainly fishing boats with their owners using them for transport for some extra income.

Get in by road:

If you want to go via road you can avail many options since numerous buses ply over the route from Jerusalem in Israel to Cairo. The Jordanian State Bus Company also operates buses from Amman to Cairo at regular intervals. These buses start mainly early in the morning or late afternoon & are comfortable air-conditioned services.

Accommodation:

Egypt is a nation with numerous tourist arrivals everyday so accommodation for you will not be a problem. Select your budget & walk into any of the hotels of Cairo. But it is suggestible to stay nearer to the places of the attraction since it can save your time & money both. For booking your accommodation & trip you can contact a local agent or do it yourself online.

Eat & Drink:

Egypt is a Muslim country, so the consumption of alcohol in the public places is strictly forbidden. Doing so can make you end up behind the bars. Although Liquors are readily available throughout the country & there are numerous bars & pubs you can hardly find any drunken activity even in the most densely populated tourist spots.  As far as good food is concerned, Egypt can offer you the most mouthwatering Arab Delicacies along with some refreshing varieties of fruit juices & cold soft beverages. Kabobs, Kormas & curries forms the staple diet over there & you can find an unique blend of it.

Note: Egyptians are very friendly in nature & they can compliment you. If any male compliments your womenfolk please don’t take it otherwise since it is just a compliment & wont go any further.  Stay safe & enjoy your journey to the Land Of Pharaohs.

The pyramids of Egypt are no wonder one of the greatest architectural marvels of the world & fall under the category of one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. A visit to the Pyramids is a must do for everyone visiting Egypt. These structures are not only enormous in shape & size but an example of engineering marvel depicted during the ancient period. If we just take a look at them we cant find any reason behind building those enormous gigantic monuments by the Pharaohs of Egypt but if we take a very magnified view we can understand the reason for building those structures.  The pyramids were very closely related to life after death & served as a mausoleum or chamber for the dead. All the corners of the pyramids were very well connected to the chamber of the dead & the dead wad buried in the form of a mummy with all the things that he used for his earthly pleasures including food, water & jewels. All over excavators are successful in the discovery of one hundred thirty eight pyramids in Egypt till now, majority of them being built by the Pharaohs & their consorts during that time but some of the most visited & famous ones are:

The Pyramids of Giza:

Here is the place of the Great Sphinx, situated in the outskirts of Cairo. The Pyramid of Khufu is also present over here which can take you thousands of years back. The pyramids of Khafre & the pyramids of Mankeure are modest sized pyramids & are also known as the queen of the pyramids.

The Pyramids of Sakkara:

It consists of the step pyramid of Djozer, arguably the world’s oldest monumental creation. It also includes the pyramids of Userkaf & the pyramids of Teti. You can easily find out that the structure is virtually incomplete & historians believe that had it been completed it would have been larger than the step pyramid of Djozer.  The pyramids of Unas serves as one of the most delicately preserved pyramids of Egypt & boasts of numerous tourist visits as well as Egyptologists & historians all round the year.

The pyramids of Abu-Sir:

This is the home of all over seven Pyramids  & you can make it out that the quality of construction is inferior as compared to the construction of the pyramids of Sakkara or Giza. These are mainly the fifth dynasty pyramids & are also small in size. The three major pyramids are those of Niuserre  Nferirkare and Sahure. Out of it the pyramid of Niuserre is also the most intact one. Most of the pyramids in Abu-Sir are step pyramids & the largest of all, the pyramid of Nferirkare – is believed to have originally been built as a step pyramid some 70 metres(230 feet) in height and then later transformed into a “true” pyramid by having its steps filled in with loose masonry.

The Pyramids of Dashur:

Outside Giza & Sakkara, Dashur is the most visited & famous pyramid field in Egypt. Some of the pyramids over here  gave an indication to the archeologists & historians that these were the first attempts for building pyramids with smooth sides. The Red Pyramid situated over here is also the third largest pyramid after Giza & Sakkara  & also very luminous in nature. Also at Dashur is present the Black Pyramid of Amenemhet III . Although this place was not known to the outer part of the world for a very long time since this place was used as a military base previously it now forms one of the most thoroughly visited places of Egypt.

Egypt is a country which has many things to offer to a tourist.  The history of this country dates back thousands of years & it is a paradise for the history buffs as well as for the people who wants to have a time machine that can take them to the past. The country is the home of the famous pyramids & the mighty Sphinx. It is the land through which the longest river of the world…The Nile passes. Home of the infamous Sahara Desert, Egypt has everything to offer to a tourist from every attraction & relaxation with some of the best hotels & accommodations of the world.

The capital city of Cairo itself is a major attraction with the pyramids of Giza located just at the outskirts. It is basically an Islamic city with a population of nearly around 16 million. It is suggested to the tourist to execute their tour making Cairo as their base since it serves as the most accessible area from the tourist attractions with good accommodations & excellent food services. It is also the place where you can find some of the medieval mosques & Arabian constructions.

Alexandria, as is clear from the name was founded by Alexander the Great & is the major seaport of the nation. It is located on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea & its attraction includes the famous lighthouse of Alexandria which was built in the third century BC by Ptolemy I on the island of Pharos.  The Library of Alexandria is also worth visiting where the greatest philosophers & scientists of that age came to seek knowledge. The splendors of Alexandria remained virgin till the Arabs invaded Egypt & decided to shift their capital to Cairo.

Dumayat is yet another city located on the beaches of the Mediterranean which is a very famous summer destination for the Egyptians. You can have a very rejuvenating stroll alongside the beach & children will especially like the place for its vast stretches of wet sand where they can play & build sand castles. It is very easily accessible by road or by the trains from Cairo. There are also bus services available from Cairo at regular intervals & the choice of transport is totally upto you for reaching there.

Tanta is the city which is being argued to be one of thje oldest cultural & historical settlements of Egypt. It is also the place of the Tanta University, the oldest & largest university of Egypt. Tanta is especially famous for its sweetmeats. Since Egypt is  desert area, dates grow in plenty & the sweets made out of those dates are worth experiencing & bringing back to your own country. Tanta is famous for the mosque and festivals of Sayed Ahmad al-Badawi .

Memphis is the place located approximately around 24 Km from Cairo & can really give you a cultural shock. Here you can find out an amalgamation of the modern Egyptian rural life and History to tell its own story. Memphis was actually established during the fourth century BC when the unification of the Upper & Lower Egypt took place.  It was the capital during the time of the construction of the Great Pyramids. Its really worth visiting.

The Egyptian civilization dates back to the year 5000BC & started in the lower valley of Nile. In a more summed up way we can say that the early Egyptian civilization was at its pinnacle during the second & the third dynasties & remained intact for over a three thousand year long period.

Whenever we say art of Egypt the portrait of symbols flashes in our mind. It was that era when symbols were used to make communication in written form along with red & golden colors being used in a dominant way. Animal figures were very widely used to construct the overall symbolic language of the Egyptians during that period of time. Still now if we visit the mighty Pyramids we can find out that the walls of the pyramids are being engraved with the hymns & symbolic gestures allover. We can find out that the engravings on the walls of the pyramids are mostly in the form of Godly figures with peculiar gestures & postures holding different type of weapons.

As far as the sculpture of Ancient Egypt is concerned it gives us a very rich impression. Excavators have found out some mummies which were buried along with some furniture & potteries. All these commodities render to a very rich sculptural patterns & styles. The Great Sphinx was never repeated & still now it is standing tall as a guardian deity in front of the pyramid of Khufu.  All the human sculptures were taken immense care of while preparing & we can easily segregate them. The male sculptures are darker in color than the females. When sculptures of the human beings were made in sitting positions it was taken care that the hands were placed on the knees.  For example, the sky god  was essentially to be represented with a falcon’s head, the god of funeral rites (Anubis) was to be always shown with a jackal’s head. Artistic works were ranked according to their compliance with these conventions, and the conventions were followed so strictly that, over three thousand years, the appearance of statues changed very little.

Painting was mainly associated with creating mythical figures on the papyrus or engraving on the walls of the pyramid. The subject of these paintings was mainly associated with the pleasant after life of the deceased. Godly figures were also created with huge respect & honor.

If you want to get a taste of all these you can visit the Egypt museum in Cairo & also the pyramids of Giza. You will come to know very nicely about the art & sculpture of Egypt & also the subject, that was mainly chosen for it.The main colors used for them although was golden for a major part, red, blue ,green ,yellow, were also used.

Come & get amazed!!!!!!!!

Giza is the town situated at the most accessible point from the famous ancient wonders of The Pyramids of Giza as well as it is also very close to the urban localility of Cairo. So if you want to have a tour of these ancient architectural marvels I would suggest making Giza, your starting destination respectively.

If compared to Cairo, Giza is increasingly becoming tourist’s favorite place because of it’s location, amenities & accommodation facilities. One can always  enjoy the authentic Egyptian cuisine as well as the famous Belly Dance in almost all  the pubs & restaurants of Giza. The pyramids of Giza are very easily accessible from this place & the transportation is also up to the mark. You can always take the metro from Cairo & deboard  it in Station Giza. The pyramids are hardly 15-20 Minutes from there. If you want to take a cab, let me remind you that there are two of this type. One the metered one & the other the non-metered. Its obviously suggestible to take the metered cabs since they will charge the right amount from you but if you want to opt for the non-metered one be careful & fix the price prior getting into the car.  Apart from Metro & cabs there are also facilities of buses but they can be little uncomfortable since they are crowded & their route via the Pyramid road & Al-aharam  are not smooth all the times.

After you reach the spot you will experience numerous touts, camel owners & horse owners  lingereing all around with their animals. May be a camel safari you will definitely like to experience but  it is uncomfortable & smelly sometimes with the owners demanding huge amount of money. But you can always take a horse ride & it adds to the royal experience of you with the amazing pyramids adding to the splendor of your journey through the desert.  Its worth saying that please do fix the amount with the owner prior riding the horse.

If you went to the Pyramids of Giza & came back without watching the sound & light show  it virtually means you haven’t been there. The sound & light show exposes the rich heritage of the country with an awesome amalgam of light & sound with the commentary adding to its life.  The show is for one hour & will take you to the age of the Pharaohs & give you the feeling of what it took for the men & labors for constructing those giant structures called the pyramids.

Another thing that is a must do over there is to watch the sunrise. It’s a real wonderful experience with the golden hues of the sun covering the pyramids & giving it a pattern of an enormous monument standing against the sky. You are going to enjoy the sight as never before &  you will come back to this place  over & over again.

Cairo, the capital of Egypt is located on the banks of the River Nile & is one of the most densely populated cities of the world with approximately a population of over sixteen million.  It is an overall Islamic city & no trip to Cairo is rendered complete without a visit to the famous pyramids of Giza which is situated just downtown. Cairo is having its own history with the amalgamated culture of the pharaohs & medieval Islam which can give you a unique blend of experience with an essence of royalty. To get a personal experience of all these the Egyptian Museum is a must visit which show cases numerous archeological artifacts along with some very rare commodities dating back to BCs.  The Khan-al-Khalili Bazaar can be the best place for you to shop as well as experience the authentic Egyptian Delicacies. You will be welcomed with a very warm Salom & the Egyptian hospitality will never ever cease to make a positive impression on you. Every person will talk with you with a very friendly smile & you are also expected to do so since according to the Egyptian Culture, people who don’t smile are being rendered to as arrogant & unfriendly.

If you want to escape the busy hustles of the densely populated city you can go for an enchanting Nile cruise in the evening.  The small boats are called Felluccas over there & can serve as a very good escape from the city. Similarly a visit to the Al-Azhar park give you a rejuvenating sensation.  If you are a History buff you are suggested to visit the Islamic Cairo, since it is the home of some of the mediaval mosques & architectural wonders that can give you a very unique experience. But please take a note of it that entrance in any of the mosques wearing any type of footwear or without covering your head is strictly prohibited. Doing so is rendered as an insult of their religion & can land you in trouble.  Cairo was especially a Christian city during its introduction & later on it took the shape of an Islamic city after the annexation of it by the Arabs. Old Cairo or Coptic Cairo can make you experience this with Fustat & Rhoda Island. Dokki & Mohandeseen are the places alongside the banks of the river Nile housing some of the very authentic restaurants as well as hotels for accommodation. It is the place which can serve as a shopper’s paradise where you can buy very rare Egyptian artifacts  as well as antiques which will definitely be your neighbour’s envy.

Giza is perhaps the most visited part of Cairo. It is the home of the famous pyramids which falls under one of the ancient wonders of the world. Numerous buses ply over the route to Giza from Cairo & they take the Pyramid Road for an easy access over there. You can also find cabs but it is suggested to fix the price prior you get into it since the driver can charge a fortune if it’s not fixed.  On the way the driver of the cab may tell you to visit any museum or ware house but please don’t make him do so if you don’t want to waste your time & money since these museums & warehouses will turn out into shops where you will be pressurized to  buy articles & waste a hell lot of money & time. Visit Giza & experience what you always wanted to, The Pyramids. You can enjoy a horse ride or a camel safari over there & watch the sunset that is really amazing. The city may seem too tiresome for you to handle but you can always experience it.