All About Egypt

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Ramses II : The Greatest Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty

Ramses II, who acceded to power at the age of 25, can rightly be said to merit his popular title, 'Ramses the Great'. During his long reign of 67 years, everything was done on a grand scale. No other pharaoh constructed so many temples or erected so many colossal statues and obelisks. No other pharaoh sired so many children. Ramses' 'victory' over the Hittites at Kadesh was celebrated in one of the most repeated Egyptian texts ever put on record. By the time he died, aged more than 90, he had set his stamp indelibly on the face of Egypt. As a young prince, Ramses was imbued with the military tradition established by his grandfather, after whom he was named. From his earliest years all hopes for the new dynasty were pinned on him. At the age of ten he was recognized as 'Eldest King's Son' by title (despite there being no other, his elder brother having died long before), and by his mid-teens he is found associated with Seti as a diminutive figure in the reliefs of the Libyan campaigns at Karnak. Ramses was allowed to participate in Seti's subsequent campaigns against the Hittites in Syria. The young prince rode well in harness alongside his experienced father, learning his trade of statecraft. Ramses is often found referred to in inscriptions, overseeing the cutting of obelisks from the granite quarries at Aswan, involved in Seti's great building projects, and also inaugurating his own (smaller) temple to Osiris at Abydos. Many inscriptions of up-and-coming young men attest to Seti's keen and acute eye in spotting the high flyers, who were to grow up alongside Ramses and serve him well in his turn (although he outlived most of them).

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Some Fascinating Facts about Nilometer

Nilometer is a device for measuring the height of the Nile, usually consisting of a series of steps against which the increasing height of the inundation, as well as the general level of the river, could be measured. Records of the maximum height of the inundation were kept, although there is no firm evidence that these records were used in any systematic way in the determination of taxation on the amount of agricultural land flooded.

There are surviving Nilometers associated with the temples at Philae, Edfu, Esna, Kom Ombo and Dendera, but one of the best­ known examples is located on the island of Elephantine at Aswan. The Elephantine Nilometer was rebuilt in Roman times, and the markings still visible at the site date from this later phase. It was also repaired in 1870 by the Khedive Ismail. At Geziret el-Rhoda in Cairo there is an "Islamic" Nilometer dating back to AD 705-15, although it was possibly built on the site of an earlier Pharaonic exam­ple. The Islamic Nilometer worked on the same principles as its ancient counterparts, except for the use of an octagonal pillar (rather than steps) as the measures.

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Egypt Nile Cruise

With a length of more than 6,600 kilometers, the Nile is the longest river in the world. In Egypt, the land of gods and pharaohs, vacationers can enjoy the famous Nile cruises.

During a Nile cruise, tourists can enjoy the tranquility, the wonderful landscapes, the oriental atmosphere and the cultural and historical treasures. Bright sunshine accompanies the holiday guests on their mostly 7-day cruise.

There are different travel routes and the ships also differ depending on quality and price range.

But they all have one thing in common - they drive comfortably along the Nile, past lush palm groves, green meadows and fertile plantations, to bring the adventure-hungry holidaymakers to the historical sights of Egypt.

One of the most popular stops on a Nile cruise is the Upper Egyptian city of Luxor. The "totem temple of Hatshepsut" is one of the most beautiful temples in the country. The "Valley of the Kings" and the temples of Luxor and Karnak are also unforgettable highlights.

The small town of Edfu is located in the southern Nile Valley. Here a visit to the "Horus Temple" is on the program. This famous temple of the sun god is one of the best preserved in Egypt. The "Temple of Kom Ombo" can be seen from afar on a hill on the banks of the Nile. It is considered a sanctuary of the gods Sobek and Haroeris.

Holidaymakers in Aswan experience a fantastic shore leave. In the third largest city in Egypt, a sightseeing tour is a must and a trip to the Aswan dams and the "Philae Temple" is also worthwhile. The highlight of a cruise on the Nile is the excursion to the colossal "Abu Simbel" temple. It is located in the middle of the desert and is about 280 kilometers from Aswan. Ramses II had it built. He was known for his huge temples.

After an eventful day, it is nice to return on board the ship to enjoy a romantic sunset or to take a dip in the pool on the sundeck. Nile cruises are a special way of traveling to get to know the moving history and beauty of Egypt. Cruise vacationers take unforgettable experiences, overwhelming emotions and wonderful memories home with them.

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Why I love Egypt

To visit Egypt was the trip of a life time for me. I waited 40 years to do it, and it far surpassed what I hoped it would be.

The ancient monuments such as the pyramids, the Sphinx and the various temples I visited, including the Temple of Luxor, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Horus, Temple of Philae (Isis) amongst others.

My visit to the Cairo museum was unforgettable. Entering the room where the mummies of great ancient Pharaohs were on display is very humbling. Viewing the artifacts from King Tutankhamun was indescribable. You could spend a week walking around the museum there is so much there to see.

The Valley of the Kings was an experience not to be missed. And I absolutely recommend paying the extra and going in to see King Tutankhamun’s tomb which also has his mummy on display.

Cruising down the Nile from Cairo to the city of Aswan was wonderful.

A trip to Egypt is a must do at least once in your life time!

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Is It Safe To Visit The Pyramids?

One of the highlights of my trip (there were many!) was visiting the Pyramids of Giza.

You do need to be aware, there will be merchants trying to sell their cheap wares. Firmly say no and keep moving. They will try all sorts of things. One even got the scarf out and said it was a gift from his son as he put it on my head, then he wanted money. So be aware of them.

The sheer magnitude of the pyramids was awe-inspiring. Our group climbed up inside the great pyramid to the burial chamber. The climb is quite taxing, but well worth the trouble.

Words can’t really describe what it feels like to be inside such an ancient structure, still standing today, despite all the years of weathering. I believe the ancient Egyptians were a very advanced people to build the monuments and structures that they did.

Rumors and theories abound as to how the Great Pyramids of Giza were originally built. Nobody knows. They most definitely deserve their place as one of seven wonders of the world.

It is a long upward climb inside, and you will be crouched over most of the way. Watch your head! By the time you climb down and return to the outside world, you’ll be glad of the merchants selling cold water. And their pricing is good.

There are camel rides nearby, along with other tombs to visit.

There is also an evening light and sound show which encompasses the Great Pyramids, the smaller pyramids for the queens and the Sphinx. It’s worth attending.

My suggestion in Egypt is that you go as part of a tour group. I have heard from several sources it’s not such a great place if you’re on your own, but as part of a tour group you are definitely safe and can enjoy all the ancient wonders that Egypt has to offer.

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Explore Hatshepsut temple

Hatshepsut was an ancient Egyptian queen, and the temple on the west bank of the Nile near Thebes was named after her. This mortuary temple, which was dedicated to Hatshepsut, dates from the 18th dynasty, just like the temple in Deir el-Bahari, which is also part of the complex. You could say that the temple has an idiosyncratic architecture with its open pillared halls and terraces. The temple was built from pure limestone and built into the rock.

There is a basin near Deir el-Bahari dedicated to the gods Hathor and Amun-Re. The temple was used until the Ptolemaic period. Then a Phoibammon monastery was created from the building, which was used until the 11th century.

The temple was built in about 15 years during the reign of Hatshepsut, and the court master Senemut was seen as the architect of the masterpiece. Everything indicates that he created the temple because there is also a tomb under the first terrace, which seems hidden. It is said that there was a relationship between the young Götting and her court master. He was not buried under the temple, however, the reasons for this are unknown. Were there already love affairs between people and kings at that time? There was a damnatio memoriae. Here the temple was terribly damaged. The statues and wall paintings in the temple were also destroyed. It was not until the 19th century that we owe it to Auguste Mariette that the temple was exposed again. But that was not all. Nothing was documented until 1893 to 1897 and then later from 1903 to 1906 Edouard Navielle appeared and exposed the millennia-old stones again. Through the monastery and the renovations, he also got to the original temple parts and released them. He wrote down 7 volumes for posterity and described how he carried out the excavations.

There were then more excavations that entwined around the temple. These were carried out between 1911 and 1931. Herbert E. Winlock was the one who initiated everything, and there is still the exhibition of the treasures in the Museum of Art. He also diligently documented his finds and the history of the excavations.

Dreaming of going to lands of Pharaohs once we are out and about again? Browse through our Egypt tours and plan your trip now and travel later.

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Karnak temple

The Karnak Temple is located in a small village north of Luxor on the eastern bank of the Nile. The oldest parts of the temple complex date from the 12th dynasty of the Egyptian Empire. The temple complex was rebuilt into the Roman Empire and its corridors expanded. The Karnak Temple has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, together with the Theban Necropolis and the Luxor Temple, of which the Egyptians are very proud. In no other country are these pharaonic temples in abundance as here. Another highlight of the temple complex is the Temple of Amun-Re with ten pylons. It is 113 meters wide and 15 meters thick. The area amounts to 30 hectares.

On a Nile cruise you stop here in Thebes and look at the old temple ruins. There are very many of this kind, but all are dedicated to a different Pharaoh and to God. The facility consists of three areas surrounded by walls. The Amun district is also taken into account. Amun means "place of election" in ancient Egyptian.

The district of the month also belongs to the temple and has a size of 150 x 156 meters and a total area of ​​2.34 hectares. Another district is that of Mut, which is one of the largest enclosed areas with 9.2 hectares. However, the three districts of the temple are not the only ones. The Aton Temple is also part of the Karnak and was built by him.

Even then, many millennia ago, an avenue connected the temple parts with each other. 365 sphinxes stand on this avenue. The Luxor Temple is only about 2.5 kilometers away and can easily be visited on a cruise on the day. The avenue stretches to the Luxor temple.

The street is very attractively designed and a Sphinx is something very special in Egypt. The first evidence of the construction of the Amun cult was found in the Middle Kingdom.

At that time it was an octagonal column dedicated to Antef II. You can find all of this in the Luxor Museum, which, by the way, should definitely be seen, because here Egyptian history is presented like nowhere else.

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Egypt - land of enigmas

The Sphinx poses even more riddles than the pyramids themselves. Who exactly built it, whose face it shows, who destroyed its nose and what its exact age is - all of these are still secrets, all of which continue to contribute to the fact that the Sphinx is the most famous sculpture of antiquity.

The city of Cairo, which was built in the 7th century, offers not only a pulsating city life and nightlife, but also interesting Islamic architecture and a dazzling mix of medieval and modern times.

In the ancient Egyptian city of Luxor, which was the capital and heart of the country for a long time, many of the statues and temples are still preserved, which are reminiscent of the time of the pharaohs. For a trip to the south of Egypt and Cairo, the months from October to April are best, because in summer it can often get up to 40 degrees. In Alexandria and Sinai, on the other hand, it is cooler in winter, which is why a vacation here is also worthwhile in summer.