Tag Archives: Ancient Egypt

The centre of Cairo, Egypt’s sprawling and populous ancient capital on the banks of the Nile River, is so dense with vibrant culture and UNESCO- listed history as to be overwhelming. So, it pays to sample small sections at a time. The Al-Sayeda Zainab Governorate is one of the city’s oldest and most crowded neighbourhoods. […]

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The archaeological remains and artefacts that survive to attest to the richness of the almost 30 centuries of civilisation we now call Ancient Egypt (3100-333 BC ) are mind-boggling. That people between 3000 and 5000 years ago conceived of – and built – the pyramids, tombs, mausoleums, and temples, that scatter along the Nile amazes […]

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Every day I spent in Egypt was more amazing than the last! It was day six – and my Nile riverboat had spent the last few days making it’s way south, up river (see: Kom Ombo Egypt). Our boat had rafting up against another one the evening before in the ancient city of Swenett, now […]

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Bad lighting and dancing shadows lend an eerie air of animation to the figures on the walls all around us. Intricately carved pillars and beautifully restored wall-reliefs contrast with uneven stones and rough scaffolding: it truly is surreal walking after dark through structures built over 2000 years ago. My Nile river boat was rafted up […]

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Hatshepsut, fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, has been called one of Ancient Egypt’s most successful pharaohs. And yet, she was almost removed from history!  Hatshepsut, whose name means: “Foremost of Noble Ladies” was born to power. She was the only surviving child of King Thutmose I, the third pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and his primary wife. […]

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