Egypt - Alexadria

Tourist attractions in Egypt: The Temple of Karnak

The history of the Karnak complex is largely the history of thebes and its changing role in the culture. Religious centers varied by region and with the establishment of the current capital of the unified culture that changed several times. The city of Thebes does not appear to have been of great significance before the Eleventh Dynasty and previous temple building here would have been relatively small, with shrines being dedicated to the early deities of Thebes, the Earth goddess MUT and Montu. Early building was destroyed by invaders. The earliest known artifact found in the area of the temple is a small, eight-sided temple from the Eleventh Dynasty, which mentions Amun-Re. Amun (sometimes called Amen) was long the local  tutelary deity of Thebes. He was identified with the RAM and the Goose . The Egyptian meaning of Amun is, "hidden" or, the "hidden god^".

Kiss Sphinx

Alexandria

The Building of Alexandria

The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria, known as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean", has an atmosphere that is more Mediterranean than Middle Eastern ; its ambience and cultural heritage distance it from the rest of the country although it is actually only 225 km. from Cairo.

Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Alexandria became the capital of Roman Egypt, its status as a beacon of culture symbolized by Pharos, the legendary lighthouse that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The setting for the stormy relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Alexandria was also the center of learning in the ancient world. But ancient Alexandria declined, and when Napoleon landed, he found a sparsely populated fishing village.

From the 19th century Alexandria took a new role, as a focus for Egypt's commercial and maritime expansion. This Alexandria has been immortalized by writers such as E-M- Forster and Cavafy. Generations of immigrants from Greece, Italy and the Levant settled here and made the city synonymous with commerce, cosmopolitanism and bohemian culture.

 

Alexandria is a city to explore at random. It's as important to enjoy the atmosphere as it is to see the sights.

Хургада

1. Эль-Гурдака — город в Египте и туристический центр на Красном море. Расположен на западном побережье Красного моря, на 500 км юго-восточнее Каира. Является административным центром одной из 27 египетских провинций — провинции Красного моря. Википедия

Sharm el-Sheikh Шарм-эш-Шейх

1. Sharm el-Sheikh

   
   
2. Sharm el-Sheikh is an Egyptian resort area between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea. It's known for its long beaches and clear waters. Naama Bay, a palm-tree-lined promenade, is filled with lively bars and restaurants. Ras Muhammad National Park is a major diving destination, with coral life around the Shark and Yolanda reefs,
3. 1. Шарм-эш-Шейх — город-курорт в Египте на южной оконечности Синайского полуострова на побережье Красного моря Египетской ривьеры. Один из районных центров губернаторства Южный Синай

Pyramids

Egypt[edit]

Main article: Egyptian pyramids

The most famous pyramids are the Egyptian pyramids — huge structures built of brick or stone, some of which are among the world's largest constructions. They are shaped as a reference to the rays of the sun. Most pyramids had a polished, highly reflective white limestone surface, in order to give them a shining appearance when viewed from a distance. The capstone was usually made of hard stone - granite or basalt - and could be plated with gold, silver, or electrum and would also be highly reflective.^[8]

After 2700 BC, the Egyptians began building pyramids, until about 1700 BC. The first pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty by king Djoser and his architect Imhotep, as astep pyramid by stacking six mastabas. The largest Egyptian pyramids are the pyramids at Giza. "The Egyptian sun god Ra, considered the father of all pharaohs, was said to have created himself from a pyramid-shaped mound of earth before creating all other gods. The pyramid’s shape is thought to have symbolized the sun’s rays" (Donald B. Redford, Ph.D., Penn State).^[8]

The age of the pyramids reached its zenith at Giza in 2575–2150 BC.^[9] Ancient Egyptian pyramids were in most cases placed west of the river Nile because the divine pharaoh’s soul was meant to join with the sun during its descent before continuing with the sun in its eternal round.^[8]

As of 2008, some 135 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt.^[10][11] The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest in Egypt and one of the largest in the world. It was the tallest building in the world until Lincoln Cathedral was finished in 1311 AD. The base is over 52,600 square metres (566,000 sq ft) in area. While pyramids are associated with Egypt, the nation of Sudan has 220 extant pyramids, the most numerous in the world.^[12]

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is the only one to survive into modern times. The Ancient Egyptians covered the faces of pyramids with polished white limestone, containing great quantities of fossilized seashells.^[13] Many of the facing stones have fallen or have been removed and used for construction in Cairo.