“Egypt is the most important country in the world,” Napoleon Bonaparte said in his first interview with the governor of St. Helena. This sounds grandiose, but Egypt does rank high among the countries of the world for its longevity as a civilization, the roles it has played in history, and its strategic location. Most people in the world have heard of it. No doubt Egypt owes its fame in part to its historic influence over other civilizations and countries.

Egypt is one of the oldest countries in the world. It has at least 5,000 years of recorded history, and many Egyptians claim for it even more. Egypt is centrally located in relation to other concentrated population centers in Europe, Asia, and Africa. For most of its recorded past, at present, and probably well into the future we may view Egypt as being set in the middle of commercial, migration, and invasion routes that matter to Egyptians and foreigners. Depending on how you look at the map, you can say that Egypt occupies the northeast corner of Africa or the land between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It takes up a 30th of Africa’s total land area and is 665 miles long (1,073 km) from north to south and 720 miles wide (1,226 km) from east to west. Its existence is bound up with the River Nile; without the river, almost all the land would be desert, and only a few people would live there. Because of the Nile, Egypt is a vibrant country with 80 million inhabitants. In the words of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, “Egypt is the gift of the Nile.”

Ancient Egypt 10,000 BC – 500 BC.

Egypt was one the most civilized and well developed countries on earth at that time that was bestowed a river floods regularly and fertilizes the land with soil pushed by the floodwaters from the high plateau of Ethiopia which also constituted a shield against the attacks of the invaders. The people were obedient to the rulers who ensured justice and faithful to a pantheon of gods and goddesses who they believed ensured their goodness in this life and hereafter. The achievements of the ancient Egyptians are several and countless. They used unique method in architecture, building relaxing and restful homes in addition to monumental tombs and temples that were built using wood joined together.

Ancient Egyptians developed one of the first systems of writing found at then, by which they recorded their stories, poems, and religious texts. In addition to that, ancient Egyptians developed an early system of numbers, which they used while they were exploring new lands, calculate taxes, and measure weight, distance, and time. Their craftsmen developed tools for working with copper, tin, bronze, and precious metals such as silver and gold. Ancient Egyptians had also developed the art of carving and as a result of that we see sculptures found in tombs to the Great Sphinx of Giza, 65 feet approx. over the rock base on which it was carved.

Historians have habitually divided Egypt’s history through following the dynasties (ruling families) by years they ruled. Ancient Egyptian history of the dynasties is generally divided to Predynastic period (to 3100 B.C.E.), the Early Dynastic Period (First-Second Dynasties, 3100- 2686 B.C.E), the Old Kingdom (Third-Sixth Dynasties, 2686-2181 B.C.E). the First Intermediate Period (Seventh-Tenth Dynasties, 2181-2040 B.C.E), the Middle Kingdom (Eleventh-Thirteenth Dynasties, 2040- 1750 B.C.E), the Second Intermediate Period (Fourteenth-Seventeenth Dynasties, 1750-1550 B.C.E), New Kingdom (Eighteenth-Twentieth Dynasties, 1550-1069 B.C.E), the Third Intermediate Period (Twenty first-Twenty-fourth Dynasties, 1069-715 B.C.E), and the Late Period (Twenty-fifth-Thirtieth Dynasties, 747-332).

Persian Rule (525 B.C):

525 was the year when Cambyses II, the Persian emperor, conquered the last Saite pharaoh, and sat up the Twenty seventh Dynasty. The Persians, nomadic tribes found in what now is Iran, were united by Cyrus, The Great King of Persia 559-530 B.C; founder of the Achaemenid dynasty. The two kings together established the vastest empire known at that time. Their empire extended from the Indus River in Pakistan across the Middle East to North Africa and southeastern Europe. Although those kings were not Egyptians, they decided to follow the pharaonic traditions regarding the inauguration ceremony as a king to not to raise the anger of the population. Keeping the ancient rituals and traditions, they constructed new temples and public works, ameliorated the legal system, and promoted the economy in order to facilitate trade with south Asia.

Alexander the Great (332- 323 B.C):

Alexander the great who ruled from 356 to 323 B.C. was a courageous militant and a perfect strategist who became the king of Macedonia in his early beginning, after subsequent military successes, his empire extended from the Adriatic Sea to the Indus River in the middle of Asia and from the Danube river to the Nile river, including the entire Persian Empire. In this extensive empire he established the political basis for Hellenistic, similar to Greek civilization. Egypt was invaded in 332 B.C. by Alexander who treated with Egypt’s culture with reverence. He offered sacrifices to Apis and other Egyptian gods and went across the Western Desert to Siwa oasis to sit to Amun, whom he claimed as his celestial father. Alexander the great last achievement was the creation of Alexandria’s port, which blossomed into a global center of influence and culture, which linked Egypt commercially to the Mediterranean world.

The Ptolemies

The ruling period of Ptolemies was very beneficial at first. Trade prospered in the Mediterranean and the Red Seas. Since wheat replaced barley and other herbs, Egypt became the bread first trader of the Mediterranean world. Fruit trees, grapevines, flax, and papyrus also contributed to a general flourish. Even though the Ptolemies acted like pharaohs, respected the gods, kept the temples, and built new ones at Edfu, Esna, and Dendera, the Egyptians hated them. Their main reasons were economic. Alexandria’s well grown architecture, high culture, museum, and library were truly famous, but they were promoted by taxes paid mainly by elbow greasing Egyptian farmers. Their opposition flared into repeated open revolutions, both in the metropolises and in the countryside. A peasant uprising in 132

B.C.E. involved the whole Nile Valley.

Unlike the ancient Greek Ptolemies did not feel social to the Egyptians and that of course is explained in the light of the cultural chasm. As a proof to this is that Ptolemies did not identify intermarry between Ptolemies and Egyptians because they were marrying with their sisters, to keep the purity of the holy blood,

Roman Rule (30 B.C-640 A.C)

At the end of the Ptolemaic ruling period; Egypt was under the Roman protection against dangers. Egypt has been conquered and became a Roman colony only under Queen Cleopatra the seventh who ruled from 47 to 30 B.C.

Roman Egypt lasted for many years longer than any other ancient of Egypt. After he vanquished Antony and Cleopatra; Octavian put his hands over Egypt’s treasury and imposed higher taxes on the Egyptians. As a result, Egypt became under his personal suzerainty which no Roman senator can enter without his approval. Alexandria continued to flourish as a nonmetropolitan capital and as a trade center, manufacturing and culture, but it no longer enjoyed the advantages it had acquired under the Ptolemies. One-third of Egypt`s annual harvest could fed a huge number of the Romans because agriculture was Egypts main wealth So that, the Roman senators did not wish to conquer of attack Egypt.

Another important development during the Roman period was the rise of Christianity in Egypt. It is said that The Apostle Mark was the first converter among the Jews in Egypt around 40 to 60 C.E. He became the first patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox church which is the National Church of Egypt. At that time religion was not occupying the same position it used ti have under the Pharaonic era where life under Roman rule was very different from life in pharaonic times when Egyptian started converting to Christianity with a huge number with a great passion. That of Roman Emperor Diocletian had punished and killed so many Christian Egyptians after the commencement of his monarchy in 284 A.C marks the beginning of the Coptic calendar.

Read more historical articles: http://blog.fts-travels.com/

Are you a big fan of the era of the Ancient Egypt because of the culture and history they have? Then, this is the right time for you to incorporate them at your home.

This is now the best time to bring the unswerving beauty of the ancient world of Egypt right into your own home. The Egyptians is the race which has endowed the world with a lot of innovations and it does not make their influence on home decor any different.

Everyone is surely aware of the ancient Egyptian designs, whether if they have visited Egypt themselves, or they saw some photos or looking at the ancient Egyptian art in a museum. Egyptians are famous for the colorful and bold designs they made, the ornate carvings as well as the intricacy of their hieroglyphics and patterns. Home decor inspired by ancient Egypt boasts of these elements which is why even amidst the modern world, one can still feel the ancestry of Egypt.

Do you know that the cats are the animals that the ancient Egyptians consider as a sacred one since they believe that cats personify Bastet, one of their goddesses? Therefore, you can display some statues of the Bastet cat or even paintings, for that matter. You can get them easily for there are lots of stores that sell them.

The canopic jars are also good ancient Egypt home decor. These are the jars where the Egyptians store a dead person’s internal organs after that person was mummified. The set of these jars are four and each of them has different decorations of the different gods who protect those organs for them to be still useful even in the next life. Gruesome as it may sound, the modern canopic jars will not have to contain internal organs for they simply resemble those used by the ancient Egyptians.

When colors are concerned, your ancient Egyptian home decor will call for some boldness and more colors, with a lot of gold, ivory, marble and many other wood varieties since they are the common material bases. Good thing, you will never have any problem in looking for them because there are lots of pieces of furniture that embody them.

By having an Egyptian-inspired home, you can already feel like you are living in the time of Cleopatra. Don’t waste this chance to experience that so grab the Egyptian home decors now!

When in Egypt, you had better negotiate like an Egyptian. Be sure to leave your cowboy hat at home since the rules are very different in the Middle East.

Egyptian culture has five thousand years of recorded history, so I won’t be giving a history lesson today. Let’s just say that every aspect of life in Egypt has a special meaning and a reason why they do things as they do. If asked why something is done a certain way, they will likely recite history from thousands of years ago.

Egypt is a high context culture which means that a lot what is communicated is transferred implicitly with body language, silence, eye contact, and oblique words or phrases. For example, it is considered impolite to deny a wish to someone. Instead of saying “no”, other phrases are used to describe an inconvenience, which implies that the answer is no. When an Egyptian says “yes”, he or she may actually mean “possibly”. Communication can include intense eye contact and frequent gestures for emphasis.

The official language of Egypt is Standard Arabic and is used in most written communications. Egyptians tend to speak at a much closer distance than Americans. This close contact can be awkward for Americans, but don’t back away. Moving away could make you seem cold or disinterested. Egyptians tend to be emotional and tend to use emphatic language; they also tend to exaggerate. When making a point they will speak loudly and repeat themselves for emphasis. They frequently will interrupt each other and will speak over other speakers.

Egyptians touch when speaking with good friends and established business associates, but until they know you well they usually confine physical contact to handshakes. However, after they trust you, expect close contact including hugging and kissing. It’s good thing. You made the team.

Non-verbal communication is huge in Egypt. Never point since it is rude. A “thumbs up” gesture is very insulting similar to our middle finger salute. They remove their shoes often in meetings, but never show the bottoms of their feet.

Relationships are very important and gifts are often given. When a gift is needed you might want to consider an exquisitely made compass; this enables a devout Muslim to always know where Mecca is (even when traveling). When offered coffee always accept it, since it is considered very rude to do otherwise.

The Islamic religion dominates Egyptian life. They believe that many solutions to current problems are to be found in the orthodox practice of an Islamic life. Egypt is a fatalistic culture which believes that the hands of God will define their destiny. There is a pervasive collectivist thinking because of the centuries old battle with the harsh climate and deprivation; to survice they have had to share with others. The individual is always subordinate to the family, the tribe, or the collective. It is a male dominated society.

Business meetings tend to be very formal affairs. They usually begin with coffee and conversation even in situations when the issues are important or time is limited. The business day is similar to American business, but with longer lunches and frequent breaks for coffee. The pace of business is much slower in Egypt than it is in the West, so you will need to be very patient.

Time is relative in the Egyptian culture and punctuality is not important, although they expect you to be on time. It is common for visitors to be kept waiting; for example, if your meeting is scheduled at 10 am it may not start until 11 am. Once started, expect interruptions such as phone calls, memo signings, and, yes, blackberry messages. There is no need to rush in Egypt.

Decisions will seem to take forever and will almost never happen in the meeting. They also don’t understand the American need to close the deal on the spot and will resist it. When negotiating, you can expect raised voices and arm waiving; this is normal even when they agree with you. Egyptians negotiate as teams and it may not be clear in the meeting who is in charge. Often the most powerful Egyptian in the meeting will just listen. They like to stall and tease the other side; since time is one their side, they figure that they can wear you down and get what they want. They often do.

Relationships are more important than contracts or signed documents. In Egyptian culture, “Kalima”, the verbal pledge to carry out what has been agreed upon, is more binding than a contract; this commitment is a matter of honor. Yet, it remains very important to agree on the next steps, along with the time table to meet again.

A few more things:

– Business cards should be printed in English on one side and in Arabic on the reverse. When presented a card, pause and reflect upon it.

– Orthodox Muslims won’t drink alcohol or eat pork.

– Adding salt to your food is rude.

– Most eating is done without utensils. Get used to it.

– When in meetings, sit with both feet on the floor; don’t cross your legs.

– Expect heavy and prolonged eye contact. This can feel a little creepy by American standards, but this is the behavior of an honest man in Egypt.

– Avoid eye contact, speaking with, or touching Egyptian women at all costs. You will find few women in positions of authority in Egypt. The Islamic culture has very strict rules about women and morality. Avoidance is key.

– Dress formally in western attire at all times; don’t even try to look like a local.

Special thanks to Chuong Thai-Lazaro, Veronica Tsang, and Brian Weiss of California State University, Long Beach, for assisting me with this research.

John Bradley Jackson

© Copyright 2006

Please visit my website at http://www.firstbestordifferent.com

Although today land surveying often makes use of GPS, computer models, and other recent technical developments, the profession of surveying actually dates back centuries. Evidence of surveying techniques can be found throughout much of recorded history. In fact, land surveying principles date back nearly as far as the idea of land ownership. As soon as individuals or groups owned specified areas of land, there was a need to describe or delineate who owned what, particularly to solve land disputes. This is where land surveying came in, although of course today land surveying is utilized for many other purposes too.

Ancient Egyptian surveying activities were particularly modern for their time period. When the Nile River overflowed its banks, washing out the existing boundaries between farms, these boundaries were re-established through the use of simple geometrical concepts by a surveyor. In this time, surveyors were known as rope stretchers because the measuring device they used was a knotted rope.

Other examples of ancient Egyptian surveying prowess can be seen in the Great Pyramid of Giza. Built around 2700 BC, the pyramid exhibits nearly perfect squareness and a north-south orientation. Despite its massive size, its orientation and squareness are each off by only a matter of inches. The Egyptian land register, created around 3000 BC, is the first known land ownership record. This record showed the owners of various areas of land and also recorded the locations of this land. Surveys such as those used to create the land register were based on geometry, as well as declarations by land owners of the believed boundaries of their land.

In ancient Babylon around 1200 BC, a limestone tablet known as the Babylonian Kudurru was inscribed and set in the land. This boundary stone, the earliest known example of one, held the description of the property, the name of the surveyor and the owner, and the ownership history. This stone also contained lengthy curses for anyone who would deny the owner’s right to the land or move the stone. This early tablet represents one of today’s land surveying methods, which is the placing of a boundary stone or other marker at the corner of the property.

By 500 BC, the Greeks had adopted many Egyptian surveying techniques. It is known that mathematicians including Thales and Pythagoras traveled to Egypt to study geometry, returning to impart their knowledge on mathematicians and surveyors in Greece. In Greece, legendary figures, including Aristotle, Plato, and Archimedes made the city of Alexandria a great center of science, surveying, and related endeavors.

The Roman Empire is another civilization noted for its land surveying prowess. The Romans established land surveying as an official profession; land surveyors in this time were known as agrimensores. From the first century AD, agrimensores in Rome were known for creating perfect straight lines and right angles. These lines would be used to dig shallow trenches, some of which are still in existence to this day. Many Roman surveying methods were based on those used in ancient Egypt and Greece. Some surveying tools have been uncovered at the site of Pompeii, covered in ash in the year 79 AD.  Although ancient maps and land surveys were much less accurate than today’s, it is quite impressive that they were created without the use of GPS and other sophisticated technologies.

Egypt – the cradle of civilization. Have you ever wanted to see an actual pyramid, to marvel at the most breathtaking architectural works in all of history? Or enter one and explore the exciting tunnels and chasms within? Have you ever imagined yourself visiting the tomb of an ancient king and inspecting priceless pieces of ancient Egyptian culture?

The most popular Egyptian tours are visits to Pyramids and museums of ancient civilizations. Within these Ancient Egypt Tours that are generally of a Pharoanic nature, you will be able to tour Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, and see not only awesome markers of ancient Egyptian history, but also landmarks of religious importance. You can also organize your tour to even include a cruise down the Nile River as well.

There are several tours on offer, some with definite itineraries, others organized according to your desired route, usually dependent on how much you want to see and how long you plan to stay. Highlights of the tours include the Giza (Great Pyramid) and the Saqqara (Step) Pyramids, the Citadel, an Islamic market called Khan el-Khalili, as well as other markets, churches and museums, all in Cairo. In Luxor, the must-see landmarks would be at least one or two of the many fine monuments and tombs found on the West Bank, which will prove to be welcome escapes from the heat of the city. Make sure to also visit the Luxor and Karnak temples and the highly popular Luxor museum, all on the East Bank.

Although you can fly or take a train between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, we highly recommend the bus rides between Luxor and Aswan, as these trips usually have stopovers at popular, historic monuments along the way. In Aswan, you could tour Elephantine Island, the Nubian museum and the unfinished Obelisk, the High Dam and St. Simon’s Monastery. If you have an extra day to spare, you could also visit the temples of Abu Simbel, and have more time to see Aswan’s many other attractions.

Religious tours are also highly popular, such as the Holy Family route and the Exodus route, as well as tours of Islamic mosques. You can just imagine Moses leading the chosen people out of Egypt as you follow in their steps. Unstructured religious tours are also on offer, allowing you to see highlights from either the Holy Family and Exodus routes, as well as monuments found in the Pharoanic tours.

The Ancient Egypt Tour is the ideal vacation for the adventurer in you, and a great educational trip for the entire family, especially if you have around two weeks to spare. Aside from soaking up the amazing ancient cultures, you’ll also get to meet a people who are wonderfully accommodating and friendly.

According to the Egyptian laws and regulations, any foreigner intends to work in Egypt must obtain a work permit except for those categories specified in Article 2 of the Ministerial Decree No. 292 2010.

Obtaining a work permit shall be done through the following phases:

Admission phase:

Submitting an application to the Ministry of Manpower in order to obtain its approval for admitting the expatriate into the country. It is to be noted that the expatriate should be outside the country during this phase and stay abroad until the approval of the Ministry of Manpower is obtained.

It is to be noted that the following nationals shall be exempted from admission request:

1. The Palestinians who are holding Palestinian passports issued by the Palestinian Authority and a temporary residence permit for non touristic purposes; or Palestinians who are holding Jordanian passports valid for two years and issued from Gaza. Furthermore, Palestinians who have travelling documents issued by Arab Republic of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

2. Nationals of Sudan who are holding temporary residence for non touristic purposes and are residing in continually and permanently in the country and exempted from residence and registration request.

3. Foreigners who are coming to the country, as a grant, and based on conventions which Egypt is a party thereto in order to implement a national projects declared by virtue of a Presidential Decree and authenticated by the Peoples’ Assembly.

Entry phase:

If the Ministry of Manpower approves the admission request, the expatriate must enter the country in order to take the HIV test. After entering the county the expatriate has a maximum period of sixty days in order to complete the work permit procedures otherwise, the application request shall be null and void.

*It is to be noted that the expatriate who is married to Egyptian national is exempted from taking the HIV test.

Security clearance phase:

If the HIV test result was positive, the above mentioned documents along with the HIV result shall be submitted to the Foreigners Work Permits Office. The applicant shall receive a receipt evidencing that the documents were submitted and the application is currently under examination. Said receipt is valid for a period of six months during which the expatriate shall be entitled to work pending the issuance of the security clearance. If the security clearance result was positive, the final work permit shall be issued for another six month; totaling one year. It is to be noted that the expatriate may not leave the country until the above mentioned receipt is obtained in order to avoid repeating the HIV test.

The documents that should be attached to the work permit application are as follows:

First: Documents to be submitted by the Company by whom the expatriate will be sponsored:

– An updated version of the company’s commercial register.

– The company’s tax card.

– An Updated version of the company’s Social Insurance Form No. 2. This document indicates the number of Egyptian employees working in the company and enrolled with the Egyptian Social Insurance Authority. Said document is required to verify the percentage of foreign employee to the Egyptian ones. This is due to the fact that the percentage of foreign employees should not exceed the 10% of the total number of Egyptian employees working in the company; meaning that every nine Egyptians against one foreigner.

– A power of attorney to be issued by the company in favour of the officer who will carry out the work permit procedures on behalf of the company.

– A statement indicating the number of foreign expatriates who are currently working in the Company. Said statement should be signed by the company’s manager and stamped with the company’s seal.

– A letter, by virtue of which, the company appointing two Egyptian assistants for the foreign expatriate along with their qualifications (graduation certificates). Said letter should be signed by the company’s manager and stamped with the company’s seal.

Second: Documents to be submitted by the expatriate:

– Copy of the expatriate’s passport

– 12 personal photos of the expatriates.

– Experience certificate to be issued by the previous employer for whom the employee was employed. The past experience should not be less of three years. Said certificate should be legalized by the Egyptian Consulate.

It is worth mentioning that the following national shall be exempted from submitting the Certificate of experience:

1. The expatriate who is married to an Egyptian woman for a period of five years and their marriage relationship still existed.

2. The expatriate who is married to an Egyptian man and their marriage relationship still existed.

3. The foreigners who are residing in the country by virtue of a special residence permit for ten or five years

4. The foreigners who have not a nationality and residing in the country a continuous and permanent residence.

5. The son or daughter of the foreign employer.

6. Political refugee provided that he has an approval letter issued by the Political Refugees Affairs Office of the Republic Residency.

7. The foreign wife whose Egyptian husband passed away and she have children therefrom.

8. The son of the Egyptian wife.

9. The Palestinians who are holding Palestinian passports issued by the Palestinian Authority and a temporary residence permit for non touristic purposes; or Palestinians who are holding Jordanian passports valid for two years and issued from Gaza. Also, Palestinians who have travelling documents issued by Arab Republic of Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria provided that the expatriate should submit all the documents evidencing the above.

– A statement issued by the expatriate declaring that he did not previously work in Egypt or a letter indicating that his old work permit has been delivered to the Ministry of Manpower.

Special documents to be submitted by the expatriate in addition to the above mentioned documents:

– Copy of the Marriage Certificate and a declaration evidencing the continuity of marriage relationship (in case of the expatriate is married to an Egyptian national. Said declaration should be signed by the expatriate himself in the presence of the examiner otherwise, authenticated by one of the notary public affiliated to the Ministry of Justice.

Looking for an Egyptian Rug?

Finding an authentic Egyptian rug can be a more complicated task than many consumers expect when rug shopping. In the current market, a majority of Egyptian rugs resemble Persian rugs, and very few designs actually depict the recognizable “Egyptian look” that consumers hope to find.

Each year there are only a few rugs and carpets that make it over to the American Oriental rug market featuring the traditional Egyptian style. For this reason, Egypt is unfortunately not described as a rug and carpet producer.

Despite the low quantity of rugs produced, they are viewed as some of the most intricately designed and highest quality rugs on the market.

Why are Traditional They so Rare?

Ancient Egypt artifact recovery digs have found hand looms that date back to 2400 B.C. However, contemporary Egypt weaving styles stem from a much more recent design era.

The most recent style of Cairo rug weaving actually dates back to the 16th century. The rugs woven in Cairo provide beautiful, entrancing color palettes in addition to their unique, ancient design motifs. However, by the middle of the 17th century, Egyptian carpet production seemed to cease all together, and it was nearly impossible to find traditional them anywhere on the market.

Current Markets

Then, post WWII, authentic rug production started up again in Egypt in 1952 as several companies refocused on creating authentic Egypt styled carpets. These companies currently employ thousands of weavers who want to learn the beautiful art of Egyptian rug and carpet weaving.

Still, only a small percentage of the rugs and carpets produced by them actually make it to America.

The Beauty of Egyptian Rugs

Typically, Egyptian or Merino wool or silk is used in authentic weaving patterns. This material is then dyed using synthetic dyes and machine-spun pile. Although the styles include Persian knot-tying and weaving techniques, the graphic design and layout associated with these styles differs from other Oriental rug styles on the market.

Typically, Egyptian designs and motifs feature geometric patterns and intricate floral designs. These designs are very complex and feature a wide variety of colors that can complement any living space.

Are they Worth It?

Egyptian carpets are difficult to find, and they can be rather expensive. However, a rug of this quality and beauty is a great asset to any living space. Though Egypt is not typically well-known for its rugs, the rugs are beautifully well-crafted and depict the best qualities of rug weaving that every carpet producing country has to offer.

Alexandria is the ancient city founded by Alexander the Great. It is currently the second largest city in Europe as well as a major center of international shipping industry and a prominent trading center. The city located in north-central Egypt is the most well known tourist center in the country. In general, health care systems in Alexandria are well developed with many good hospitals in both public and private sectors. Some of the major hospitals are truly world class and offer the services of English speaking staff. This is a description of some of the major hospitals in Alexandria.

Alexandria University Hospital located at Al-Azarita, Midan Al-Khartom, Alexandria is one of the largest health care centers in Egypt. Faculty of Medicine of Alexandria University has been providing modern and effective medical service to people since1942. The center consists of a university hospital, a hospital specifically for obstetrics and gynecology, a pediatric hospital and a hospital for orthopedics. This premier institute employs 109 eminent physicians. The main hospital has spacious out patient section with full-fledged departments in various specialties and about 1100 patients visit the section daily. The hospital has departments of critical care medicine and diagnostic imaging. There are also well-equipped laboratories, an internal pharmacy and a nuclear medicine section. The hospital is keen to maintain the highest level of quality in all of its endeavors and formed a special quality assurance unit in 2004. Telephone: + 2035910048

The German hospital is a favorite amongst visitors to Alexandria. The hospital is conveniently located at 56 Abd El Salam Aref Street, Saba Basha, Alexandria. The staff includes visiting doctors, and the hospital offers effective medical service in both general and specialized areas at a reasonable cost. The hospital was founded by the German community in Egypt. The surgery department has units in various specialties like urology, plastic surgery and pediatric surgery. The ICUs, the surgical intensive care unit, the hospital pharmacy and the various laboratories in the German hospital are equipped with sophisticated devices and facilities. The center has a notable diagnostic imaging unit and a nuclear medicine department, both of which perform a large number of imaging procedures. Luxurious accommodation is available in the hospital. Tel: +20 3 584 1806

Abo-Qeer Central Hospital situated at Al-Bahr Al-Mayiet Street, Abo-Qeer, Alexandria is another popular hospital in Alexandria. This multidisciplinary private hospital is managed by a famous business group of the country. The renowned Global Air Rescue works in association with the center to arrange various emergency services like air ambulance. The network of air ambulances are provided with the newest cardiac life support systems. The hospital also offers the services of trauma experts, doctors and a supporting staff certified in emergency care and flight physiology. Tel: 20-560-1542

We’ve all been captivated at one time or another by the sight snake charmer sitting cross-legged, blowing on a flute, while his poisonous cobra, its puffed-up hood spread wide, rises up out of a basket and sways to and fro in time with the music.

Snake charmers have charmed and mesmerized spectators as well as snakes for centuries. The earliest documented use of snake charming was in Ancient Egypt. There, a rearing cobra with its hood spread wide was a symbol of royalty. At a time when less than ten percent of the population could read and write, snake charmers were high-status, literate men, who served as both healers and magicians. They learned about the various types of snake, what snakes were sacred to which gods, and how to treat people who were bitten by snakes. They were also entertainers, who knew how to charm the reptiles for their customers.

Another early reference to Egyptian snake charming is the biblical account in the Old Testament (Exodus 7:8-12), in which Pharaoh summons the country’s best magicians to compete with Moses and Aaron. The Egyptian magicians change their walking staffs into living snakes, but Aaron does them one better, turning his staff into a snake that eats all their snakes.

Today, snake charmers are still active in Egypt and other North African countries, as well as India and other Asian countries. Many of them can be found on street corners, performing primarily for tourists. Others wander from town to town, performing in smaller villages during market days and festivals. Most of them use the hooded cobra, and in Egypt the most popular species is the aggressive Egyptian cobra, which can grow to a length of almost eight feet and looks most impressive when it puffs up its hood.

So how do they do it? How do they make a snake freeze like a stiff rod? By some accounts, the charmer grabs the snake and applies pressure to a certain spot on its neck, pinching a nerve and causing the snake to stiffen up like a walking cane until the charmer throws it on the ground.

But how does the snake charmer keep from being bitten? Unfortunately, many present-day charmers are apparently frauds who use non-venomous species, or remove the snake’s fangs or venom glands, or even sew the snake’s mouth shut.

So did the snake charmer of Ancient Egypt employ the same tactics, or did they really make the snake do all those things with no gimmicks? Only they would know.

Interested in this subject? Try this link http://www.peregrineadventures.com/blog/11/01/2016/snake-charming-morocco/ for more information!

Why Travel to Egypt

If you are an Africa travel enthusiast, Egypt probably needs no introduction. This North African country has a rich, mystical, and well-known history dating back to the old testament days of the Christian bible. Today, many historical monuments from these ancient days still stand in Egypt, attracting millions of visitors every year. The ancient temples at Abu Simbel are one great example.

Abu Simbel: Background Information

Consisting of two sacred temples carved out of a mountain side, Abu Simbel is the second major ancient man-made tourist attraction in Egypt today, after the great pyramids. The Abu Simbel temples are part of the Nubian monuments in Egypt, which have collectively been declared UNESCO world heritage sites. You should visit Abu Simbel at least once, to appreciate the beauty of the temples and also learn about its mystical history, like thousands of other local and foreign tourists do.

Location

The temples at Abu Simbel are presently situated at the top of an artificial cliff on the western banks of Lake Nasser, about 300 km southwest of the Aswan High Dam. However, this was not their original site. Originally, these ancient temples were located about 200 feet below the current location. They were relocated in the 1960’s to prevent them from being submerged in Lake Nasser, following the construction of the Aswan high dam. The temple relocation and reconstruction is deemed as one of the great engineering feats of the modern world.

The Temples’ Relocation

Done through the combined efforts of the Egyptian Government and UNESCO, the relocation of the Abu Simbel cost over 60 million US dollars and lasted four years. The temples were cut up into huge slabs at their original site, each slab weighing over 3000 kilograms. The slabs were then moved to higher ground very gingerly to avoid damage. At the new site, the pieces were carefully reassembled, taking into consideration all the elements that had been in place at the original site including the accurate construction measurements and the position of the sun. There is a small museum outside the Abu Simbel, where you can get a step by step documentation of the relocation and reassembly of the two temples. The museum also has a lot of other information such as the history of Abu Simbel and the ancient kingdoms who worshiped in it.

Abu Simbel History

The two temples were built during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, reputedly to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh.

Touring Abu Simbel

Four gigantic statues of Pharaoh Ramesses sit at the front of the Abu Simbel. This is the mesmerizing sight that greets your eyes as you approach the temple. You will feel both dwarfed and amazed by its sheer size. One of the statues in the middle has however been destroyed from the head to the waist by a past earthquake. At the feet of these gigantic statues are much smaller statues, probably of members of the then royal family.

When you tour the Abu Simbel, you will most likely be in the company of travel guides who will awe you with stories of the rise and fall of ancient kingdoms, and of gods who could spit fire and turn day into night. By the time you get past the first entrance of the Abu Simbel, you may be so spooked that you will not want to fall even a step behind the tour group. The first entrance leads to a corridor lined with more statues, wall engravings and cave paintings.

Most of the history about the temples has been concluded from the illustrations carved on these walls. However, some of these illustrations have never been fully interpreted. As you go deeper inside the temples, it gets more beautiful, interesting and almost unsettling. If you love mysteries and scary stories, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience here.

At the innermost shrine inside the temple, you will find four statues of the main gods seated on a high platform. The most remarkable thing about this shrine is that it was constructed in such a way that twice a year, in late February and late October, the first rays of the sun shine directly down on the back wall of the shrine illuminating the gods and giving the shrine an eerie yet powerful presence. This phenomenon points to the extraordinary sense of design and planning that ancient Egyptians had, particularly when it came to the sun and other heavenly bodies.

The temples are still considered sacred by some Egyptians and don’t be surprised if you find a group of people outside the temple saying a prayer while facing the sun. Most people who believe in the sanctity of the Abu Simbel like to visit the site in February and October when the rays of the sun light up the innermost shine and make the statues of the gods “come alive”.

Getting There

To travel to Abu Simbel, you can take a flight from Cairo or Aswan to the airstrip behind Abu Simbel, or you can go by bus. The temples are located in a very remote setting with very few inhabitants in the area. The area is largely desert land and temperatures can soar to uncomfortable heights during the day and then drop to skin penetrating cold during the night.