According to international reports, 90% of the companies in the Middle East are family companies that contribute 80% of the national income and constitute about 75% of the private sector’s activity and employ 70% of the labor force. However, family businesses in the Middle East and Egypt are companies In all countries of the world agree that the continuation and development is confined to the life of the founder as the start of opportunities to continue and performance rates decrease with the next generations of the family, where international data indicate that out of every 100 businessmen, there are 30 businessmen continue their work after death, while the seventy The other two disappear their actions with the death of the founder, yet the companies that Will be able to continue until the fourth generation and the fifth, the proportion of not more than 3% of companies that survived after the death of the founder, which made the developed countries are aware of the risk of not continuing the family businesses on their economies, and began to research the reasons for non-continuation of family businesses and risks to the economy and its assistance To continue to ensure the continued growth of its economy with many assistance, including the reduction of taxes and participation in the cost of support programs for the continuation of family businesses and others.

The difficulty in continuity is due to the nature of family businesses, especially the overlap between family, management and ownership, which is one of the distinguishing features of family businesses, which is one of the main reasons for creating intergenerational tension. This affects the continuity of the family and the business at the same time. In the inability to continue from the second generation of the family, but in the elimination of family relations by benefit, and pointed out that the family companies that have retained the continuation of the third and fourth generation is the one that succeeded in preserving the family and the company which is interested in Early stages of the constitution of the family work is clear and details of all relations and policies and mechanisms to ensure the reduction of tension in all stages of continuity or exit and distribution of rewards, and pointed out that there is no model of a single labor constitution applicable to all companies, each company determines the constitution of its work according to the nature of activity Family circumstances and the abilities of successive generations of the family and their willingness to run the activity with their own knowledge or with the help of assistants from abroad. The accumulated experience of the family companies indicates that the continuation of the company for the fourth and fifth generations is a joint responsibility of the founders and the children. Successive generations.

Moreover, It is noted that the family company does not witness differences in the first generation stage because of the sole decision-making of the founder while the tension begins to make decisions starting from the second generation and the next generations of children and grandchildren, where the differences increase as the family expands and expanded the requirements of its members from the company represented in requests for participation in management The higher jobs, profits and so on. Thus, the problems of family businesses decrease and their chances of survival increase as the family expands and increases profits and production.

Recommendation

1- Tensions will decrease whenever the founder of the company or the board of directors of the family to develop the charter of family work early, stressing the need to note that the decision to continue the company is not born of the moment, but needs preparations and rehabilitation for a period of not less than 15 years before the next generations overlap in the decisions of the company, And that the rules for rehabilitation of the transition and resolution of the causes of tension should be transparent and clear. And that there is a family council looking for family problems and another administration interested in running the company away from family concerns and problems. Also, that family businesses are also vulnerable to corruption, illegal practices, fraud and deception, especially in the absence of accurate systems of internal control from owners.

2- To encourage the development of legislation in the laws and legislation governing the establishment and management of Egyptian companies in terms of construction and management in general and family businesses in particular.

Egypt is considered to be the oldest country and has a lot to see in it. The Cairo city which is the Capital of Egypt endeavors a number of historical places including Mosques, Temples, Churches and palaces pertaining to the ancient Egyptians to visit. Some of these worldwide famous attraction points are as follows;

The first sight important to mention here is Al- Azhar Mosque. Being a Muslim country, Egypt has a number of mosques and religious sites among of which the most famed is Al- Azhar Mosque. It is thought that the name of this mosque was alluded to the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (P.B.U.H)’s daughter Fatima who was known by the title of “Az- Zahra” which means “the shinning or the brightened one”. It was founded in 970 AD as the kernel of newly formed Fatimid City. The mosque is referred as the most primeval religious site and its Sheikh is said to be the most authentic authority for Egyptian Muslims. The building is famous for its architectural style that surely depicts the hard work of its architects, engineers and laborers. The mosque has gone through numerous enlargements and renovations time to time over a span of 1000 years. The tomb chamber situated at the left just inside the entrance of mosque has a beautiful mihrab that indicates the direction of Mecca and because of its glory and elegancy it should not be missed. After a period of renovations, the mosque eventually developed into what it is today that is the second oldest running university with continuity in the whole world. The Al- Azhar Mosque is now transformed into Al- Azhar University. The university has been regarded as the foremost educational organization for the study of Islamic Law. The university was designated officially in 1961. It is the ultimate source of education regarding Shariah and Islam. The Muslims all over the world acknowledged its value and admit it to be the treasure of knowledge. As the mosque was built in the long period of time so its architecture material taken from multiple eras of Egyptian history can be seen clearly at the walls of the building. The architecture of Al- Azhar can be said as the mirror of history of Cairo.

The Egyptian Museum or commonly known as Museum of Cairo is home to a vast collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. The history of Egypt is very much substantial as it is among the oldest countries in the world. The Egyptian Museum was established in 1902 and has a collection of over 120,000 items. Many of these items are placed on the display while the remaining is reserved in store rooms. Among these 120,000 items, some of the antiquities have a great importance in the history of ancient Egypt. The museum has an honor to have the world’s largest collection of Pharaonic antiquities. The museum has two main floors; one is the ground floor and the other is the first floor. The ground floor has a broad collection of Papyrus and metal coins (silver, gold. Bronze) those were used in the ancient world. Papyrus is referred as the shabbiest plant that is used in the past to make paper. Different small fragments of Papyrus are displayed in the museum due to their decay over the past two millennia. Numerous languages are found written on these pieces including Arabic, Greek, Latin and ancient Egyptian. The ground floor has the material pertaining to the era between 1550 and 1069 BC. These items have different tables, coffins and statues. The museum is a great source of education so if you are in Egypt then make sure to visit this place as it will give a huge increment to your knowledge.

Egypt is not notorious in the whole world only for being affluent in its history but also it has many famous parks and spots of enjoyment. The Gabalaya Park and aquarium is one of the must see place in Cairo as the park has beautified landscaped gardens with aquariums set in rocks. These aquariums although did not have many actual fish. The place is beautiful and is best if you want to escape the crowd and want peace and harmony. Your kids will be much more happy over here than any other place as the aquamarine life they will see in the park is the best experienced they have. Being at the park is also not a problem as the entrance fees are modestly priced that can be afforded by anyone. The place is best for afternoon picnics and has many shops to sell snacks. But most of the families’ prefer to have their own picnic baskets. As I said earlier, the aquarium does not host a good deal of fish species but the tanks are built into rock formation that gives an intriguing and exciting walk through paths of the tanks. Visiting the park at week days is suggested as it becomes very crowded during the weekends.

A major public town square in Downtown Cairo; Martyr Square was the center point for the Egyptian revolution of 2011. The square is commonly known by the title “Tahrir Square”. Earlier the Tahrir Square was initially known by “Ismailia Square” but later on after the revolution took place by the Egyptians it would get famed and called as “Tahrir Square”. The square is the dominant public town square in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. Tahrir Square is surrounded by numerous historic and valuable spots. Some of the worth mentioning are Egyptian Museum, the Mogamma government building, Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church, the Nile Hotel, House of Folklore, the National Democratic Party- NDP headquarters building and the Headquarters of the Arab League building, and the original downtown campus of the American University in Cairo. It surrounds a large traffic globe. A statue of Omar Makram who was a nationalist hero is placed in a plaza and the plaza is situated on the north- east of the Square.

When we talk about the tall buildings in Egypt, we cannot forget to mention the “Cairo Tower” and if we would forget, then it is unfair. It is the tallest building in the North Africa and Egypt. The Cairo Tower is 187 meters tall. This tower looks like a latticework tube. It has given the status over a long period of 50 years. It was constructed between 1954 and 1961. After its completion, it was also inaugurated in 1961. An Egyptian architect designed this tower. Because of its tallness, it has 90 floors. It has an honor to be ranked on the fourth among the tallest towers worldwide.

Now comes, the hills and the mountains which enhance the beauty of the place. A range of hills known as Mokattam is situated in southeastern Cairo, Egypt. The meaning of Mokattam is “cut off” or “broken off”. Its name has an eminent historic aspect. Simon, the saint once moved the mountain and that is why it is named as Mokattam. It is also called as “Cave Church”. This church was opened in 1975. This Cave Church present in Mokattam is ranked as the largest church in the Middle East. In 1980’s, Zabbaleen’ (Coptic Christians) population was about 8,000 and now almost 30,000 people are living here. Being a Muslim country, Egypt has a majority of Muslims. Christian colony is quite hard to find in Egypt. Most of the Coptic Christians aggrandized to move in Mokattam with their scriptural territory. A large population collects sewage and filth here and because of the fact, it is titled as the “garbage city” in the area as they found it more profitable rather than shoving the animals. These hills are situated in the new capital of Egypt called as Fustat. A large precinct of Mokattam hills accommodates upscale environs of Cairo. The remaining area contains skid row. This beautiful and sacred place gives a pleasant sight.

The Manial Palace and Museum is situated in the range of El- Manial district of southern Cairo, Egypt called Sharia Al- Saray. It grounds on Rhoda Island on the Nile. It was built during 1899 to 1929. But later on in 1955, the palace was accustomed to the Egyptian nation. To reflect the perspective and lifestyle of the late 19th and the early 20th century Egyptian aristocratic and imperial prince and inheritor ostensible, the palace has been sustained as an Antiquities Council assisted historic house museum and estate. The palace has five isolated buildings and Persian Gardens surrounds these buildings. A museum is also located among these structures. The worth mentioning items kept in the museum include Faruq’s hunting trophies, prince’s residence, accessories and fixtures and family’s relics. A ravishing garden having alluring and dazzling flowers and plants is also a worth seeing venue. A mobilization of carpets, textiles, palimpsests, texts, brass work and crystal is also found here. Since last 10 years, the palace was revamping sprucing up under the project and now after the culmination of project it is under the ascendancy of the antiquities ministry. A Meridian Hotel has been built on the inceptive loam.

Giza Zoo, an area of greenery and a stunning site is one of the trifling green locations in Giza, Egypt. It is a corporeal garden in the city. It was opened in 1891 and covers a large area of 80 acres. Because of its largeness, it is ranked as the largest park of Giza. It contains variant endangered species of almost 175 kinds. When the zoo was inaugurated, animal collection spotlighted Egyptian species but with the passage of time, migratory animals and birds are also represented here and they are adduced as 20,000 individuals. The zoo was considered to be one of the best zoos in the world in the mid 20th century. The gardens present in the zoo have well- off and paved roads, gravel enriched footpaths and a pond which is now known as the Zoo’s Tea Island. For the convenience of the visitors to see the animals from the height, a cessation bridge was built in the zoo and among all the bridges of the whole world, this bridge probably have been the first ethical sight locus.

The souks (bazaar) effectively grab the attraction of tourists as well as natives. Khan el – Khalili, a major booth is located in the Islamic district of Cairo. Bab al- Ghuri who was the ruler of 15th century had ruined the actual Khan and reconstructed it as a retailing manifold in 1511 featuring immortal gates and plumb streets. The district was affiliated with Turkish consigners in the reign of Ghuri up to till now. However today it is engrossed by the Egyptian merchants. Typically the shops are the center point of jewellery, antiques and gifts but the goldsmiths and other traditional shops offering variant items are also located here because they are still conspicuous for the natives. After shopping, one need to refresh and relax him and the best way of refreshment is to have some food in a peaceful place. So many restaurants and coffeehouses are also stationed. The coffeehouses conventionally offer and serve the traditional Arabic Coffee and frequently offer shisha. One of the oldest and most glorious coffeehouse is known as Fishawi’s. In addition, street food vendors are also wandering in the streets of bazaar.

Talking about tombs firstly clicks the Pyramid of Djoser in our minds. It is an archeological perch in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt. It was built during 27th century (2667 to 2648 BC). The pyramid is the paramount and axial feature of a capacious mortuary convoluted in a tremendous courtyard. The pyramid is 62 meters heighted. It is the first Egyptian pyramid having 6 memorials and these six memorials are assembled one over another making a pile. Under the pyramid, a recessed lime stone wall of “palace façade” are beautifully decorated and contain 13 concocted gates. The pyramid is situated at the center of a complex area that is stretched at 37 acres. Under the pyramid is an array of chambers and tunnels. Recent studies have revealed it to be the burial chamber of a king. Imhotep was a man who had been regarded as a sort of god and he was the one who designed this step pyramid.

Bab Zuweila also known as Bawabbat al- Mitwali is ranked as one of the considerable landmark of the city. The old city of Cairo Egypt contains 3 main gates and it is one of these gates. These gates include Bab al- Futuh which is the northern gate locating corresponding to Bab Zuweila, Bab an- Nasr and Bab Zuweila. It is the determinate resting southern gate in the 11th and 12th century. The building has an eminent podium. Its name is also based upon a historic countenance. The word Bab means “door” and Zuweila was the name of the tribe of Berber’s troopers. Cairo was discovered in 969 and in 1092, a second wall was built around Cairo to shelter the city and southern gate of this wall would be called as Bab Zuweila. This site is a royal path towards knowing the history and history lovers will love to be there. so, whenever you get a chance to be in Cairo, make sure your trip to Bab Zuweila as the place is not only enjoyable but also a pretty much informative.

Viking Amber Traders and Ancient Egypt

The Egyptian preists, according to the the Atlantis narrative, Timea, said that Orichac (Amber) was mined on Basileia in great quantities.

Basileia was the capital of Atlantis and lay just off the Danish Coast.

The Egyptians said it gleamed lie fire and that the Atlanteans covered the walls of their temple with it.

The area between Heligoland and Eiderstedt was the Amber country of the Ancient world.

The Eider River was used to ship the Amber all over the world. It is on the west coast of the Cimbrian Peninsula, that is the present day Jutland..

The Amber Routes of Pre-Columbian Times led to the North Sea Coast.

To this day, Amber is often washed up on the west coast of Jutland. Pieces of Amber, pendants, animal figures, were fashioned by the work of primitive implements thousands of

years ago. The “Gold of the North,” is being gathered by the ton on the North Coast of the Eiderstedt Peninsula, on the banks of the River Hever. The 1968, Dyke construction has caused a “Gold Rush” of Amber.

Many of the locals are finding big pieces. A boy from the village of Odenswort, found a large piece weighing 2KG and sold it for well over 2000 DM.

Fisherman who sink their nets in, pull up Amber in this area.

In the Greek states and in Rome, Amber was worth it’s weight in gold.

In Egypt, Amber was worked together with gold into costly necklaces.

The breast ornament of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, died 1352 BC, was solid gold. And it contained large Amber drops. Why didn’t the Smithsonian tell the thousands of visitors who came to the exhibit, that the Amber was brought to Ancient Egypt by our Ancestors, the North Sea Peoples?

In a tomb inscription at the time of Thutmose III (about 1500 BC), an inscription tells us: An embassy from the Haunebu (North Sea People), from the Northern lands at the end of the world, brought with them 8943 pounds of Amber!

It was used to decorate temples and Obelisks.

The Egyptians said ‘Amber is the fruit of the eye of Ra (The Sun God.) The Gods live in it’s sweet scent; and it’s color is like Gold.

The Greeks believed that Amber was ‘the many tears that Apollo shed for his Son Aesculapius when he visited the Sacred people of the North.

Homer said that the Hall of Menelaus gleams with Copper, Gold, Amber, silver and ivory.

Amber has been found in Cretan graves, in Tholo’s Tomb in western Greece, and in the inner-Avatolian Chieftains tomb.

The Assyrians too knew that Amber came from the North Sea.

The health-giving and protective power ascribed to Amber derives from it’s magnetic property, and gives it it’s name, Electron, for Aleco = I Protect.

Amber was held in high esteem by the ancients and they gave our Viking ancestors Gold in exchange for it. The North Sea Amber is called the “Gold of the North.”

Amber trade vanished suddenly and totally after 1200 BC, along with the sinking of Atlantis.

The original Atlantis narrative was written in a non-Egyptian language. Our Atlantean (North Sea peoples) told the Egyptians the story and they in turn translated it into Egyptian.

Original it ain’t, but it still merits repetition: “Denial is not a river in Egypt”. What it is, is a highly addictive behaviour.

It starts insignificantly enough; an incident occurs which you would have rather hadn’t happened; words are spoken that are cruel and contemptuous, words you would not have wished to hear; a behaviour appears that you weren’t expecting, which is hurtful and dismissive… Suddenly you’re to blame, though you probably aren’t too sure what for.

Then it’s gone again. Things revert to ‘normality’, the ‘blip’ is explained away, or simply not mentioned again. There may be an apology – but equally there may not – you may be told that you’re making too much of something meaningless, or maybe although it ‘won’t happen again’ (his undertaking), you somehow provoked it (your fault).

And you look at this man in whom you’ve already invested so much emotion (and self-worth) and you really want to believe him. You probably need to believe him. So you find an explanation, or justification, for what happened: he was tired, or stressed, or worried, or jealous or drunk… and somehow you managed to make the situation worse and tip the scales… That’s how denial starts.

So denial isn’t a river in Egypt. It’s actually a snowball hurtling down a steep slope, becoming ever bigger and gathering momentum as it goes. Once you’ve started explaining his bad behaviours away, you just keep on doing it, way beyond the dictates of common sense and self-respect. Having put him on a pedestal, you’re left in the mud and slime beneath his plinth; and that is where you stay, way, way too long.

For the longest time – because whether it is months, years or decades it’s always much too long – it’s your being mired in manure that keeps him smelling of roses.

If only women adhered to the “Three Strikes And You’re Out” law – and by strikes I mean verbal assault as well as physical assault – but we don’t. The statistic is that, on average, women will endure some ten times that number of ‘strikes’ before they finally get out. Once denial is established, fear sets in; a fear that eats away at a person.

This week I received an email from a woman, which began with the brave words: “I love this man and I know that he loves me.” It went on to say: “He puts me down and makes me feel like I am less than a dog on the street.”

Maybe, just maybe, he does love her some of the time in his own heartless, destructive, dysfunctional way. More likely he’s attached to her in the way that any parasite is attached to what it feeds off. Doubtless he needs her, even more than she believes she needs him.

But it’s not love that he feels in the sense of caring for and being committed to fostering her emotional, spiritual, mental and physical well being.

A harsh judgement? Maybe, but an informed one; I’ve been there, done that and still have the T shirt to prove that I tried to survive in a relationship where ‘love’ was often a dead ringer for hate.

If you haven’t been there, you’d think it would be pretty simple to tell love and venomous hate apart. But that’s the beauty of denial: you genuinely stop being able to see the blindingly obvious. You can carry on missing the truth, even when it keeps punching and slapping you in the face. You hang on waiting for what you are desperate to believe will, finally, come into being. It doesn’t, of course.

It pains me deeply to think of any woman throwing away her precious life in this way. Denial is not a river in Egypt. If you’ve ever seen a dog on a length of chain trying futilely to break free, then you know what denial is and what it does.

The ancient Egyptians and the Mesopotamians shared many traits, but differed as well, despite emerging around the same years. The Egyptians, a religiously optimistic people, set up a bureaucratic government that eventually reflected their social system. In Mesopotamia, where life was not viewed as optimistically, the more diverse social system led to a decentralized political system. Evidence shows, however, that both societies trusted in an afterlife, established a unique writing structure and excelled significantly in the arts and sciences.

Mesopotamia, unfortunately, did not have a seasonal flooding from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which would force them to create an organized agricultural system. This would explain their negative view of the afterlife and the general mood of the gods. Egypt, nevertheless, stood along the fertile soils of the Nile River valley, which provided a familiarized flooding. This allowed the Egyptians to see the universe as orderly and beneficial. So sacred this afterlife that they believed in preserving the body at death for the journey to the afterlife by the process of mummification. The Mesopotamians, fearing to disappoint the gods, believed that their purpose was to serve the gods and thus religion played a more important role in government. Priests, for example, were much more prominent than in Egypt. No matter the situation, both civilizations thrived in agriculture.

Both communities had a social system broken down into three groups. King Hammurabi’s law declared these three groups: the free landowning, containing royalty, priests, and officials; the dependent farmers and artisans; and the slave class, who were usually prisoners of war. Temple leaders were considered royalty and controlled large estates along with the Lugal (king). While male dominance existed, women did have rights in Mesopotamia. They could own land and business and could trade, but child rearing was preferred. Women eventually lost social standing from the spread of agriculture and the rise of the middle class. Social class in Egypt was less pronounced: consisting of the king and his officials; the lower level officials, priests, farmers, and professionals; and the peasants at the bottom. The peasant class executed much of the agricultural labor, since slavery was limited. Obesity, as in many ancient civilizations, was a sign of wealth and status. Female subordination to man is apparent in Egypt as well. Women yet had slightly more rights. This included owning property, inheritance and the ability to will property to whomever.

A king of some sort ultimately ruled both Egypt and Mesopotamia. Egyptians were governed by a bureaucracy, where the pharaoh was the supreme ruler, followed by his appointed officials. The officials were chosen by merit, rather than by heritage as in Mesopotamia. The pharaoh was viewed as god on earth, granted with the responsibility to ensure welfare and prosperity. The palace was in control of long distance commerce as well as collecting taxes to put towards construction and the army. Priests, on the other hand, did not play a big role in politics as in Mesopotamia. The two centers of power in Mesopotamia were the temple and the palace of the king. The temple and the palace were usually the center and surrounded by agricultural lands, known as a city state. These city-states developed independently and traded among themselves. The theocratic king was called the Lugal and was responsible for property rights, defense, and the law. Slightly different from Egypt, the Lugal was only the representative or mediator of the gods.

Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia based their economies on agriculture. This tedious labor demanded for more productive ways to work, hopefully through technological advancements. Both societies used the process of irrigation through canals and dikes. Stone tools were the most commonly used along with some bronze. Egypt skillfully utilized simple machines such as levers and pulleys to build the magnificent monuments. Mesopotamians facilitated pottery making with the creation of the potter’s wheel. The most considerable innovation was the distinctive writing structures of the two civilizations. The Mesopotamians preferred the method of cuneiform- by creating wedge shaped symbols with reeds. Fortunately for the discovery of the Rosetta stone, we can interpret the multitude of hieroglyphs of the Ancient Egyptians.

Despite being isolated, both civilizations managed to abide by the basic structure of human nature and apply the indicators of a civilization. From this came the specific qualities that make up the classes of Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians.

Joseph- and the Hebrews to Egypt

Morality lessons can be found in every episode of biblical Joseph’s life: sold into slavery by brothers, angry and jealous of his braggadocio and their father’s favoritism; overcomes false charges and prison by his ability to interpret dreams; rises to great personal power and authority by his administrative ability; saves Egypt, all neighboring peoples and his own family from starvation during a prolonged famine. In the process he makes Egypt extremely wealthy (during the seven lean years, when only Egypt had store-house-cities full of grain from seven prior bountiful years). The biblical story of Joseph is easily justifiable as fiction, however, there is a statue on an island in the Nile of a white-faced, non-Egyptian vizier, who saved Egypt from a devastating famine, and wall-murals depict caravans of starving desert tribesmen (from named Hebrew cities) being sold grain, both fitting perfectly with the Bible. After Joseph becomes Egypt’s Vizier, with many years of famine remaining, per the Bible, he brings his father, his brothers and their entire families to Egypt. That sets the stage, centuries later, for the well-known Passover stories, with extra-biblical corroboration: Hebrew slavery; Moses (at birth) being saved from the drowning fate of male Hebrew babies; his flight from Egypt; and finally, the Exodus story, including mass deaths of Egyptians from the plagues. (Note: Other related Ezine articles: “Miracles 3500 Years Ago, Biblical Exodus – The Only Logical Explanation For 21st Century Artifacts!”; “Mystery Solved – Boy-King Tut’s Magnificent Tomb – Exodus Miracles Affirmed!”; “Hebrews in Egypt – Slaves and Plagues – Extra-Biblical Proof!”)

Beginning with Joseph being brought to Egypt and sold as a slave, Egyptian records correlate exactly with the Biblical episodes of Joseph’s story:

• Attempted seduction of a young man by a high official’s wife, his rejection of her, her false charges and his subsequent imprisonment, then release – told in an Egyptian papyrus, dated 1225 BC. (Identical to the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife).
• Joseph, Vizier/Savior of Egypt. Archaeological digs along the Nile, provide an obvious and remarkable corroboration of the biblical story of Joseph. An unusual life-sized statue was found at Avaris, honoring the famed Vizier who – by Egyptian records – saved the Egyptian people from a terrible famine. The statue is of a white-faced, clean-shaven Asiatic man with unusually-shaped and red hair, (and since legend is frequently based on fact) adjacent Egyptian wall murals depict Asian caravans of the time with similarly-featured non-Egyptian men wearing “coats of many colors”!
• Described in Papyrus #1116A in the Leningrad Museum is a mural of starving desert tribesmen seeking food from Egypt during a period of drought, “Pharaoh giving wheat to a tribe from Ashkelon, Hazor and Megiddo” (undoubtedly Hebrews from well-known cities in Israel);
• Roman historian, Josephus, in his book, “Josephus Against Apion”, quotes two Egyptian priest-scholars, Manetho and Cheremon, who, in their own histories of Egypt, specifically name Joseph and Moses as leaders of the Hebrews, that they “rejected Egypt’s customs and gods .. practiced animal sacrifices (witnessed on the first Passover)” .. These historians confirm that the Jews migrated to “southern Syria” (the Egyptian name for Palestine) and that the exodus occurred during the reign of Amenophis .. during the close of the 18^th dynasty, 1500 to 1400 BC.

Reading between the lines and extrapolating the text in both the Old Testament and Egyptian artifacts, there is much that can be derived.

1. Pharaoh, whether or not normally religious, truly feared the interpretations of his dreams – seven fat sheaves and cows, followed by seven shriveled sheaves and lean cows. Probably the dreams were of a nightmarish quality – Pharaoh being unable to get relief from them, for he then instituted a remarkable fourteen year national program for survival of his country and people. The gigantic storage facility at Sakkara, with similar granary storehouse all over Egypt, indicates the scale and scope of the undertaking, storing excesses from the bountiful harvest during the first seven years.
2. Because of the importance of the program, the person selected by Pharaoh as Vizier had to be truly second to Pharaoh in administrative authority (as both the Bible, re Joseph, and Egyptian artifacts, re Imhotep, attest) . An aspect of human nature – that during many years of bounty (seven – a long time), unless one is truly fearful of a deity and the prediction of seven years of famine, there is a natural tendency to “slack off”. Joseph, son of Patriarch Jacob, would have complete faith in God’s prediction, however, Egyptian power resided in Pharaoh, thus he primarily, had to believe completely and fearfully in the forthcoming years of famine – to put his country through such an ordeal of self-denial and discipline during years of plenty. Such a national program had to have been the most important in the country, and for fourteen years duration: during the years of plenty, hoarding all excess grain, building storage cities, then transporting and maintaining the surplus grain; then during the years of famine, selling off the grain and safeguarding Egypt’s accumulating wealth. An enormous administrative task, clearly, the designation of Joseph/Imhotep as “Vizier, second in power to Pharaoh in all of Egypt”, has to be recognized as extremely meaningful.

Digging Deeper – Joseph and Imhotep

The “deeper digging” is by Dr. Lennart Moeller in his book, “The Exodus Case”. Dr. Moeller, a medical doctor at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, is also an archaeologist, explorer, marine biologist, scuba diver, and a scholar of both Egyptian history and the Bible. It was Dr. Mueller who directed the diving expedition which discovered coral-covered clumps of chariot wreckage from Egypt’s 18th dynasty in the Gulf of Aqaba (see listed Ezine articles).

Moeller refers to an inscription on the island of Sihiel, near the first cataract of the Nile, which actually links Imhotep to the key biblical element of the Joseph story – telling of Pharaoh Djoser in the 18^th year of his reign. The inscription states “seven meagre years and seven rich years”. Commenting on the inscription, Moeller writes, “Pharaoh Djoser asks Imhotep to help him with the coming seven years of famine. All the biblical components of the story are there, and there is a similar inscription on the island of Philae in the Nile.” (This is exactly as in the Bible with Joseph, except for listing the “meagre” years before the years of plenty. Note: The famine years were, of course, the event of significance, saving everyone from starvation and bringing in much wealth to Egypt – it is noted that the manuscript was written a thousand years after the occurrences.) A carving in Sakkara shows starving people (ribs prominently outlined), also shows sacks of grain being carried up steps (as in the “silo” vaults at Sakkara), also food being distributed. In summary, Moeller says, “It should be noted that there is no other period of famine of seven plus seven years in the history of Egypt – except for the one for which Imhotep was responsible.” In Egyptian records, only one person is described as having the administrative authority to organize Egypt’s survival during the long famine – Imhotep. The parallel to biblical Joseph is precise and compelling. Moeller cites the large number of similarities in the lives, the accomplishments, responsibilities and characteristics of Imhotep of Egypt and Joseph of the Bible. Noting the dove-tailing of their individual stories from separate Egyptian and biblical accounts, Moeller’s conclusion is that the two – most probably – were the same person, the two stories told from different viewpoints. He includes 27 comparisons of Imhotep and Joseph, many are listed below.

(Imhotep – Egyptian records); {Joseph – Bible}:

• (Imhotep is appointed Administrator by Pharaoh Djoser during the periods of seven years famine and seven years of bountiful harvests); {Joseph is appointed Administrator to Pharaoh for the seven years of plenty then of famine};
• (Minister to the King of Lower Egypt); {Pharaoh .. made him ruler over all the land of Egypt};
• (Administrator of the GreatPalace); {Thou shalt be over my house};
• (Not of royal blood; attained position by ability); {From another nation and religion, not of royal blood, attained position by ability};
• (Not appointed by Pharaoh Djoser until he had reigned for some time); {Appointed well after Pharaoh ruled Egypt};
• (Given the status of “son” to Pharaoh); {Granted the status of “son” to Pharaoh};
• (High Priest in Heliopolis); {Married to Asenath, daughter of Poti-Pherah, High Priest in Heliopolis – by custom, would succeed father-in-law};
• (Builder and architect); {Builder of grain storehouses such as at Sakkara step-pyramid};
• (Exalted by Pharaoh Djoser as of godly character.); {“And Pharaoh said, ‘a man in whom the spirit of God is!'”} ;
• (“I need advice from God.”); {Noted as saying, “It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer.”};
• (Had great medical skill – was compared to the Greek God of Healing);
• {Had doctors under his authority – worked by miracles, dreams and signs from God};
• (Decided the tax rate during the seven years of famine; also not to apply to priests); {Decided the tax rate during the seven years of famine; also not to apply to priests};
• (Realizes when he is dying – dies at age 110.); {Realizes when he is dying – dies at age 110.}.

The Roman-Jewish historian, Josephus, quotes the writings of Manetho, Egyptian historian: “During [the] reign of .. Pharaoh Djoser, 3rd Egyptian dynasty, lived Imhotep .. [with a] reputation among Egyptians like the Greek God of medicine – [Manetho even wondered] whether Imhotep could have been an actual person .. [because he had] “so many outstanding qualities and talents .. a very special person [who] appears in the history of Egypt.” On the foundations of the Step Pyramid in Sakkara was carved the name of Pharaoh Djoser and “.. Imhotep, Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, Chief under the King, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary Lord, High Priest of Heliopolis, Imhotep the Builder..”.

The Bible tells of Pharaoh honoring Joseph with much the same offices as given to Imhotep “It is probable that Joseph was the only person to gain Pharaoh’s confidence to this degree. Joseph received every authority apart from Pharaoh himself .. [though] not of royal blood and .. [of] another nationality.” (As detailed above, the same also applies to Imhotep.) In both cases there is much reference to the pharaohic announcements – “second only to Pharaoh”; the Bible also tells of Joseph being given Pharaoh’s signet ring (with the royal seal), an outstanding act and undoubtedly, a national event.

A startling point is Moeller’s statement about what Joseph/Imhotep achieved for Egypt, “It was during the reign of Djoser that Egypt became a great power .. great riches were accumulated during the seven years of famine .. when grain was sold to all the countries around Egypt. The complex of buildings at Sakkara is remarkably unique, nothing like it has been seen anywhere .. built of white limestone from neighboring hills.” Describing the immense storage vaults at Sakkara, Moeller writes, “40,000 cubic metres storage .. remnants of grain have been found at the bottom.” Egypt built a vast nation-wide system of granary-storehouses as at Sakkara, evidence of a nationwide major program to store an enormous amount of grain for an anticipated famine.

While the Bible ‘s story of Joseph focuses on the greater story of the Hebrew people: his father Patriarch Jacob, the brothers, the beginning of the Hebrew sojourn in Egypt, leading to their slavery, then Moses and Aaron and the miracles of the plagues and the Exodus, it is the Egyptian artifacts that tell the details of how remarkable a man was Imhotep/Joseph. Not only an exceptional administrator who built the storage cities and maintained the discipline of storing rather than dissipating the excess grain during the seven years of bounty, Imhotep was also memorialized in Egyptian history for his medical abilities – his sarcophagus was decorated with the Ibis, Egyptian symbol of medicine, and in US medical schools today there is the Imhotep Medical Society.

Final “Clincher” – that Egyptian Imhotep was the Biblical Joseph.

Extremely noteworthy regarding Imhotep-Joseph is that the mummified bodies of neither have ever been found. The known facts regarding the burials of Imhotep and Joseph also strongly support the thesis that they were the same person:

– Both died at age 108.

– Imhotep’s coffin in Sakkara – with innumeral Ibis birds mummified in the adjoining galleries (Imhotep was called “Ibis” because of his reputation for healing – a large number of Ibis birds were sacrificed to him at his funeral in Sakkara); many clay vessels bearing the seal of Pharaoh Djoser were near the coffin; and the coffin is oriented to the North, not East, and is empty.

– Joseph would have been buried at Sakkara, his coffin orientated to the North – indicating he did not believe in the gods of the Egyptians (who were buried facing East, the rising sun); the coffin would also be empty as Joseph’s bones would have been taken by Moses with the Hebrews during the Exodus.

Sometimes life gets so hectic that everyone needs a breather. Go on a trip. Explore the world. Discover new places. See the ancient wonder of the world in Egypt. Egypt is a stunning country in the Middle East filled with ancient history and rich heritage. From the royal Pyramids, to the massive tombs and necropolis, to the majestic River Nile flowing through Egypt, to the austere Sahara Desert, to the perfect shores of the Red Sea, Egypt is a place not to be missed.

The River Nile is the heart of Egypt; it gave life to the Egyptians in the past as well as in the modern world. The River Nile has been a constant source of transport and communication as well as major source of fertility and riches. It is a fact that without its ancient history, Egypt would nowhere be as fascinating as it is.

To relive Egypt’s history, follow the course of the River Nile by going on a cruise in Egypt from Luxor to Aswan. The cruise is a highly enjoyable and memorable experience which is filled with stunning views backed by abundant history at every angle.

The cruise can be from a day to up to fourteen to fifteen days, depending on which places and spots you want to cover. All the important magnificent monuments are located around the River Nile because throughout history Nile was the main source of everything for Egyptians. It is like a green heaven cutting through the barren browns of the Sahara.

It is up to you whether you want to just sit back and relax in your suite and enjoy the breathtaking views, or whether you want to bathe in the sun on the deck and enjoy a cocktail as well as the pleasant Cairo atmosphere. Or you can go spend a large amount of time on land, hiking to the temples and tombs, getting a workout instead. The cruises are of different kinds and variety suitable to the desires of every person. There is a 32 cabin cruise boat with a relaxed and modern environment with high class food and luxury of sorts. The rooms have large windows so that not a view will be missed. It is a blend of the 21st century as well as the ancient side of tour Egypt. Another type of cruise has only 4 cabins each of which are tailored to your needs; it is a personal getaway in its prime state.

If you’ve had enough of sightseeing and want to just relax for a while then just head to the swimming pool or Jacuzzi in the cruise. You can also get a massage and let the masseuse do the magic and release all that trekking off you. You can also just lounge on the sun deck and soak in the beautiful sunshine. There is also a gym if you want to stay fit and refreshed. If you’re the sporty kind then there is also table tennis and a pool table. One should not miss a chance to travel to Egypt. Have the perfect getaway from the daily routine and do not think twice about treating yourself to an unforgettable experience.

Tattoos are used as a passport after death to live in this world again. Many traditional cultures have this as a practice, and Egypt was called the cradle of tattoo art. It is said that the bodies that were discovered tattoos on them. One female mummy named Amunet was said to have several dots and lines on her body as a tattoo. Her flesh had a clear display of the tattoo art. Many female mummies also showed these kinds of tattoo designs on their body. One of the popular designs among them was the ornamental scarring that is still popular in some parts of Africa. This tattoo design is worn on the lower part of the abdomen. The series of lines and dots is said to increase the fertility in a woman.

The traditional reasons involved in Egyptian tattooing are:

– To have a connection with the Divine.

– Act of sacrifice or as a tribute to a deity.

– As a talisman, a permanent good luck charm that cannot be lost.

– To provide medical protection and provide magical powers.

There was always a connection that existed between divine powers and the tattoos worn in ancient Egypt. Most of the designs that were discovered in this place were intrinsically connected to their religion. Mummies of 1300 BC were tattooed with the symbol of Neith. Neith was a female deity. These were the only tattoo designs that were meant for the male bearer.

God Bes tattoo:

This was the earliest tattoo displaying something specific and it was representing the God Bes. It is the favorite God of the musicians and the dancing girls. It is tattooed on the thigh of girls. Tattoos are extremely popular among the western culture but this practice is avoided by the Muslim culture. Egypt had some of the best stylish tattoos that when worn on any part of the body makes them look great. Modern Egyptian tattoos have emerged into the world but are little complex in their designs.

Egyptian tattoos are designed with the ideas obtained from various hieroglyphics and use ancient symbols to design the beautiful tattoos. Some of the Egyptian gods that are associated with these tattoos are the Bastet, Anubis and Horus.

Egypt is one of the countries that enjoy a wonderful variety of monuments and historical sites. Due to the long rich history of the country, extending to more than 7000 years, with diverse dynasties and kingdoms ruling over the land of the Nile, travelers who tour Egypt enjoy visiting several Pharaonic, Christian, and Islamic monuments.

The Christian monuments in Egypt vary from historical churches, monasteries, chapels, and many other establishments. Today, we would be exploring one of the richest archeological Coptic sites in Egypt. The ruins of the Monastery of Saint Means are quite remarkable. Included in the UNESCO world heritage sites, the monastery still grabs the attention of some of the tourists who travel to Egypt.

Saint Means lived in Egypt during the 3rd century AD. He was born probably in Libya around 275 AD. Although Saint Means served in the Roman army in Egypt. However, when the Roman starting executing the newly converted Christians, he deserted the army.

Afterwards, he was martyred and his body was transferred to the location of the monastery today in the Northern Coast of Egypt. St Means was credited with many miracles. This is why his monastery became a famous pilgrimage site. Today, the monastery, or let’s say its ruins, welcomes some of the tourists who enjoy their vacations in Egypt.

The ancient monastery of Saint Menes is located 10 kilometers to the South of the city of Borg Al Arab, situated around 200 kilometers to the North West of Cairo. This is why some Egypt travel packages which include a visit to Alexandria or the North Coast, would allow tourists, interested in Coptic monuments, to explore the monastery.

The ruins of the Monastery of Saint Menes include a huge sanctuary which flourished during the 5th and the 6th centuries. The sanctuary was stolen during the 9th century searching for valuable building materials. However, the ruins are still impressive and catch the attention of many visitors who have wonderful holidays in Egypt.

It is astonishing to know that the Monastery of Saint Menes was discovered in the beginning of the 20th century. The discovery is credited to a German archeologist called Carl Coufmann in a mission commissioned by the German Archeological Institute in Egypt which has many important project and discoveries that amaze travelers who tour Egypt.

Among the most impressive sections of the Monastery of Saint Menes is the great basilica which was established around the 5th century AD by the Roman Emperor, Zeno. This basilica was the largest in Egypt at the time and one of the most wonderful Christian establishments of all time. This is why many tourists who travel to Egypt are keen to explore its ruins.

To the west of the basilica, there is a small church that was named the small basilica of Saint Menes. In the Westernmost point of the whole complex, there is the baptistery which is one of the most interesting sections of the complex that grab the attention of many tourists who spend their vacations in Egypt.

The baths of the complex, which pilgrimages didn’t only use for their ablutions, but also it is said that these bathes include the holy water of Saint Menes, are located to the North of the Great Basilica which have some notable ruins as well.

There are numerous ancient civilizations that have awesome fish tank decorations these days. These include the Mayans, Asian and the always famous Greek ruins. Using any of these would create stunning scenes of times gone by, producing an air of wonder and discovery in your very own room.

The one ancient civilization that I personally love to use in my tank designs is the Ancient Egyptians. Who has not seen at least a photograph of the Great Pyramids or the towering mighty Sphinx. With the cool and extremely detailed tank ornaments you can get these days, you will be able to bring the exact replica of the Egyptian landscape into your aquarium.

With the Egyptian tank decor, you basically have a couple of options. You could create an outdoor scene, an indoor scene or just use Egyptian artifacts.

To create an outdoor Egyptian scene, you would be utilizing replicas of the massive structures that are synonym to Egypt. These would include the pyramids as well as the Sphinx. This is placed on top of a sand colored gravel to give it the impression of being in the desert. If you plan to use plants, they should not be of the leafy variety. Java Moss is one option you can look into. To make the theme work, a great idea is to place a fish tank background depicting a desert scene. This would give it a 3D effect to the whole design.

For the indoor effect, you would use indoor structures such as Egyptian columns as well as the Pharaoh’s sarcophagus. Place them to look like a scene from an archaeological dig. The gravel would still be sand colored. As a backdrop, you could either use one depicting Egyptian hieroglyphs or a rock face. These days you would be able to get 3D rock backgrounds where the rocks protrude out instead of a flat print. This makes theme look so much more realistic. Being indoors, you would not place any plants because they might make the theme look odd. You may place rocks if you wish, just make them out to look like they came crashing down from the roof of a temple. This means simply scattering them around the decor. Try not getting smooth faced river rocks, the ones you get should look as if they were once bricks that made up the walls.

Egyptian artifacts are new additions to the fish tank decorating scene. The most common ones that you can find are the Egyptian vases. Though they are only aquarium decor, they are made to look extremely authentic. What I love about the Egyptian vases is the holes that they always have in the side. These make awesome caves for the fish and if you have been following my posts all these years, you would know that I am big on caves for aquariums. Apart from the vases, another really cool tank ornament that I love a whole lot is a bust of Pharaoh. The bust is golden in color and looks very regal. With these ornaments, placing normal aquatic plants around them as well as using other types of gravel are not an issue.

The key point here is that your design needs to look old. It needs to look like an archaeological photo that you might see in the National Geographic magazine. Scan the internet for images that will help you get an idea of what to go for.