Dahab Egypt

The scarred desert landscape of Sinai is home to the Bedouins. Originally nomadic people, they have changed with the times and now many of live in and around Dahab. The Bedouins in the Dahab area are called Muzeina and are an important part of the area. The Bedouins give Dahab much of its unique, relaxed atmosphere. Dahab is a famous dive resort that has managed to keep its small-town, hippy feel, unlike the larger centres of Sharm el Sheik and Hurgada.

DahabDahab is one of the oldest and most famous dive areas in the Red Sea offering some of the most exciting and spectacular diving in Sinai. Dahab, which means ‘gold’ in Arabic, was named after its golden beaches, lying on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula on the Gulf of Aqaba. The journey from the airport in the more touristy Sharm is an hour’s drive through the magnificent desert and mountains.

Dahab’s atmosphere can’t be compared to Sharm; Sharm is a typical built-up holiday resort, while Dahab is smaller and quieter, and still attracts a more ‘alternative’ and younger crowd

The bars, restaurants, and cafes line the beach of the small bay – everywhere offers relaxed seating, ‘Bedouin-style’, on cushions and low sofas, enabling you to enjoy the sun, overlooking the sea, do some quality people watching, playing backgammon or smoking a shesha (the traditional Arabic water pipe).

Dahab now has a good selection of bars and clubs, which are well worth a visit in the afternoons and evenings. Sinai is warm the whole year round – water temperatures range from 21 degrees to 27 in the summer. Dahab is neither as hot nor as crowded as Sharm.

The Red SeaThe Red Sea is known the world over as a first class diving area. Here you can find some of the most exciting and beautiful underwater landscapes of any of our oceans.

The corals are one of the world’s natural phenomena with their colours and species, as well as being home to thousands of species of fish including manta rays, turtles, moray eel, tropical coral fish, clown fish (remember Finding Nemo?), loads of skate and sharks (for example, whale sharks and hammer heads), dolphins and whales.

The Red Sea itself is very narrow but about 2350 km long (350 km at it’s widest point). In the south of the Red Sea there is a narrow Strait called Bab el Mandeb (which literally means the ‘Gate of Tears’), only 29km across which connects it to the Gulf

Dahab lies on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula, directly on the Gulf of Aqaba, which reaches a depth of almost 2000m. Most reefs in Dahab are shore dives, making diving simple – you just walk into the sea from the beach, keeping Dahab’s waters free from exhaust and noise pollution from dive boats.

The Red Sea was created over 40 million years ago and is one of the most fascinating off-shoots of our oceans. Its name comes originally from a type of algae (trichodesmium erythraeum), which creates a red sheen across the surface when it blooms. However, you could be mistaken for thinking the name comes from  the surrounding mountains, which also turn a stunning rosy, rusty red at dawn and sunset, reflecting their colours on the water.

The Red Sea doesn’t have any fresh water inlets and the limited flow of water to and from the Indian Ocean is compensated for by the high levels of evaporation. This gives the Red Sea a relatively high salt content compared to other waters, in fact it is one of the highest on the planet.

Volcanic activity below the surface of the sea remains high due to the high water temperatures in the Red Sea. For example, the Indian Ocean typically measures just 6-7 degrees at 1000m, while the Red Sea remains an amazing 21 degrees at the same depth. It is therefore the warmest and saltiest sea on each, making it therefore the only place where you will see many species of fish, crustaceans, invertebrate and other such underwater wildlife.

The Bedouin cultureThe Bedouin way of life is very different from the dominant Arabic-Islamic cultures in Egypt. For example the Bedouins here take their culture back through the generations to Ishmael in the Bible.

The Bedouins are a proud people with a strong sense of identity, having preserved their sense of community and their excellent hospitality, which many of Dahab’s visitors enjoy. As a minority, the various ‘tribes’ manage their land and culture relatively independent of Egyptian society.

It is extremely important to the Bedouins to maintain their original traditions and ways of life; for instance they usually still wear their colourful traditional dress, the ‘galibia’.

If you’re in Dahab you should definitely take the opportunity to go for a Bedouin dinner and music in the WADIS (small valleys) in the Sinai mountains. The Bedouin DINNER under a clear, star-studded sky deep in the desert is a truly special unforgettable experience.

The main aim of the Dahab.net is to ensure that you get the best out of your diving, eating out and accommodation. You will experience the remarkable variety of the Red Sea, and the real culture of one of the oldest and most interesting countries. You will truly relax in Dahab as you discover the peace of the desert and enjoy the hospitality of the Bedouins.

You are guaranteed to have an amazing, memorable holiday in Dahab with lots of interesting people and experiences

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Therapeutic Tourism

Egypt's tourist products are now so diverse that it has become a year round destination from many countries. Besides archeological and religious tourism, there are sea resorts, international conferences and exhibitions, incentive travel, art, cultural, sport festival and shopping tourism. 

Therapeutic tourism is an obvious outcrop of the tourist product diversification policy. Egypt possesses a wide range of rich physical features, including many hot springs. According to scientific research, clay found in these springs has therapeutic properties that can cure numerous bone, skin, kidney, respiratory diseases and other problems. Also, the Red Sea water with its chemical composition and abundance of coral reefs helps to cure various forms of psoriasis.

Socrates Recommended Therapy in Egypt

The therapeutic property of Egypt's climate has been mentioned since the Greek era. Socrates, the founder of climatic physiotherapy, referred to this fact in his famous papers entitled "Egypt and Climatic Therapy". He advised people to go to Egypt and enjoy its warm weather and refreshing sea breeze. Following his advise, tourists have been coming to Egypt for hundreds of years for cures to ailments often caused by Europe's colder, more humid climate.

Therapeutic Tourist Sites

Tourist sites offering curative services in Egypt include Helwan, Hurghada, the Fayoum Oases, Aswan, Sinai, and Safaga on the Red Sea coast, among others.

Aswan, Sand Bathing and Further South

A few days ago, the German expert (Bedouno Sanouni) arrived to Egypt to undertake scientific research. He wanted to measure the "radon" element in some tourist areas, such as Aswan, to decide whether they are proper for curing many diseases such as rheumatism. Dr.  Magdi Michael, supervisor of the Isis resort in Aswan, states that since Pharaonic time, Aswan was known for its environmental therapy, as scenes from at the Kom Ombo temple reveal.

Aswan's dry weather is ideal for enjoying sand bathing during the period from May to September. Sand bathing is useful for curing various diseases such as rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis. In Aswan, many hotels have physiotherapy centers manned by efficient and highly trained staff experienced in various types of massage therapy. Moreover, rheumatoid patients can be treated in hot sands surrounding the mountains. The calm and beautiful landscape and pollution free environment also contribute to speedy recovery. Aswan, clear sunshine all the year round together with extremely dry weather provide an ideal atmosphere for curing rheumatism and bronchial asthma.

Further south, Abu Simbel, with its high rate of ultraviolet rays and a low humidity rate during the period from December to March, also provide a congenial environment for treatment of these diseases.

The Nubians in this region still practice traditional medicine, particularly herbal treatments. They use a plant called "Halef al'Bar", in treating common colds, "Damsisa" in treating urinary tracts diseases and baked and ground pomegranate peels in treating dysentery.

New Valley's Curative Springs and Herbs

Another therapeutic tourist center is the New Valley with an abundance of hot springs and sand with curative properties in addition to medicinal herbs. This area also has a typically dry climate. Here, hot water wells and springs linked to swimming pools have a temperature ranging from 35 to 45c all the year round. These wells provide therapy for common colds, rheumatism and some skin diseases such as psoriasis.

In addition, medicinal herbs are randomly spread out all over the New Valley. "Al'Sekran" can be used for extracting anesthetic materials for surgeries. "Jujube" (Karkade) is used to cure high blood pressure, especially when caused by nervous stress.

The Red Sea and Treatment of Psoriasis

On the Red Sea coast, Marsa Alam and Safaga are well known sites for therapeutic tourism. Safaga in particular is said to be one of the best locations in the world for curing psoriasis.

Safaga's potential health benefits were recently in the media spotlight when a group of scientists from the National Research Centre (NRC) found that it helps in the treatment of psoriasis (a chronic skin disease of which the cause remains unknown) and rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic, progressive form of arthritis causing inflammation in the joints). According to the NRC research team, there are several natural factors in Safaga which make it so appropriate for therapy. The high mountains act as a natural barrier against wind and sand storms. The air is thus free of any suspended grime that could divert and absorb ultraviolet rays -- essential in treating psoriasis. The curve of the bay accounts for the calm sea, which reflects UV rays further.

Due to the abundance of coral reefs, the water is 35 % saltier than in other seas, which greatly helps in psoriasis treatment. More salt, as evidenced in the Dead Sea, also means less gravity. This is thought to improve blood circulation. The balance in saline concentration inside and outside the body also affects the therapy positively, according to the NRC.

Sand in the area has also been found to contain radioactive elements and minerals effective in rheumatoid therapy. Analysis also showed the soil to contain black sand, which is useful in curing acute and chronic arthritis, rheumatism and skin inflammations.

Those suffering from rheumatoid ailments are buried in the black sand, with the exception of the head, stomach and chest, twice a day, after sunrise and before sunset. Treatment lasts about a month.

Psoriasis patients, on the other hand, bathe in the sea and lie in the sun, also twice a day. The duration of exposure to the sun is prescribed by the therapist and a patient should see rapid improvement in about a month, depending on the case. In acute cases, patients are asked to repeat the course of treatment.

Other Sites for Curing Rheumatism and Renal Diseases

siwa oasis Gabal Takrour (Mount Takrour) and Hamamat Cleopatra (Cleopatra's Bath) are the most important sites for therapeutic tourism.

Siwa Oasis enjoys numerous properties that place it at the top of the list of these sites recommended for therapeutic tourism. It is distinguished by a calm, clear environment and mild temperature. By boiling the deep subterranean pollution free mineral water a treatment is available for treating renal stones.

Gabal al Takrour is important for the tourists to Siwa in treating Rheumatism and general weakness by burring the patient in hot sands surrounding the mountain.

Old Helwan and its Sulfuric Springs

The Helwan area just south of Cairo enjoys a unique geographical location and unique water springs of incomparable properties to any mineral water around the world. It has been famous for these springs for many years. Moreover Ain es'Seera natural clay contains natural medicinal components that help cure all kinds of rheumatism. Helwan's all year round warm weather is also suitable for the treatment of numerous diseases. Helwan Sulfuric center for rheumatism and physio therapy was established to provide therapeutically treatment of: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, myositis, neuritis, neuralgia, myopathy, neuropsyctric diseases such as chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma, skin diseases such as scabies, eczema, acne and psoriasis, bone fracture union, joint stiffness, peripheral circulatory disturbances, and other diseases.

Oyoun Mossa and Hammam Pharaon in Sinai

Oyoun Mossa (Moses springs) and Hammam Pharaon (Pharaoh's bath) are some of the most important sites for therapeutic tourism in the Sinai. This area with its sulfuric properties drew the attention of the early French expeditions. It has the highest rate of sulfuric water known to the world.

In addition, it enjoys dry weather and warm sands. Hammam Pharaon is a group of hot sulfuric water springs extending l km along the Suez Gulf. It is suitable for treatment of rheumatism. On top of these springs, there lies a carved rocky cave that natives use as a hot bathe, created by utilizing the high temperature caused by hot sulfuric water below the cave.

The Oyoun Mossa area comprises twelve springs, situated in the extreme north of the eastern side of the Suez Gulf. Here, visitors are often overwhelmed by a sense of spiritual comfort.

Few people today realize the significance of Egypt's therapeutic past. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Egypt was almost as important to European travelers as a health destination as it was for classical antiquity tours. They still come, and they are still cured of many ailments by Egypt's hot, dry climate and numerous natural hot springs.

The Holy Family in Egypt Introduction

Egypt is the cradle of human civilization: a fact hardly contested among authoritative historians. But Egypt also enjoys a focal geopolitical position, connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe through the Mediterranean Sea. On its land, migrations of people, traditions, philosophies and religious beliefs succeeded each other for thousands of years. Evidence of this succession is still visible in the accumulation of monuments and sites attesting to a uniquely comprehensive cultural heritage. Indeed, one of the phenomena which shaped Egypt's distinctive identity, and explains its pervasive influence on the then known world, was a dynamism that accommodated and re-formulated these successive cultures into one homogenous and harmonious Egyptian canvas. Egypt is one civilization woven of many strands, threaded by successive and intertwining eras; the Pharaonic, the Graeco-Roman, the Coptic Christian, and the Islamic eras.

Because the Egyptian people are the essential product of the "harmony in diversity", "otherness" has become an integral component of their awareness, a basic constituent of their national and cultural identity. This characteristic has yielded one important result: Egypt was, and still is, the land of refuge in the widest sense of the word, a place of tolerance and dialogue for peoples, races, cultures and religions.

On this land of Egypt, the first voice proclaiming the Oneness of God rang out in the 14th century BC through Akhenaton's monotheistic creed. Moses and Jesus lived in this same land. Later, Islam entered without conflict.

Before long, the world will be celebrating the birth of Christ, together with the birth of the twenty-first century, the third millennium AD. While sharing with the rest of mankind the celebration of this momentous milestone in the world's history, Egypt will have its splendid occasion to celebrate the dawning of the seventh millennium of the country's recorded history.

Some people in the outside world may not be aware of the special significance all Egyptians attribute to the fact that the Holy Family, when Christ was an infant, found haven in Egypt for nearly four years after their flight out of fear from the persecution of King Herod. Egypt's re-paving of the route the Holy Family followed it part of a comprehensive policy to revive, and give prominence to, all the religious landmarks which constitute the spiritual heritage of the one Egyptian civilization. With an eye on history, and Egypt's role in it, a nation-wide project is under way, under the leadership of President Mubarak, to restore and preserve this heritage. The aim is to generate a renaissance, in a temporal context, connecting the past with the present, providing, thereby, an impetus for the future.

To highlight but a few noteworthy examples of the many initiatives in this regard, I would refer only to the restoration work carried out on the Sphinx and now completed after ten years; the salvaging of Egyptian monuments of Graeco-Roman period off the shores of Alexandria; repairing the Hanging Church in Old Cairo, one of the oldest landmarks in Christendom in the orient, and the work of conservation carried out on the one-thousand year-old Al-Azhar Mosque as well as on all the other awe-inspiring edifices of Islamic Cairo in the heart of the capital.

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, guardian and defender of the national traditions of the Coptic Church, personally approved the text of the present book, mapping the route the Holy Family followed on its flight into Egypt, from Al-Farma in the north east of Sinai to Al-Muharraq Monastery in the southern Nile Valley. When the groundwork of this vast project is completed by the beginning of the third millennium, many of the believers in the One God, we all worship, and lovers of our civilization, will come to us. But the supreme objective of the present book, and of the project when completed, is enshrined in the two-fold message addressed to all Egyptians and the world at large simultaneously: that our country was, and will remain, a safe haven of co-existence and peace; and that the unity of the Egyptian people, both Moslems and Copts, is the backbone of the entity of the Nation-State of Egypt.

Dr. Mamdouh El-Beltagui

The Route of the Holy Family in Egypt

The Holy Family In Egypt

*The advent of the Holy Family to Egypt, seeking refuge, is an event of the utmost significance in our dear country's long, long history.

Moved by the spirit of prophecy, Hosea foresaw the flight from Bethlehem where there was no safe place for the Christ Child to lay his head, and the eventual return of the holy refugees from Their sanctuary in Egypt, where Jesus had found a place in the hearts of the Gentiles, when he uttered God's words: "Out of Egypt have I called My Son". (Hosea 11:1)

In the Biblical Book of Isaiah, the prophet provides us with a divinely inspired prediction of the effect the holy Infant was to have on Egypt and the Egyptians: "Behold the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt and the idols of Egypt will totter at His Presence and the heart of Egypt will melt in the midst of it". (Isaiah 19:1)

(An icon of St. Demiana - The Church of Abu Sefein, Old Cairo)

The authority of Old Testament prophecy, which portended the crumbling of idols wherever Jesus went, further foreshadowed the singular blessing to be bestowed upon Egypt, for its having been chosen as the Holy Family's haven, and upon its people for having been the first to experience the Christ's miraculous influence.

God's message, also delivered through the prophetic utterance of Isaiah, "Blessed by Egypt, My People" (Isaiah 19:25), was an anticipation of the coming of St. Mark to our country, where the Gospel he preached took firm root in the first decades of Christianity. For Isaiah goes on to prophecy: "In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt; and a Pillar to the Lord, at its border. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt". (Isaiah 19:19&20)

According to the traditions of the Coptic Church, 'the alter' mentioned is that of the Church of Virgin Mary in Al-Muharraq Monastery, a site where the Holy Family settled for a period of more than six months; and the altar-stone was the 'bed' upon which the Infant Saviour lay. Al Muharraq Monastery is located, literally, "in the midst of the land of Egypt"…standing at its exact geographical centre.

*This text was prepared and revised by a cathedral Committee headed by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Sea of St-Mark. (1999)

As for the "pillar at its borders… which will be for a sign and for a witness.." surely there can be no more demonstrable, concrete proof of the fulfillment of the prophecy than that the Patriarchal See of the Apostolic Church in Egypt, established by St Mark himself, is situated in Alexandria, on Egypt's northern borders.

But the prophecy, knitting a perfect pattern of things to come, does not stop there. It continues, "Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and will make sacrifices and offering". (Isaiah 19:21). As Christianity in Egypt spread, churches were built throughout the length and breadth of the land, and the sites chosen were, primarily, those which had been visited and blessed by the Holy Family's sojourns. The New Testament records the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies as they unfold in their historical sequence.

( An icon showing the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt - Coptic Museum, Old Cairo)

"…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him". (Matthew 2:13)

Joseph complied. A donkey was fetched for the gently Mother, still so young in years, to ride with her new-born Child in Her arms. And so they set out from Bethlehem on their pre-destined journey, the hardened old carpenter, who was Mary's betrothed, striding ahead, leading the donkey by its leash into the untracked paths of a wilderness dark as the desert nights, and unending as the months of never ending horizons.

Such an arduous journey it was, fraught with hazard every step of the way. In those far-off days, there were three routes which could be followed by travelers traversing Sinai from Palestine to Egypt, a crossing which was usually undertaken in groups, for without the protection of well-organized caravans, the ever-present dangers – even along these known and trodden paths – were ominously forbidding.

But, in their escape from the infanticidal fury of King Herod, the Holy Family – understandably – had to avoid the beaten tracks altogether, and to pursue unknown paths, guided by God and His Angel. They picked their way, day after day, through hidden valleys and across uncharted plateaus in the (then) rugged wastelands of Sinai, enduring the scorching heat of the sun by day and the bitter cold of the desert nights, preserved from the threat of wild beasts and savage tribesmen, their daily sustenance miraculously provided, the all-too-human fears of the young Mother for her Infant allayed by the faith that infused her with His birth.

And so they arrived, at last, safely, for God had pre-ordained that Egypt should be the refuge for the One who was to bring the message of peace and love to mankind.

The tortuous trails they followed in their passage across Sinai, and their subsequent travels within Egypt, are chronicled by Pope Theophilus, 23rd Patriarch of Alexandria (384-412 AD). He testifies, in his celebrated annals that on the eve of the 6th of Hathor (the Coptic month corresponding roughly with November), after long prayer, the Holy Virgin revealed herself to him and, after relating the details of the Holy Family's journey to, in, and from Egypt, bade him record what he had seen and heard.

It is a source which no Christian believer would question.

Besides, it is a virtual certainty that, at a time when happenings of a momentous or historical nature were transmitted by word of mouth from one generation to the next, the account of Pope Theophilus' vision confirmed the oral tradition of supernatural occurrences which accompanied the arrival of a wondrous Child in the towns and villages of Egypt some 400 years earlier.

The Traversing By The Holy Family of Sinai Desert on Their Way to Egypt

THE HOLY FAMILY AT EL-ZARANIK AND FARMA

Ruins of Flousseya Church - El-Zaraniq, west of El-Arish

According to the sources of the Coptic Church, chief among which is the vision documented by Pope Theophilus, and recorded in the Coptic Senexarium the Holy Family proceeded from Bethlehem to Gaza, and then to El-Zaraniq (also known as Floussiat), some 37 kms west of El-Arish; then they threaded their way along northern Sinai until they reached Farma (ancient Pelusium) mid-way between El-Alish and present-day Port Said. It was their last stop in Sinai; and with the next leg of their journey they put the perils of the wilderness behind them.

( Ruins of Coptic Monuments - Farma.  Below: Ruins of Farma Church - Farma)

THE HOLY FAMILY AT BASTA TOWN

Tel Basta – or Basta – which they now enter, is a short distance from Zagazig, the main town in the Sharqiah Governorate about 100 kms north-east of Cairo. Here, Jesus caused a water spring to well up from the ground, and His presence caused the idols to crumble, as foretold by the prophets of old. The townsfolk, in consequence, turned malevolent and aggressive, whereupon the Holy Family turned their backs on the town and headed southwards.

The Holy Family At The Town of Mostorod

Steps of the Crypt - Virgin Mary Church, Mostorod, Kalyoubeia

In due course, they reached Mostorod (which came to be called, in those days, 'Al Mahamma') only about 10 kms away from Cairo. 'Al Mahamma' means 'the Bathing Place', a name given to the town because the Virgin Mary bathed the Christ Child and washed his clothes. It is worthy of note that, eventually, on their way back to Palestine, the Holy Family stopped once more at Mostorod and, this time, caused a spring to gush from the earth which still flows forth to the present day.

Interior of the Crypt

THE HOLY FAMILY AT THE TOWN OF BELBEIS

Veil of the Sanctuary - Virgin Mary Church, Belbeis

Virgin Mary Church - Belbeis, Sharqiah.

From Mostorod, the Holy Family made their way north-eastwards to Belbeis (ancient Philippos), back in Sharqiah Governorate, and at a distance of about 55 kms from Cairo. They rested there in the shade of a tree which came to be called, "The Virgin Mary's Tree'

THE HOLY FAMILY AT MENIET SAMANOUD

Having left their mark on Belbeis, the Holy Family set off in a north-westerly direction and, reaching the small township of Meniet Samannoud (known also as Meniet Genah), they crossed the Nile to the city of Samanoud (or Jemnoty) in the Delta, where the local population received them with a kindness and hospitality that earned them deserved blessing. There is in Samannoud, to this day, a large granite trough which, according to local belief, was used by the Virgin for kneading dough, and a water-well which the Christ Child Himself hallowed.

THE HOLY FAMILY AT SAKHA TOWN

Virgin Mary Church - Sakha, Kafr El Sheikh.

The Coptic name of the town, 'Pekha-Issous', (vernacularized to Lysous) means, 'the foot of Jesus'; for the Holy Child's foot-print was marked, here, in bas-relief on a rock. The rock was preserved, but hidden for centuries for fear of robbery, and only unearthed again 13 years ago.

The natural course of the Holy Family's journey from Samannoud to Sakha would have taken them through many of the towns and cities now lying in both the Governorates of Gharbia and Kafr El-Sheikh and, according to some folk traditions, through the Belqas wastelands as well.

Veil of Sanctuary - Virgin Mary Church - Sakha.

THE HOLY FAMILY AT WADI EL NATROUN

El-Sorian Monastery - Wadi El Natroun

Entrance to the Monastery Chapel.

Their trail from Sakha, is recorded in the documentation of Pope Theophilus' vision, and attested to by Coptic practice in the Christian era. For it was to Wadi el-Natroun (Natroun Valley) that they now came, after crossing the Rosetta branch of the Nile to the western Delta and heading south into Wadi el-Natroun (then called Al Asqeet) in the Western Desert of Egypt. In the earliest decades of Christianity, the desert expanses of Wadi el-Natroun became the site of anchoretic settlement and, later, of many monasteries, in spritiual commemoration of the Holy Family's passage through the Valley.

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Mentuhotep II, First Ruler of the Middle Kingdom

For everyone who studies Egyptian history, we like to point out occasionally the fallacy of accepting a single reference about many different ancient topics.  One problem with experts is they have their own opinions, which they often state unequivocally, even though aothers disagree.  References on the first ruler of the Middle Kingdom are a perfect example of this.

His throne name was most certainly Neb-hetep-re, meaning "Pleased is the Lord Re", though we also find it spelled Nebhepetra.  But this is not his common, or birth name, and here we  run into problems.

Chronicle of the Pharaohs" by Peter A. Clayton refers to him as Mentuhotep I, and gives his reign as 2060-2010.  However, the "Oxford History of Ancient Egypt" edited by Ian Shaw gives his name as Mentuhotep II, with a reign from 2055-2004 while Aidan Dodson in his book, "Monarchs of the Nile" refers to him as Montjuhotpe II, with a reign from 2066-2014.  "A History of Ancient Egypt" by Nicolas Grimal calls him Mentuhotpe II, with a reign from 2040-2009, while "Who Were the Pharaohs" by Stephen Quirke simple calls him, as well as the following two kings Mentuhotep, without elaboration or dates. So much for Egyptology being consistent, but never fear, they are all talking about the same king, and they all place his rule as the first of the Middle Kingdom and within the 11th Dynasty.  However one names him, his birth name, Mentuhotep, means "The God Montu is Content". It should be noted that Montu was a Theban god of war. Mentuhotep ruled Egypt from Thebes, which until then, had not been as prominent as it later became.

We believe he was the son or heir of Intef III, for a number of reasons.  First, there is a relief located at Wadi Shatt el-Rigal, near Gebel es-Silsila, that incorporates a colossal figure of Mentuhotep II dwarfing three other figures believed to be he mother, Intef III and Khety his chancellor. There is also a masonry block found at Tod with reliefs portraying Mentuhotep II towing over three kings, named Inhtef, lined up behind him.

However, Mentuhotep worked so diligently to enhance his reputation with his contemporaries with self-deification that some  Egyptologists believe he may not have been a legitimate heir to the throne, though this might also be explained by his efforts to reunite Egypt.

Part of the Jubilee celebration scene of Mentuhotep II from Armant.

Montuhotep's principle wife was Tem, but he had a number of lesser consorts.  A second major wife was Neferu, who mothered his heir to the throne, and we also know of a wife named Henhenet who died in childbirth.

Though he reunited Egypt after the First Intermediate Period, he did not do this immediately, and we find him with a number of Horus names that follow a progression. First, he was "He who gives heart to the Two Lands", followed by "Lord of the White Crown" (Upper Egypt)

and finally Sematuawy, "Uniter of the Two Lands", as he apparently unified Egypt. Indeed, in later inscriptions, the king was set alongside Menes as being the second founder of the Egyptian State.

At first, his reign was probably peaceful, but latter became most certainly a bloody one, and with a highly militaristic focus. Near his temple at Thebes, American archaeologist Herbert Winlock found a mass tomb in the 1920s with the bodies of 60 of his soldiers who were lain in battle.  There place of burial near the King suggests that the battle they fought was an important one, but sources disagree on where they might have fought.  In the tomb of a local prince or general named Mesehti at Asyut, we also find models of marching Egyptian soldiers and even in the tombs of common people, we find an increase in the inclusion of weapons among grave goods.

In year 14 of his rule, we know that a revolt took place in the Abydos area by the Hierakleopolitan forces, and that he quickly crushed it.  Afterwards, his armies slowly drove the Hierakleopolitan forces north eventually leading to his overall rule of Egypt, but even by year 39 of his rule, when the country was well under his control, he continued his military campaigns into Nubia. It would appear that there might have even been an Egyptian based local kingdom established in the area around Abu Simbel, and so he apparently crushed these upstarts, as well as initiating other policing actions in Lower Nubia. One such expedition was led by his Chancellor, Khety, illustrating the importance Mentuhotep II placed on reopening Egypt's access to Nubia, and beyond.

However, he did have a long reign, perhaps as long as 50 years, and peace did finally return to Egypt proper, along with prosperity.  Mentuhotep II initiated a number of building projects, including in the areas of el-Kab, Gebelein, Tod, Deir el-Ballas, Dendera, Karnak, Abydos, Aswan and Armant.  His greatest building work, however, was his temple and tomb on the west bank at Thebes (Modern Luxor). It is located in the cliffs at Deir el-Bhari, next to the later and today more famous temple of Queen Hatshepsut.  Many of his high officials are buried near him including his chancellor Akhtoy, his viziers Dagi and Ipi, and his chief steward Henenu.

Istanbul Old City Tour

Your private guide will come to meet you at your hotel if you stay in the Old City. For guests coming from outside of Old City, a meeting point is arranged and details are sent by the tour consultant. 

Then we discover stunning Old City with these visits:

Hagia Sophia: As one of the attributes of Jesus Christ, ‘Holy Wisdom’ Church Hagia Sophia was built by Byzantine emperor I. Justinian and his big love Theodora. The biggest cathedral of its time and presents amazing marble and mosaic work. It was converted to mosque during the Ottoman time by adding up the minarets, the mosaics covered by plaster and recently revealed, serving as a museum for visitors all around the world.

Byzantine Hippodrome: The Hippodrome witnessed the biggest competition between teams of Blues and Greens with chariot racing as it was the most popular sport of Byzantine times. The The Egyptian Obelisk, the serpentine column and the German fountain of Willhelm II are sites to be visited.

Blue Mosque: This stunning mosque with 6 minarets was built during the Ottoman times by Sultan Ahmet. Even though it is called as Sultanahmet Mosque by Turks, it is also called Blue Mosque because of its incredible hand-made quartz tiles. 

Topkapi Palace: The house of 24 Sultans of Ottomans is full of exhibitions of relics, Sultans’ costumes, swards, guns, treasury, thrones. The harem section is not included in this tour. 

Grand Bazaar: The oldest and largest shopping mall of the world, Grand Bazaar has more than 4000 shops, 60 streets, selling jewelry, ceramics, carpets, copper, leather etc, and it is the only historical market in the world that attracts between 250.000 and 400.000 visitors a day.

Istanbul One Day Two Continents Tour

Istanbul One Day Two Continents Tour

CITY WALLS

The city walls around the Old City was built during the Constantine time after Istanbul was declared as new capital of Roman Empire and named Constantinople ‘New Rome’ in 330 AD. The walls used to touch the water to provide more protection and during the republic time in 20th century, the road was built.

DRIVE BY GOLDEN HORNThe Golden Horn is 8 km long natural bay and it was named because of the beautiful view of sunset over water. During the Byzantine and Ottoman time it was used as harbor and helped maritime business to improve. The European side divides into two with Golden Horn as Old City and New City.

SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar)

The Spice Bazaar is an old traditional bazaar from 17th century, it is full of colors, herbs, Turkish delights, nuts, spices.

BOSPHORUS CRUISE

Istanbul is a unique city which is founded on two continents as Europe and Asia. With the Bosphorus Cruise, you have a chance to see both sides of the city. The Asian side is more residential compared to European side and you may see wooden mansions, summer palaces of Sultans, fortresses and pretty neighborhoods. During the cruise, you will have a chance to see stunning Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortakoy Mecidiye Mosque, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges, Kuleli Military School, Küçüksu Summer Palace from sea.

RUMELI FORTRESS (From the sea)

The fortress was built during the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 15th century. To control the Bosphorus strait during the conquest, they put a chain from here to opposite side. It is a nice example of military architecture and it was built as M shape (in arabic alphabet) to represent Sultan Mehmet.

BEYLERBEYI PALACE 

As the Asian side is cooler during the summer time, Ottoman Sultans used to reside in Beylerbeyi Palace and it was also used to entertain visiting heads of states. The palace is built by Sarkis Balyan with rococo and baroque style. It has gorgeous reception hall with marble pool and magnificent gardens.

CAMLICA HILL

Camlıca hill is the highest point of the city and provides magnificent panorama for visitors. You can see meandering Bopshorus along the way, business center of the city, two bridges and Old City from here.

Egypt Feature Story The Tomb of Tutankhamun (King Tut) by Mark Andrews

It is not the grandest tomb in Egypt, and was certainly not occupied by one of Egypt's most powerful rulers.  But in general, the population of the world know the tomb of Tutankhamen (KV 62) better than any other, because of all the royal tombs, it was found mostly intact. What was found in this tomb surely gives us pause to understand the motive behind ancient tomb robberies.  If such a vast fortune in treasure (in all, some 3,500 items were recovered) was found in this tiny tomb owned by a relatively minor king, what must have dazzled the eyes of the thieves who first entered the huge tomb of Ramesses II, or one of Egypt's other grand kings? Of course, the list of funerary equipment was very useful to Egyptologists, giving them an idea of what had been removed from other royal tombs.

Wonderful Artwork found in the Tutankhamun Tomb

A top from one of the Canopic Jar

The tomb, which lies in an area that was not normally used for royal burials in the Valley center, was apparently quickly buried deep below the surface of the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank at Luxor (ancient Thebes). It was forgotten about until Howard Carter discovered it on November 4th, 1922. Part of Howard Carter's luck was that it was not discovered earlier when, his predecessor in the Valley, Theodore Davis who was American, came within little more than a meter of finding it himself.

It is a little known fact that Howard Carter did not excavate every part of the King’s Valley, down to bedrock in his search for Tutankhamun. Having identified the area, in the centre of the Valley, most likely to produce the sort of find his patron desired; & which would indeed do so, many years before he seems to have expended much of his efforts in the search for answers to much more academic questions; such as the hunt for foundation deposits – in order to clarify which king was actually responsible for the construction of which tomb, & only went flat out in his search for Tutankhamun’s tomb, when it became apparent that his source of funds might be about to dry up.

From "Recent Excavations in the Valley of the Kings by the Amarna Royal Tombs Project" by Glen

Howard Carter was told, prior to finding the tomb, that Lord Carnarvon was withdrawing from the project, but after pleading his case, was given one more season of  excavation in order to find it.

Actually, we are told  that after having initially discovered the steps of the tomb on November 4th, Carter initially telegraphed Lord Carnarvon, who was still in England at his Hampshire estate, after which Carter refilled the stairway to await his benefactor's arrival.  Upon Lord Carnarvon's arrival on November 24th, work was resumed and by November 26th, the interior was observed for the first time since antiquity.

After its discovery, the worldwide media spectacle the discovery created along with movies about the curse of the mummies which are still produced every so often, is probably as interesting as the actual tomb itself. What many people do not realize is that it took Carter, with his attention to details, another ten years to fully explore, excavate and clear the tomb. Legend has it that Carter posted the first notice of discovery of the tomb on the bulletin board at the Old Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor.

Tutankhamen was certainly not one of the greatest of Egyptian pharaohs.  In fact, prior to the discovery of his tomb in 1922, little of his life was known.  Today, we know much more about  this king, but surprisingly little of that knowledge comes from the treasures of his tomb.  Tutankhamen died about 1325 BC, after only nine years of rule.  Apparently he died fairly suddenly, because a proper royal tomb, to our knowledge, was never prepared for this pharaoh.  Instead, the tomb of Tutankhamen is relatively small and follows a design more often found in non-royal tombs. Some scholars believe that the tomb that King Ay was eventually interred in was actually begun for Tutankhamen.

Actually, Tutankhamen's tomb is not nearly as interesting as other tombs in the Valley of the Kings.  It consists of an entrance leading to a single corridor, followed by several annexes for funerary equipment.  At a 90 degree right angle is the small burial chamber, with another annex attached leading back in the direction of the entrance.  This is not much of a tomb compared to other royal tombs, and most all of the funerary equipment will not be found here, but rather in the Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Cairo, if it is not elsewhere on exhib
Only the burial chamber received decorations.  Here, all of the walls have the same golden background.  On the west wall we find scenes depicting the apes of the first hour of the Amduat.  On the south wall the king is followed by Anubis as he appears before Hathor. Here, there is also a scene of the King being welcomed into the underworld by Hathor, Anubis and Isis.  The north wall depicts the King before Nut with the royal ka embracing Osiris.  On the same wall, we also find the scene of Ay performing the opening of the Mouth ritual before the mummy of Tutankhamun.  Finally, on the east wall, Tutankhamun's mummy is depicted being pulled on a sledge during the funeral procession.  Within the procession are two viziers to the king, and a third person who might be Horemheb.

It should be noted that this tomb was not found completely intact.  In fact, there had been at least two robberies of the tomb, perhaps soon after Tutankhamen's burial, probably by members of the tomb workers.

Tutankhamun's Gold Inner Coffin