When it is completed, the Grand Egyptian Museum just outside of Cairo on the Giza Plateau (and next door to the Pyramids) will not only be the new crown jewel of Egypt, but it will also be one of the largest, most modern, and most renowned museums in the entire world. For those interested in learning more about the project's history and the museum itself, here are a number … [Read more...] about Fun Facts about the new Grand Egyptian Museum
history
New Discovery Makes Pharaohs Look Modern, Sort Of
A team of archaeologists work in northern Egypt have discovered the site of an ancient settlement that makes even the Pharaohs and the Pyramids look young, relatively speaking. The discovery was made in the town of Tel el-Samara, which is located north of Cairo in the fertile Nile Delta region. Egypt's most famous pyramids at Giza are thought to be roughly 4,500 years old, … [Read more...] about New Discovery Makes Pharaohs Look Modern, Sort Of
Ancient Knowledge and Modern Remembrance
It’s National Library Week in the United States, so it’s as good of a time as any to talk about one of the world’s most famous libraries - the ancient Library of Alexandria. After the death of Alexander the Great and the founding of the Ptolemaic Dynasty in Egypt, the Library of Alexandria was created in the new capitol to be a great repository of the world’s knowledge … [Read more...] about Ancient Knowledge and Modern Remembrance
Luxor Temple
Despite its prominent name, Luxor Temple is actually the second most famous temple in Luxor behind the much larger and greater Temple of Karnak just down the road. However, Luxor Temple has several unique features of its own that merit a visit and some independent attention. The first and most obvious aspect of Luxor Temple that you’ll notice when you arrive in Luxor is that … [Read more...] about Luxor Temple
The Valley of the Queens
The Valley of the Queens in the area of Luxor is a lesser visited royal necropolis in which various family members of several dynasties of pharaohs were laid to rest. As the name suggests, many queens were buried here in elaborate tombs befitting their status and wealth, but many princesses and even princes had dedicated tombs here as well. One of the valley’s most famous … [Read more...] about The Valley of the Queens
World’s Oldest Haute Couture
Anyone a fan of vintage fashion? How about 5000 year old couture? One of the neat things about Egypt is that its advanced civilization was good at both recording and preserving its own history. Unlike most other of the world’s great ancient civilizations whose moist climates caused the disintegration of its remnants thousands of years ago, Egypt’s dry and arid climate … [Read more...] about World’s Oldest Haute Couture
The World’s First Drag King
Beyonce, Gaga, even Hillary ain’t got nothing on ancient Egypt’s biggest diva. She ruled the world’s most powerful empire over 3400 years before women even got the vote in the United States. And to do it, she became the world’s first and most famous drag king. Queen Hapshetsut was already a big deal back in her day as the daughter of pharaoh Thutmose I, and she doubled her … [Read more...] about The World’s First Drag King
Abu Simbel, Ramses the Great’s Greatest Monument to Himself
Ramses II was one of ancient Egypt’s greatest Pharaohs. Not only did he manage to live into his 90s in an era devoid of modern medicine and build an empire over which he ruled for 66 years, but he is thought by some to be the Pharaoh featured in the Bible during the Exodus. (This isn’t likely, but it didn’t stop him from being immortalized in this role by Hollywood in The Ten … [Read more...] about Abu Simbel, Ramses the Great’s Greatest Monument to Himself
The Valley of the Kings
When most people think of Egypt, they usually think of three things: pyramids, tombs, and temples. While the first of those, the Pyramids, are primarily located just outside of Cairo in the north of Egypt, the most famous tombs and temples are located down south in and around the city of Luxor. And of Luxor’s many mind-blowing sites, the most famous is the fabled Valley of the … [Read more...] about The Valley of the Kings
The Sphinx
The Sphinx occupies a prominent space on the same plateau as the Pyramids of Giza, just downhill a little and due east from Khafre’s (Chephren’s) pyramid (the middle one) but still inside the compound’s walls and gates. Visiting the Sphinx is included in the price of the same ticket that gets you into the Pyramids complex, but you may need to show your ticket again to a legit … [Read more...] about The Sphinx
The Pyramids of Giza
Egypt’s most popular historical site, and one of the most well known the world over, is of course the Pyramids, the most famous of which are located just outside of Cairo. The greater Cairo area is a sprawling metropolis of nearly 20 million people spread out over dozens of suburbs on both sides of the Nile. The city of Cairo technically occupies the eastern bank, while the … [Read more...] about The Pyramids of Giza