top 10 egypt - day 01 - historic and cultural holidays ... · further fee of le 30 payable for...

http://www.historvius.com/planner/trip-503b477a999a7/

Name:Giza

Alternative Name:Al Giza

Address:Outside the f ront of the Mena House Oberon Hotel,Cairo (known as Pyra

Contact Details:33838823

Ent ry Inf o rmat io n:

The pyramids open at 8am and entry to the Giz a Plateau is LE 60. Afurther fee of LE 30 payable for entry to the Pyramid of Menkaureand LE 100 for the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Students receive a 50%discount upon showing their student ID.

Sit e Direct io n:

Either take a taxi (ask your hotel) or, by public transport from centralCairo, bus routes 355 or 357 take you to the Pyramids. Alternatively,on Metro Line 2, alight at Giz a Station (not the terminus).

Top 10 Egypt - Day 01

DescriptionGiz a or ‘Al Giz a’ is a tourist hotspot and the site of some of Ancient Egypt’s most famous landmarks, including the largest pyramid on Earth.

Giz a is home to the pyramids of kings Khufu, Khafra and Menkaure. The largest pyramid in Giz a, and in the world, belongs to the second king ofthe Fourth Dynasty, Khufu or “Cheop”.

Khufu’s pyramid is Giz a’s oldest and, at its great siz e of 145 metres, became known as “The Great Pyramid”. In fact, Khufu’s pyramid was once thetallest structure in the world as well as being one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The second largest pyramid in Giz a belongs to Khufu’s son and fourth king of the Fourth Dynasty, Khafra (or Khephren). In fact, the elevation onwhich Khafra’s pyramid is built is deceptive, making it appear larger that his father’s.

The smallest of these three kings’ pyramids belongs to the sixth king of the Fourth Dynasty, Menkaure and is one tenth the siz e of Khafre’s.

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Giz a is also where one finds the Great Sphinx. Estimated to date back to 2528–2520 BC, some Egyptologistsbelieve that this majestic half man, half lion is modeled on Khafra.

Several other tombs and Queens’ pyramids pepper Giz a’s landscape, some of which are open to the public, most notably, the tomb of Seshem-nefer IV.

Notes

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Name:Abu Simbel

Alternative Name:Temples of Ramesses II

Address:Abu Simbel, Egypt

Contact Details:Contact local tourist of f ice


The temples at Abu Simbel are open daily from 6am to 5pm. The entryfee is 90 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

Abu Simbel is a small town located in southern Egypt, just north of itsborder with Sudan. The nearest city is Aswan, around 230 kmnorthwest. Several tour operators offer buses from Aswan to AbuSimbel, the journey taking around 3 hours in total. There are alsoflights to Abu Simbel from Cairo (2 hours 45 mins) and Aswan (45mins).


DescriptionAbu Simbe l is an archaeological site in Egypt housing a series of incredible Ancient Egyptian monuments, especially a number of rock temples.The most famous sites at Abu Simbel are the two Temples of Ramesses II. The site was rediscovered in 1813.

Known as Ramesses the Great (sometimes spelt Ramses), Ramesses II is one of the most famous Egyptian pharaohs and formed part of theNineteenth Dynasty. From 1279 BC, he built the temples at Abu Simbel as a way to immortalise himself, a feat he certainly seems to have achievedwith these two vast structures and the large statues of himself which guard it.

The temples were carved directly into the sandstone outcrops located on the west bank of the Nile River, south of Aswan in the land of Nubia. Thesesacred temples were each dedicated to the gods as well as to Ramesses and his wife, Nefertari. The larger one, known as the Great Temple,honoured Re-Horakhti, Amon Ra and Ptah and the smaller, Hathor.

One of the most startling sights at Abu Simbel is the main hall of the Great Temple. This was also cut into the sandstone and along the hand hewnlength are two rows of Osirid statues of Ramses, each one 30 feet high. Those on the north side wear the white crown of Upper Egypt, while thoseon the south side wear the double crown of Lower Egypt. This hall is precisely cut so that the early morning sun rays on 22nd of February and 22ndof October shine down the entire length to light up the back wall where the statues of four gods are seated.

Incredibly, the temples at Abu Simbel were once located elsewhere, but were moved – with the help of UNESCO – to their current location in orderto protect them from flooding. The place they once stood is now under water.

Today, the Abu Simbel temples form part of a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the “Nubian Monuments”.

Notes

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Name:Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa

Alternative Name: -

Address:The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa, Alexandria,Egypt



The entrance fee to the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa is around30 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

The Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa are around a five minute walkfrom the Pomey Pillar in Alexandria, Egypt. There are frequent trainsbetween Cairo and Alexandria and there is a tram line in Alexandria.


DescriptionThe Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa in Alexandria, Egypt, are an incredible set of subterranean Ancient Roman tombs.

Made up of three levels containing 300 bodies, the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa represent the true sophistication of Ancient Romanengineering.

Built in around the second century AD, the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa comprise a maz e of rooms and passageways, including the triclinium,a banqueting hall for the relatives of the deceased and the main tomb. The ornate decorations inside the catacombs are an eclectic blend ofRoman, Greek and Egyptian.

Whilst the bottom floor is now inaccessible due to flooding, the Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa are a truly incredible site.

Notes

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Name:Cairo Museum of Egypt ian Ant iquit ies

Alternative Name: -

Address:El Ismailaia, Kaser El Nile, Cairo, Egypt



Open daily. Entry costs 40-50 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

Nearest subway is Sadat (lines 1 and 2)


DescriptionThe Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities contains the most comprehensive and important collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world.Indeed, it is said to have over 100,000 pieces in all.

From smaller objects such as coins and piece of papyrus to statues of pharaohs and the magnificence of the Royal Mummies room with its elevenmummies (although entry is subject to an additional entry fee), the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is the place to see some of the mostsignificant finds from this period.

Perhaps the most famous part of the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is its Tutankhamen collection, which includes the iconic funereal mask ofthe boy king as well as several other objects related to this pharaoh.

The Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities also contains ancient Greek and Roman pieces and, with such an array of things to see, it’s a good ideato plan your route before making your way around. Otherwise, it can be rather overwhelming.

Notes

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Name:Dendera

Alternative Name:Temple of Hathor

Address:Dendera, near Qina, Egypt

Contact Details:Contact tourist board


Dendera is open daily from 8am-5pm in the summer months and8am-4pm at all other times. Entry costs approx LE 20.

Sit e Direct io n:

Dendera is approximately 50 miles north of Luxor and is locatednear the town of Qina. Many hotels and tour operators offer toursfrom Luxor, either by coach or on a Nile cruise.


DescriptionThe Dendera complex lies approximately 50 miles north of Luxor and contains some of the best preserved and most accessible ancient Egyptianruins to be found in Egypt, including temples, tombs and even a Christian chapel.

The most prominent site in the Dendera complex is the Ptolemaic-era Temple of Hathor. Dating back to the first century BC, Dendera’s Temple ofHathor was continually developed throughout the Ptolemaic and Roman eras and contains references to both Egyptian rulers and Roman Emperors– including Nero, Domitian & Trajan.

However, although the Temple of Hathor is a relatively late construction by Ancient Egyptian standards, the Dendera complex as a whole dates backmuch further and the current temple was built upon the remains of older strutures.

As well as the Temple of Hathor, other notable areas at Dendera include both Egyptian- and Roman-era birth houses, a chapel dedicated to theEgyptian deity Isis, the gateways of Domitian and Trajan and a late-Roman Empire period Christian basilica.

Many tourists will visit Dendera on a day trip from Luxor and, given that a number of tour companies offer this option from many Luxor hotels, thiscan be the most practical way to explore the Dendera complex and Temple of Hathor.

Notes

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Name:Abydos

Alternative Name:Temple of Set i I

Address:Abydos, nr al-Balyana, Egypt

Contact Details:Contact Local Tourist Of f ice


Abydos, and the Temple of Seti I, is open daily 7am – 6pm. Entry toAbydos costs 25LE. Student discounts are available.

Sit e Direct io n:

Abydos is located near the town of al-Balyana. Many tour operatorswill offer guided tour options to Abydos from Luxor. It is also possibleto get the train from Luxor to Abydos and then take a tourist policetransport to the site. Police escorted mini-bus / taxi convoys are alsoavailable from Luxor to Abydos.


DescriptionAbydos is an important Ancient Egyptian site located about 50 miles north-west of Luxor which contains a wealth of tombs, temples and otherarchaeological remains.

Covering a vast area, Abydos has offered up many historical sites and much of the area still remains uncovered. It is perhaps best known for thewell preserved remains of the Temple of Seti I (also known as the Great Temple of Abydos ), which was built by Seti and his son Ramesses II in thelate 13th century BC. This is the principle tourist attraction of the Abydos site, and in fact much of Abydos is not open to the travelling public.

The settlement itself has a rich history dating back as far as 4000BC and pre-dynastic Egypt. During the Middle Kingdom (circa 2000BC – 1600BC)Abydos became an important religious centre revolving around the worship of Osiris. This led to Abydos becoming one of the most important citiesin the region and it became the burial site of many of the ruling elite.

Abydos continued to be an important city and site of pilgrimage right up to the late Roman period and ruins have been found from throughout thelong history of the site.

Other notable historic sites at Abydos include the Osireion, the symbolic tomb of Osiris, the necropolis of Umm el-Qa'ab and the Temple ofRamesses II.

Many visitors will visit Abydos - along with Dendera - either by train or organised tour from Luxor.

Notes

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http://www.historvius.com/luxor-temple-420/

http://www.historvius.com/dendera-1364/




Name:Underground Library of Alexandria

Alternative Name:Alexandria Underground Library

Address: Contact Details:contact tourist board

Ent ry Inf o rmat io n: Sit e Direct io n:

A train service runs between Alexandria and Cairo and several tourcompanies offer tours to the Serapeum and underground library ofAlexandria.


DescriptionThe underground library of Alexandria, found underneath the ruins of the Serapeum, consists of a series of subterranean tunnels and storeroomswhere it is believed part of the collection of the Great Library of Alexandria was stored.

The Great Library itself was constructed in the third century BC and was the most famous library of the ancient world. The date of its destruction isdisputed but may have been during Julius Caesar's time in the city.

However, the underground library of Alexandria - or at least the construction itself - remained in use until the destruction of the Serapeum in 391ADand may have been used for religious purposes by worshippers of Serapis.

Today visitors can explore these underground chambers and see the niches in the walls where the documents were stored.

Notes

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Name:Luxor Temple

Alternative Name: -

Address:Comash El Neel, Luxor, Egypt



Luxor Temple is open daily, 6am-9pm (to 10pm May-September).Entry fees are 35 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

The Luxor Temple is located in the city of Luxor, by the banks of theriver between the roads Comash El Neel and Mabad el Karnak.Luxor is approx 500km south of Cairo. By train from Cairo, Luxor canbe reached within 9-10 hours and by bus (11 hours). From Sharm El-Sheik, the bus to Luxor takes 15 hours and from Hurghada it takes 5.There is also an international airport just outside Luxor.


DescriptionThe Luxor Temple in the city of Luxor, Egypt was once a sacred temple built in honour of the deity Amun.

Constructed in the 14th century BC by Amenhotep III, the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, the Luxor Temple was part of the AncientEgyptian city of Thebes.

Today, together with the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Thebes and itsNecropolis”. It is incredibly well-preserved and, with its statues of Ramesses II, it is clear that several pharaohs and other leaders added to it atlater stages, including Tutankhamun and later even Alexander the Great.

From its Avenue of the Sphinxes to its looming archways and giant statues, the enormous Luxor Temple is a breathtaking site.

Notes

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Name:Karnak Temple

Alternative Name:Precinct of Amun

Address:Karnak Temple, El Shiakh Mosa Road, Karnak, Luxor,Egypt



The entrance fee for Karnak Temple is around 50 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

Karnak Temple is located in the city of Luxor, Egypt, near the eastbank of the Nile. Luxor has an international airport, located around4km east of the centre. The site is not far from Luxor’s train station,which operates sleeper trains to Cairo (9 hrs) and day trains (10 hrs)as well as to other locations in Egypt. Luxor is also accessible by busfrom Cairo (11 hrs) from Sharm El-Sheik (15 hrs and from Hurghada,(5 hrs). Several tour companies offer trips to Karnak Temple,especially from Hurghada.


DescriptionThe Karnak Temple, or rather the complex of temples of Karnak, in Luxor, Egypt is one of the most impressive of Ancient Egyptian sites and onceformed part of the city of Thebes.

Sprawling over two square kilometres, the site known as the Karnak Temple was built and expanded by a succession of pharaohs, from those of theMiddle Kingdom (1965-1920 BC) to the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 BC to 30 BC). The result is an incredible maz e of temples, sanctuaries, sphinxes,columns and pylons amidst other ancient buildings.

One of the most important and impressive sites at the Karnak Temple complex is the Temple of Amun-Ra, with its world famous Great Hypostyle Hall.Debate still continues as to whether this looming structure with its 69 foot columns was created by Amenhotep III or Seti I, although it was completedby Ramses II.

Vast and full of fascinating sites, Karnak Temple is one of Egypt’s most visited sites. Most people take a couple of hours at the Karnak Temple, butthis is only really enough to scratch the surface of this ancient complex.

Together with the Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings, the Karnak Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Notes

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Name:Valley of the Kings

Alternative Name: -

Address:Valley of the Kings, El Wahat , El Kharga, Qena, Egypt



The entrance fee to the Valley of the Kings is around 80 EGP.

Sit e Direct io n:

The Valley of the Kings is located just northwest of the centre of thecity of Luxor in Egypt. Luxor has an international airport and a busstation.


DescriptionThe Valley of the Kings in Luxor in Egypt was once part of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes.

From the Eighteenth Dynasty to the Twentieth, the pharaohs of Egypt were buried in the Valley of the Kings. Today, visitors flock to see the myriad ofancient tombs cut into the limestone of the Valley of the Kings, mostly contained in its eastern valley.

Eighteenth Dynasty tombs include those of Amenhotep III (in the west valley), Hatshepsut, Thutmose III and Thutmose IV. Some of the most famousfigures of Ancient Egypt are buried at the Valley of the Kings, including the boy king Tutankhamun, Ramses the Great, Ramesses IV and TuthmosisIII.

The Valley of the Kings has almost thirty tombs in all and, together with the other remains of Thebes, forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Notes

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top 10 egypt - day 01 - historic and cultural holidays ... · further fee of le 30 payable for...

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