Situated at the northeastern corner of Africa, the Arab Republic of Egypt has an area of 1,001,450 sq km (386,662 sq mi), extending 1,572 km (997 mi) SE–NW and 1,196 km (743 mi) NE– SW. However, the cultivated and settled area (Nile Valley, Delta, and oases) constitutes only about 3.5% of Egypt’s land area; the Libyan and Western deserts occupy about 75% of the total. Comparatively, the area occupied by Egypt is slightly more than three times the size of the state of New Mexico. Beyond the Suez Canal in the east, the Sinai Peninsula overlaps into Asia; the Sinai was occupied by Israeli forces from 1967 to 1982. Egypt is bounded on the N by the Mediterranean Sea, on the E by Israel and the Red Sea, on the S by Sudan, and on the W by Libya. The total land boundary length is 2,665 km (1,656 mi) and its total coastline is 2,450 km (1,522 mi). Egypt’s capital city, Cairo, is located in the northeastern part of the country.

There are many places you can go to learn more about the wonders of Ancient Egypt. Try your

local library or Museum.The Internet is also full of my wonderful sites full of very useful and insightful information.

Recommended sites:

www.ancientegypt.co.ukwww.ancient-egypt.org

www.eyelid.co.ukwww.ancientegyptmagazine.com

We hope you find these resources helpful.

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The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom.

There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the ‘Great Pyramid’.

The word ‘pyramid’ actually comes from the Greek word ‘pyramis’ which means ‘wheat cake’. The word ‘pyramis’ was used to describe the ancient Egyptian buildings because they reminded the Greeks of pointy-topped wheat cakes. The ancient Egyptian word for the pyramids was ‘Mer’.

The most powerful person in ancient Egypt was the pharaoh. The pharaoh was the political and re-ligious leader of the Egyptian people, holding the titles: ‘Lord of the Two Lands’ and ‘High Priest of Every Temple’.

As ‘Lord of the Two Lands’ the pharaoh was the

ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. He owned all of the land, made laws, collected taxes, and defend-ed Egypt against foreigners. As ‘High Priest of Every Temple’, the pharaoh represented the gods on Earth. He performed ritu-als and built temples to honor the gods. Many pharaohs went to war when their land was threatened or when they wanted to control foreign lands. If the pharaoh won the battle, the conquered people had to recognize the Egyptian pharaoh as their ruler and offer him the finest and most valuable goods from their land.

The Great Sphinx is a large human-headed lion that was carved from a mound of natural rock. It is located in Giza where it guards the front of Khafra’s pyramid.Legends have been told for many years about the Great Sphinx.

These stories tell about the powers and mysteries of this sphinx. Some people even believe that there are hidden passageways or rooms underneath the Great Sphinx, but nothing has been found yet.

The beginning of one story about the Great Sphinx is written on a stele between the sphinx’s paws. The story reads that one day, a young prince fell asleep next to the Great Sphinx. He had been hunting all day, and was very tired. He dreamt that the Great Sphinx promised that he would become the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt if he cleared away the sand covering its body.

The rest of the story is gone, so you will have to use your imagination to work out the ending.

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