Egypt

The gift of Nile

Landmarks from Egypt
 The Egyptian Museum
 Giza Necropolis and Pyramids
 Mosque of Muhammad Ali
 Abu Simbel Temples
 Valley of the Kings
 Citadel of Qaitbay
 Temple of Philae
 Saqqara Necropolis
 Luxor Temple
 The Egyptian Museum

 The Egyptian Museum is a must-visit, especially considering it is one of the

top things to do when in Cairo.
 The museum is also the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East.
 The Egyptian Museum was opened in 1902 to house the antiquities of Ancient
Egypt.
 The Egyptian Museum is the home of over 120,000 artefacts in total, including
the contents of Tutankhamen's tomb, and mummies discovered since the 19th
century.
 Across the museum's two floors, you will find a collection of exhibits on
Ancient Egypt's archaeological history.
 Giza Necropolis and Pyramids
 The major attraction of Giza Necropolis is the Giza Pyramids.
 This location also holds a lot of mystery. Many visitors (and egyptologists) are
still trying to understand how the three kings, Khufu, Menkaure, and Khafra,
could construct these huge structures during their reigns.
 All three of the main pyramids, along with the smaller ones surrounding them,
were built during the fourth dynasty of Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. The Old
Kingdom is the first era of the three significant periods of Ancient Egypt.
 The Pyramids of Giza were constructed using blocks of limestone, and
surprisingly they have survived the elements of nature better than other
pyramids.
 Mosque of Muhammad
Ali
 The Mosque of Muhammad Ali is located in the Citadel of Cairo, Egypt. The
mosque is usually referred to as the Alabaster Mosque because of the use of
alabaster stones in its construction.
 It was built between 1830 and 1848 in memory of Muhammad Ali's son Tusun
Pasha, who died in 1816. This long construction time allowed the architects to
build a significantly large and intricately detailed building.
 The structure of the mosque is imposing, especially when you are viewing it from
a distance. One thing contributing to its popularity and prestige is its prominent
location.
 Along with being a tourist attraction, Egyptians consider the mosque to be a
major landmark of Egypt. Since most Egyptians are Muslims, the mosque is
cherished by local Egyptians and those that come from farther to visit.
 Abu Simbel Temples

 The Abu Simbel Temples are some of Egypt's most famous landmarks and are
also a UNESCO World Heritage site as one of the Nubian Monuments.
 This ancient temple complex features two stone cut temples, one of which is
dedicated to Pharaoh Ramesses II and the other to his wife Queen Nefertari.
 The temples, built in the 13th century BC, were initially located on the Nile
River's west bank and stood there for about 3,000 years.
 However, the temples were later dismantled and rebuilt on a higher hill in Abu
Simbel in the 1960s.
 Valley of the Kings
 The Valley of the Kings is another one of the major landmarks in Egypt and is
known worldwide for its royal tombs.
 This popular landmark is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features
tombs built between 1539 and 1075 BC.
 The Valley of the Kings is located in a desert valley in Luxor.
 The tombs were constructed as the burial ground for Egyptian Pharaohs from the
18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties. Some of the Pharaohs buried here include
Tutankhamun, Tuthmose III, and Seti I.
 In all, you can find about 62 tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
 Citadel of Qaitbay

 Another famous Egyptian landmark is the Citadel of Qaitbay, also known as Fort
Qaitbey. You can locate the Citadel on the Island of Pharos, west of Alexandria
city.
 The impressive structure was built on the same location as an old lighthouse
after it was destroyed by an earthquake, and was named after the sultan
Ashraf. The sultan at that time wanted to protect Alexandria city from the
direct threats of the Ottoman Empire.
 The citadel's first floor contains a mosque and a defence hall, allowing soldiers
to easily defend the citadel when it is under attack. The second floor includes
the chambers and halls.
 On the third floor, you can find the throne chamber of the sultan. Visiting the
Citadel of Qaitbay gives you an idea of how sultan Ashraf lived while trying to
protect Alexandria.
Temple of Philae

 The sacred site of Philae is one of the tourist attractions in Egypt that attracts
many travellers every year.
 It is a small island located in Aswan, mainly popular because of the Temple of
Philae, also known as the Temple of Isis.
 The Temple of Isis was constructed in 280 BCE by Ptolemy II. It is dedicated
primarily to the goddess Isis as well as to the gods Horus and Osiris.
 This is made clear in the temple's design with its walls being covered in stunning
illustrations from Egyptian mythology. For example, one illustration shows the
goddess Isis bringing Osiris back from the dead.
 The temple survived destruction when the Aswan dam was built during the 1960s.
With both the Egyptian government and UNESCO coordinating to ensure that the
temple was rescued.
 Saqqara Necropolis

 When it comes to Egyptian pyramids, many people think only of the Pyramids of
Giza. However, these are not the only famous pyramids in Egypt. Another group of
pyramids called the Saqqara Necropolis 30 - kilometres north of Cairo, the country's
capital.
 The vast Saqqara burial grounds cover an area of about seven by one and a half
kilometres. For those who love history, taking a day trip to the Saqqara Necropolis
while visiting Cairo should be on your list.
 The area features a vast number of pyramids and underground tombs for you to visit.
One of the most popular pyramids found here is the Step Pyramid of Djoser.
 The Step Pyramid is the oldest tomb found in the Saqqara Necropolis having been
built during the Third Dynasty. Other renowned landmarks here include the Pyramid
of Unas and Mastaba of Ti.
 Luxor Temple

 Luxor City (previously known as ancient Thebes) in Egypt was the ancient
state capital location during the 12th Dynasty from 1991 BC to 1783 BC.
 The city is now home to many ruins and temples. This includes one of the
most beautiful ancient temples in Egypt, the Luxor Temple.
 The Luxor Temple is a mark of Ancient Egyptian civilisation and today stands
as a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of modern Luxor. Luxor Temple
was constructed in 1400 BCE during the New Kingdom, using sandstone as the
primary building material.
 Pharaoh Amenhotep III began construction, but other pharaohs including
Tutankhamun and Rameses II added to the design as well.