Nefertiti

Nefertiti

"Ruler of the Nile," "Daughter of Gods," and "Empress of the Mediterranean" or let us say Nefertiti; she was the female pharaoh who followed Hatshepsut and remained more controversial than her precedent. Nefertiti was the Queen of Egypt and co-ruled Egypt between 1379 and 1358 BC. She was the daughter of Ay (who would become Pharaoh after Tutankhamun's death) and the beloved wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nefertiti and Akhenaten had six daughters but no sons. Her name literally means 'a beautiful woman has arrived'.

As a woman, Queen Nefertiti followed the tradition of being her husband's partner in life, and as much she supported Akhenaton in his religious mission. Akhenaton made a unique impression on Egypt's history, when he began to promote the worship of one god above all others - the 'sun-god' Re or Ra. The queen actively involved in her husband's restructuring policies, she is shown wearing kingly regalia, executing foreign prisoners. Both – Nefertiti and Akhenaton – were said to be very much in love and at times inseparable. Many pictures show the whole family in domestic scenes. She seemed to be a beloved wife and mother. King Akhenaton's love was noted as legendary - the following is a love letter/poem to his Queen Nefertiti:

"...The Heiress, Great in Favour, Lady of Grace, Sweet of Love, Mistress of the South and North, Fair of Face, Gay with two Plumes, Beloved of the Living Aten (the king), the Chief Wife of the King whom he Loves, Lady of the two Lands, Great of love, Nefertiti, Living Forever and Ever…"

Throughout the Eighteenth Dynasty royal women played a significant and visible role in state and religious affairs. Nefertiti continued this tradition by actively assisting her husband in his attempt to convert Egypt to monotheism; she was an enthusiastic supporter and a full partner in the process of spreading the new religion. No look at the life of Nefertiti would be complete without a review of this religious revolution. She was influential in establishing one of the world's first monotheistic religions. Moreover, Nefertiti was pictured killing the enemies of Egypt in a scene normally reserved for pharaohs and she was shown with her husband awarding gold to royal favorites at the Window of Appearance.

By Year 14 of Akhenaten's reign Nefertiti had disappeared from view yet there is no record of her death nor has her mummy or place of burial been found. This has led to considerable speculation as to what happened. Some have suggested that the royal couple had a falling out and Nefertiti was banished in disgrace to her palace, Aten's Castle. Others are quite convinced that Nefertiti changed her name to Smenkhkare, adopted the guise of a man and ruled as co-regent with her husband. The majority view is that Nefertiti died of natural causes (possibly the plague) as a great and honored queen.

Recreational tourism

Recreational tourism

Egypt has a wide range of beaches situated on the Mediterreanean and the Red Sea that extend to over 3,000 km.The Red sea has serene waters,colored coral reefs,rare fish and beautiful mountain.

The Akba Gulf beaches also provide facilities for practicing sea sports .

Safaga tops the Red Sea zone with its beautiful location on the Suez Gulf .

Last but not least,Sharm el-Sheikh,Hurghada,Dahab,Ras Sidr,Mars Alam,Safaga and the northern coast of the Mediterranean are major tourist's destinations of the recreational tourism.

El-Ain El-Sukhna

El-Ain El-Sukhna

Cairo's nearest beach ...just an hour away

EL-Ain EL-Sukhna: the Arabic for “ hot spring” was named after the nearby sulphur springs .It is also an ideal site for fishing and water sports.

Ain El Sukhna is about 140 km east of Cairo, just an houraway by car. It offers Cairenes and welcome, handy respite from the city's fast paced life .

The area is 40 km south of the port of Suez and is administratively part of the Suez Governorate. Its territory extends along the Red Sea shoreline for about 60 km from the southern borders of Ras El Adebbya in the north to Ras El Zaafarana in the south.

Close enough to Cairo for a day-trip; this popular weekend resort has fine beaches and coves, coral reefs, fishing and water sports.

This is not just a destination for people wanting a suntan and a week at the beach. It is also a place where you can indulge in history. There is ample evidence that the area had its place in history. It includes a famous group of the world's oldest monasteries west of Zafarana on the road to Kuraymat.

The most celebrated ones are those of St. Anthony (c. 251 -356), the founding father of monasticism, and St. Paul, which were built more than 16 centuries ago.

Rituals followed inside the monasteries today have hardly changed in hundreds of years.

A group of historians also believe the northern part of the Mount of Galala El Bahareya was the point from which Moses and the Israelites crossed in their exodus from Egypt's mainland into the Sinai Peninsula. They cite in their claims the fact that the bottom of the Gulf of Suez at this point is elevated.

As the main route to the Indies for Ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, the Red Sea and its shores and ports also have a rich maritime history.

The area is known for its mild climate all year round. Temperatures range between a high of 32 degrees celsius and a low of 9 degrees in January and show a variation of between 36 degrees and 30 degrees in July .

The average rate of humidity is 50 percent. It ranges between a maximum of 72 percent and a minimum 48 percent in December and shows a variation between 58 percent in May .

Rainfall occurs largely in winter months.
The average number of days having rainfall is 11 days a year, with the rain season spanning the November- May period.
The average amount of rainfall stands at about 24 mm . Winds mainly blow from the north and the northwest gusting at an average.

Flora and Fauna paragon of wildlife.
In spite of the low amounts and frequencies of rainfall, the usual desert growth of perennials and grasses is found.

The Eastern Desert receives spares rainfall, which supports a varied vegetation that includes tamariskaccacia and markh ( a leafless, thorn less tree with bare branches and slendertwigs ) as well as great variety of thorny shrub, small succulent , and romantic herbs .

Date and doum palms,both cultivated and sub spontaneous are found in the Oasis.Desert animals include dorcas gazelle , the miniature desert fox , the mountain goat ibex , the Egyptian hare and two kinds of jerboa( a mouse- like rodent with long hind legs for jumping)the Egyptian jackal and still exists.

There are two carnivorous mammals: a spices of wildcats and the striped Egyptian mongoose.

Several varieties of lizards are found, including the large monitor. Because Egypt is rich in its bird life and many birds pass through in large numbers
On their spring and autumn migrations, the area has its good share of more than 200 migrating types as well a more than 150 resident birds.

Lammergeir and golden eagles are residents of the Eastern desert and Sinai. Resident desert birds are a distinct category, numbering about 24 kinds.

That exquisite corridor of tinted mountain and radiant water ...here and nowhere else is the vestibule between the Levant and the Topics ..." E.M.Forster describing the Gulf of Suez, 1923.

The area's topography bestows on it a special lure and charm. It lies in one of the three tires of the eastern desert -the Red Sea Hills and Red Sea Coastal plane.This tier runs from near Suez to the Sudanese border.

The Hills are not a continuous range but consist of sets of interlocking systems more or less alignment. They are geographical complex, with igneous and metamorphic rocks .
As such, it is regarded by Encyclopaedia Britannica as " a sub-region in itself . Ain El Sukhna is famed for two mountins that have religious significance: Attaqa, which rises more than 800 above sea leveland hems in the valleys (wadis ) of Hogouland Chuwaiba.

Galala El Bahareya , the southern periphery of the area , which rises to more than 1,200 m and embarces the valleys of Kuthaib ( 75sq,km), Abul-dorg (68.5sq,km)and smaller ones such as ElMalha and Gar El Malha.

These mountains and valleys constitute a main component in the area's attractiveness for tourists and local holiday-makers.

There are marks and signs showing that this area had its niche in the annals of history.The 4th century monasteries of St. Anthony the Great and St. Paul in the Eastern Desert, not far from Zafarana, are celebrated as the world's oldest.
A group of historians believe it was around this area on the Red Sea that Moses and Israelites crossed into the Sinai in their exodus from Egypt.
As the main route to the Indies for ancient Egyptians and Phoenicians, the Red Sea and its shores and ports have a rich maritime history.

The area could be reached by land through one of the following highways & roads:
- The Cairo - Suez Highway 110 km
- The Qattameya - Ein El Sukhna Highway 95 km
- The Kuramat - Zafaran Road 120 km
- The Hurgada - Zafarana Road 320 km
- The Suez - Ain El Sukhna Road 40 km

Ottoman Era

Ottoman Era

In 1517, Sultan Selim I entered Egypt and he regulated rule in Egypt via dividing power among three bodies. The Wali, the governor, is the deputy of the Sultan in Egypt and he was appointed for 3 years only. His mission was to carry out the orders of the sultan, send Jezia and lead the armies.

The Divan consisted of the major officers in the Ottoman army, major employees, scholars (Ulama) and landowners. The Divan's mission was to help the Wali in ruling the country and it had the veto right to the Wali's decisions besides calling for dismissing him.

The Mamlukes led the local departments, as the Ottomans wanted to make use of their experience in running the affairs of the country.

When Ali Bey Al-Kabir assumed the office of Skeikh Al-Balad, ruler of the country, he allied with Sheikh Daher Al-Omar in Palestine against the Ottoman sultan and expelled the Ottoman Wali and announced Egypt's independence.

Ali Bey Al-Kabir managed to extend his influence to Al-Hejaz and Yemen and sent an army under the leadership of Muhammad Bey Abuda Dahab. Yet, the Ottomans managed to convince Abuda Dahab of allying with them against Ali Bey Al-Kabir, hence Egypt returned an Ottoman state.

The Mamluke Era

At the last days of the Ayyubid State, the Mamlukes controlled most of the important posts in Egypt. After the murdering of Turan Shah, the last of the Ayyubid Sultans, Shajarat El-Dur, wife of King Al-Salih Ayyoub, married Aybak one of the Bahari Mamlukes chiefs.

After the death of Aybak, a number of Bahari Mamlukes ruled over Egypt the most famous of them was Sultan Qutuz who defeated the Tartars in `Ein Jalut. Sultan Baybars succeeded Qutuz and managed to achieve a religious sovereignty over the Muslim world.

Ikhshidi Era

Ikhshidi Era

After the death of Mohamed bin Tughj Al-Ikhshid, his minister Abu el-Misk Kafour had the guardianship over Al-Ikhshid's two sons. Under the name of Al-Ikhshid's sons, Kafour ruled over Egypt for 23 years.

On his death, the eleven-year old boy Abu Al-Fawaris Ahmed, Al-Ikhshid's grandson, succeeded him. Therefore, chaos prevailed in Egypt, a matter that paved the way before the Fatimids to seize Egypt.

Islamic Conquest of Egypt

Islamic Conquest of Egypt

In 640 A.D., Amr bin Al-As conquered Egypt and he besieged the Fortress of Babylon till the surrender of the Byzantine forces there in 641 A.D.

Then, he proceeded to Alexandria and by virtue of Babylon Agreement, Alexandria surrendered too and he continued his conquest of Egypt.