Hathor statues will be displayed in the Sharm el-Sheikh National Museum

The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) is removing remains of six statues of the goddess Hathor from their permanent location at Serabit El-Khadim temple located at Abu Zeneima in South Sinai. The statues are being moved to the Qantara Sharq galleries for restoration.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the SCA, announced that one of these statues had gone missing from its original location inside the temple, but thankfully it was later found inside one of the turquoise mines in the area.  Hawass stated that these statues will be included in the collection of the Sharm El-Sheikh National Museum, which will be completed next year.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, Head of the Central Administration of Lower Egypt Antiquities, said that the statues are made of limestone and weigh 250 kilos a piece.

The Serabit Al-Khadim temple is a very important pharaonic religious center where the goddess Hathor was worshipped. The temple was built in the Twelfth Dynasty and is located in an area opposite a number of turquoise mines. A group of four meter tall engraved memorials, each weighing five tons, also surround the temple.

The temple is located 1,100 meters above sea level and requires a three hour climb through the mountains to reach it. The temple is guarded 24 hours a day by Bedouin guards, as well as ten archaeological inspectors. It is only because of the high level of security at the site that the stolen statue was so quickly recovered.

Dr. Hawass said that the temple is currently undergoing a comprehensive restoration and development program in order to conserve the temple and create an easier route for tourists to gain access to the site.

Reference : drhawass.com

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

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The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Information and Resources of the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders

The list of seven amazing buildings and sculptures was proposed in the 2^nd century B.C. by Antipater of Sidon, a writer.  Understandably, these wonders are limited to the structures that Ancient Greeks knew about.

egypt pyramids

The Great Pyramid of Egypt

Located at Giza, Egypt, the Great Pyramid is the oldest of these Seven Ancient World Wonders. It was built for King Khufu who died in about 2465 B.C. According to Ancient Greek historian, it took thousands of men 20 years to construct. The pyramid was 147 meters high, making it the tallest man-structure for over 4000 years.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The legend is that King Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylon between 605 B.C. and 56 B.C., built incredible “hanging” gardens for his wife, Amytis. She disliked the dry landscape of Babylon, which was so unlike the green hills of Media, her birthplace. The Babylonian king recreated  Media’s green hills for her.

The Statue of Zeus

The Statue of Zeus

The statue had Zeus seated on a throne with his head touching the ceiling of the temple. It was covered with solid gold and ivory. In his right hand, Zeus held a figure of Nike, goddess of victory, and an eagle on a sceptre in his left.

The statue of Ancient Greek god Zeus is 12 meters tall, located in the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, in western Greece. Made by a man named Phidias, it was built in the 5^th century B.C. to commemorate the first Olympic Games.

The Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis

This temple was built by King Croesus in Ephesus, Turkey around 550B. It has been rebuilt a number of times before its eventual destruction. Only fragments have remained. The Temple of Artemis housed many art treasures and spectacular statues, including one of goddess Artemis herself, adorned with gold, silver and ebony.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

This wonder tomb was made to house the dead body of the ruler of Persia that time, King Mausolus of Caria, who died in 353 B.C. It was built by his wife, Artemisia, in Halicarnassus, now the city of Bodrum, Turkey. Her body was laid to rest there too.

The structure was a large pyramid with 24 steps, containing 36 columns.  It was 45 meters long and 45 meters tall, with a marble chariot drawn by four horses on the top.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The Colossus of Rhodes

The colossus of Rhodes was a huge bronze statue of the Ancient Greek sun god, Helios. It was 33 meters high and the tallest statue in the Ancient World. It took around 12 years to build, standing on Mandraki Harbour on the island of Rhodes, Greece. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 B.C.

The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria

The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria

Completed in about 280 B.C., the Pharos of Alexandria was a lighthouse used to warn ships of the rocks surrounding the port of Alexandria, Egypt. It stood for over 1,500 years surviving numerous earthquakes.

The building measured over 110 meters to the top. Polished bronzed mirrors reflected the sunlight during the day, and a light burnt at night that could be seen up to 50 kilometers away. In 1994, an archaeologist found masonry blocks believed to be from the lighthouse, toppled in 1300s by an earthquake.

Reference: thefreeresource.com

Posed by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Opera Aida is back to Egypt at the Pyramids next October !

opera aida at Egypt pyramids

«Opera Aida» is for the famous composer Verdi will return back to Egypt and showing in the open air between the arms of Al-Ahram in an atmosphere very fragrance of ancient Egyptian history. This is after an absence of 8 years.

Dr. Abdel Moneim Kamel – Chairman and director of the opera show said that – The Opera will show for a four-day evening, the fifth, sixth, seventh and tenth of next October , in conjunction with the celebrations of October victories .

operah aida in egypt at egypt pyramids

The shows will present on the theater next to Al-Ahram Square and beside the Theatre of sound and light , which the Opera has specially built on an area of 1600 square meters, and four runways to accommodate thousands of viewers.

Kamel said: «Opera Aida» is involving more than three thousands of artists, musicians and groups are teams of Cairo Opera Orchestra under conductor of the Italian Marcello Mutadelli, and the Cairo Opera Choir, Choir and Okabila led Oledumaniato and Maya Ajafinerya with Cairo Opera Ballet choreography of Armenia fully and Decor by Mahmoud Hajaj and lighting by design Yasser Shalan.

opera aida at egypt

Also he pointed out that «Opera Aida» one of the most important labels of Egyptian art to the world because the events taking place in ancient Pharaonic Egypt, stressing the extent of employment of technological possibilities and the lighting effects and sound with the exploitation of the charming nature of the place.

Memphis tours Egypt is pleased to offer distinguished services to the clients all over the world. It presents all the facilities of reservation of air lines and Hotels. Memphis Tours Egypt seize the opportunity to offer  special rates for accommodation and sightseeing tours in Egypt.

Click here for more details about attending the Opera Aida at Giza Pyramids.

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Marsa Alam Holidays, Egypt.

marsa-alam-map

Marsa Alam is located in the south of the Eastern Desert in Egypt on the Red Sea. It is 790 kilometers south of Cairo and about 300 kilometers from Hurghada.

Marsa Alam is one of the fastest growing holiday resorts in Egypt, which is popular with wind surfers and divers. Sun worshippers are fortunate enough to discover the resort’s remote tranquility.

 

In the past few years, Marsa Alam has become an important touristic destination, especially after the opening of Marsa Alam international Air Port. Many people, tourists and Egyptians, believe that Marsa Alam, in the few coming years, will become another Sharm El-Shiekh. The new Marsa Alam International Air Port is the first privately owned and operated International commercial airport in Egypt.Furthermore, it is the first airport in aviation history operating under a complete BOT system.Although previously a small fishing village, the construction of an International Airport in 2001 has established Marsa Alam as an upcoming and exclusive holiday resort. With a host of tourism projects planned for the near future, Marsa Alam is set to rival the popularity of established Egyptian resorts, such as Hurghada and Sharm El-Shiekh.

 

 

 

Snorkelling and Diving at Marsa Alam – Red sea , Egypt

The city is from the major region to be visited in the Red Sea because of its unique beaches, it is also the starting point of deep fishing. Marsa Alam is definitely unique in itself, because it is the best in the world as a whole where you can enjoy diving, snorkeling and the different water sports and desert Safari.
Memphis Tours Egypt ,  tour operator in Egypt since 1955, offers the opportunity to make a wonderful excursion aboard one of the nicest boats. There, you can practice all your favorite hobbies of diving and snorkeling
You are going to have lunch in an oriental style. Food will be served before your eyes and served hot.

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Cairo the Gate to History

A long or short tour to Cairo is certainly the best choice you will ever make.  In fact , Cairo is the world  city which described by  thousands of writers . Cairo holds world historical events either within the city walls or in the surrounding areas. All accompanied by the silent water of Its river known as the Nile river.

Cairo, Egypt

Almost any vanished civilization left its imprints in this city. To name all of them it’s almost impossible. Modern Cairo today offers  a lot of attractions: The Egyptian Museum which contains more than 140,000 masterpieces ranging from the pre_historic  era until the Roman Period, The modern Oprah House, Cairo tower which is 14 meters higher than the Great Pyramid, Baron Palace the old Market and even more.

Baron Palace in Cairo, Egypt.

A wide selection of manifold  interests in  Cairo for almost every visitor’s desire . Cairo is a city of multicultural and multi religious interests museums, churches, mosques, Nile Cruises, modern and Arabic music festivals. etc, in short, there is nothing  you will not find in the city of thousand and one nights.

Hanging Church, Old Cairo, Egypt

The Incredible Phenomenon At Abu Simbel Sun Festival

For most of the year, the inner sanctuary of the main temple at Abu Simbel is shrouded in darkness.

Ramses II Temple at Abu Simbel, Egypt

On two days, traditionally the anniversary of the birthday and coronation of pharaoh Ramses II, a shaft of sunlight pierces the gloom, illuminating statues of gods and the king in the temple’s inner sanctum.

The Festival:

The Abu Simbel Sun Festival at Aswan, Egypt is observed twice every year on 22nd Of February and on 22nd of October, the dates that mark the emperor’s birthday and his ascension to the throne. On these days, shafts of sunlight enter into the temple and illuminate the statues of the great king Ramses II and the two sun

gods Re-Horakhte and Amen-Re seated beside the Theban god Ptah, the god of darkness.

As the temple remains in absolute darkness through out the year and receives sunlight on these two very special days, the rare phenomenon is a scene that you just cannot afford to miss. Celebrated in a big way by the locals, undoubtedly the Sun Festival at Abu Simbel is one of the most uncommon and astounding festivals in the world.

To be a part of Egypt’s Abu Simbel Sun Festival, reach the temple way before dawn, as it is packed with crowd and watch the spectacular event occur before your eyes. You may al

so join in the celebrations of dance, music, food and fun later in the day to have a wholesome experience at the Abu Simbel Sun Festival in Egypt.

The specialty of the Abu Simbel Temple:

An architectural wonder, the Abu Simbel temple was built by the Egyptian emperor Ramses II back in 1250 BC along the banks of the mighty river, Nile in the southern part of Egypt. Known for his genius concepts in architecture and a passion for erecting monuments and structures commemorating his victories in the battles fought, the Pharaoh built the Abu Simbel temple near the Nubia borders in Upper Egypt, during his rule from 1270 to 1213.

As the temple was meant to be dedicated to the two Egyptian sun gods, Re-Horakhte and Amen-Re; the entire building was carved out of a single sandstone in a way that the sunrays could enter the inner-most sanctum of the temple and illuminate the seated statues of king Ramses II and the two sun gods, only on two significant days of the year.

Posted By: Mai Mohamed

Memphis Tours Egypt Travel Agency

Have you ever been to the Red Sea – Egypt?

Have you ever been to the Red Sea – Egypt?

Red Sea Egypt

It is the dream destination of many people and is a favored place for the sun and fun lovers from around the world due to its  terrific beaches of golden sand with the crystal water,  colorful corals  and beautiful atmosphere. Red Sea  lies between Africa and Asia, connecting to the Indian ocean, in the south, through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.

Diving at the Red Sea

The Red Sea, or as it’s called in Arabic: Bahr al-Ahmar is one of the world’s most beautiful places for diving and snorkeling with the 2000 km (1240 mi) coral reef extending along its coastline and 1,200 fish species, and around 10% of these are found nowhere else ! It was formed 40 million years ago when the Arabian Peninsula split from Africa and in time will likely become an ocean.

While the origin of the sea’s name is unclear – some say it was named for the color of the nearby mountains, others suggest the word red was a reference to the sea’s southerly location – it has nothing to do with the color of its water.

Parachuting at Red Sea Egypt

In 1989 international experts and scientists picked this area as one of the Seven Wonders of the Underwater World. The sea is known for its spectacular recreational diving sites, such as Ras Mohammed, SS Thistlegorm (shipwreck), Elphinstone, The Brothers, Dolphin Reef and Rocky Island in Egypt.

Popular tourist resorts include El Gouna, Hurghada, Safaga, Marsa Alam, on the western shore of the Red Sea, and Sharm-El-Sheikh, Dahab, and Taba on the Egyptian side of Sinaï, as well as Aqaba in Jordan and Eilatin Israel in an area known as the Red Sea Riviera.

Star Fish at the Red Sea

Some interesting facts about the Red Sea :

Red Sea has a surface area of roughly 438,000 km

Length: 1900 km
Maximum Width: 306 – 354 km – Massawa (Eriteria)
Minimum Width: 26 – 29 km -Strait Bab al Mandeb (Yemen)
Average Width: 280 km
Average Depth: 490 m
Maximum Depth: 2850 m  … 40% of the Red Sea is quite shallow (under 100 m), and about 25% is under 50 m deep which makes it a good place for snorkeling for those who don’t want to  dive.
Total surface Area: 438 x 103- 450 x 103 km2
Volume: 215 x 103 –251 x 103 km3
Gulf of Suez is a 300 km long, 50 km wide with depths ranging between 50 and 75 m.
Gulf of Aqaba is  180 km long and 25 km wide, narrow in the north and widening to the south with maximum depths of 1850 meters.

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin.

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Largest lagoon to be constructed on Egypt’s Red Sea coast at Sharm el-Sheikh.

The largest navigable lagoon is to be constructed on Egypt’s Red Sea coast at Sharm el-Sheikh. According to reports, the navigable crystalline lagoon will be be the biggest of its kind in the world.

Egypt already has a similar waterway at another Red Sea coastal resort of el-Gouna, but with tourism stagnating on the Red Sea due to marine life destruction, the tourism ministry said it will be a way of attracting visitors to its resorts.

“We believe that this effort is needed in order to continue to prove that Egypt is moving forward on tourism efforts and staying ahead of the game,” Tarek Gamal, a ministry official, told Bikya Masr on Tuesday. He said that the 12 hectare lagoon will be “encircled by another 10 massive lagoons that will hold more than 100 hectares of water. It will be like a desert oasis.”

The lagoons will offer a beach environment and top level aquatic sports within the precincts of the lagoons.

The first part of the tourism development will be ready by 2012.

The Crystal Lagoons Corp has 50 ongoing and planned developments throughout the Middle East, including 12 projects in Egypt.

Despite the optimism, however, a number of environmentalists in the region have called on the Egyptian government to take a closer look at what such construction will mean to the ecosystems in the area. They also warned that this use of water is “irresponsible when disputes over water resources remains a tipping point in the country.”

Steve Thomas, an environmental consultant with Friends of the Earth, told Bikya Masr in Washington that Egypt is on the “brink of a major water crisis, so the development of a lagoon like this may be seen by the people as counter-productive, especially when they are not getting enough water on a daily basis.”

The water resources and irrigation ministry has warned in recent years that Egypt will face massive water problems by 2015.

“Let’s hope the government will be able to rectify the population’s concerns as they push forward on this project,” Thomas added.

Reference : bikyamasr.com

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Alexandria International Book Fair in Action in Egypt.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt:

Alexandria library

The first International Book fair of Alexandria opened on September 16 and runs through the September 26 in Egypt’s second largest city. Set in the new fairgrounds in the Seyoof area on the outskirts of Alexandria, the fair has been characterized by major absences of people and a limited number of participating countries, with only Saudi Arabia and the host country being present.

The new fairgrounds in the Seyoof area did not ease things for people, placing the fair at a large distance from where average citizens can reach the location. For many it is simply too far.

While the place is smaller than the book fair held in February at “Kouta” fairgrounds, next to Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria) and the gathering of faculties, it is more organized and more peaceful.

Ahmed Osman, a student at the faculty of law, commenting on the location told Bikya Masr that “it’s far of course, that’s why it’s slow. But you are sure that those people here are avid readers and didn’t show up by mistake.”

Omar Tarek, an engineer, said “a book fair should always be near people. When the book fair in Kouta is far from people from Seyoof, the one in Seyoof is far from everyone. Books should be made accessible as much as possible.”

Still, the Book fair is holding musical and cultural events, inspired by Alexandria mainly, considering the independent Alexandrian bands playing such as Massar Egbari and Station or the seminars influenced mainly by the status of Alexandria as a rich cultural city.

It’s worth mentioning that, The International Book fair of Alexandria is one of the three biggest book fairs that take place in Alexandria, along with the Book fair held in Kouta Fairgrounds and the one held in Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

Most people agree that this book fair is slow in attendance and poor in content, and they will wait for the one in Kouta or Bibliotheca Alexandrina for a better experience.

Reference : bikyamasr.com

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.

Sharm El-Sheikh & Na’ama Bay information

Sharm El-Sheikh & Na’ama Bay

Sharm El Shiekh

For many thousands of its happy visitors, the area is known simply as “Sharm”, but it’s actually a collection of attractions with differing personalities. The town’s name first appears on maps as long ago as the eighteenth century, but, until two centuries later, it was a small fishing village which few people knew.For language students (and people who like to win quiz nights) you might like to know that in Arabic the word sharm means “bay” and el sheikh means a wise old man. It is now a hugely popular year-round resort which is hot and sunny in the summer, but still warm and very pleasant when European winters can be very depressing!

 

 

 

 

Sharm El Shiekh Holidays

Sharm el-Sheikh is the most popular resort in South Sinai and a perfect base from which to explore the region’s stunning coastline and rugged interior.
You can dive, snorkel or simply paddle in the waters of the Red Sea at Ras Um Sid, Turtle Bay and the Strait of Tiran.
It is the superb diving which has given the waters around here their worldwide reputation, and it is frequently voted as the best diving site in the world by the experts who know these things. Because of this, the range and quality of dive sites, boats and professional instructors are superb.

 

camel trails at sharm el shiekh

Even if you have never tried it before, take the plunge (so to speak) and try snorkelling or scuba diving – you’ll be in very safe hands and, like many people, may find a hobby which lasts a life-time.
Take a camel trek into the desert to visit Bedouin villages, mystical oases and the mangrove forests of Nabq. Or stay in Sharm, sample world-class international cuisine at one of the restaurants on the beach and dance the night away at the resort’s discos and nightclubs.
Above all, it’s the value for money which attracts millions of happy visitors.

The nightlife in Na’ama Bay is rightly famous, and is mainly located in the busy shopping and market area.
There’s a great mix of traditional and modern – proper traditional coffee shops and stalls sit happily by newcomers like Starbucks, Hard Rock Café, and McDonalds.
There’s a big choice for the clubbers, and Sharm won serious credibility in their eyes with the arrival of the famous Pacha venue.
Don’t feel as though being over 20 stops you from being a clubber though!
The morning after your big night out may well see you waking up over a leisurely breakfast before heading off to some real enjoyment in the fresh air of Sinai.
Take the chance to see the country the natural way on the back of a horse – or a camel.

This is much more than a tourist photo opportunity – skilled and knowledgeable trek leaders will lead you into beautiful places which seem a thousand miles (and years) away from the bustling hotels and nightlife.

 

Safari at Sharm El Shiekh

If motorized transport is more to your liking, you can bounce along dry valleys in a 4×4 or take the controls of a quad bike
One very popular trip isa Jeep Safari to theColoured Canyon.

Whether it’s for the naked eye, or your still or video camera, there are some beautiful sights and colours here.

You’ll travel through unforgettable desert scenery and steep-sided valleys of granite and sandstone.

Time, wind, sun and geological shift have produced some quite surreal colours and patterns which leave quite an impression.

Posted by : Yasmine Aladdin

Memphis Tours Egypt since 1955.