Al Badrashin Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Mit Rahina Museum Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Mit Rahina Museum / Memphis Museum, Egypt
The Mit Rahina museum, also known as the Memphis open-air museum, in Egypt showcases the ancient capital of Memphis. It features the colossal statue of Ramses II, 10 meters tall, and the impressive Alabaster Sphinx, also known as Baby Sphinx. The ruins of the Temple of Ptah, dedicated to the deity of Memphis, can be explored. Additionally, visitors can see the Colonnade of Pharaoh Nectanebo I, offering a glimpse into the architectural grandeur of ancient Egypt.
#egypt #cairo #memphis #museum #history #ancientcity
TheTravelingSuitcase (@thetravelingsuitcasee) Memphis|A capital repeatedly plundered by ancient large military forces
|A capital repeatedly plundered by ancient large military forces. It is usually a stop on the 'Giza-Saqqara-Memphis-Dahshur' day trip around the suburbs of Cairo, but for an ancient Egypt enthusiast like me, it's exceptionally important!
✓Visited and plundered by armies since before the Common Era
✓The first true capital of ancient Egypt
✓The famous 'Narmer Palette' in the Egyptian Museum depicts the great King Menes, who was the founder of the ancient city of Memphis
【What is Memphis】
Memphis was not the original name of this place. The name originated from the pyramid called Mennefer built by Pharaoh Pepi I of the 6th Dynasty (2345-2181 BCE), which was mispronounced by Greek scholars and passing merchants as Memphis.
However, after the rise of the city-states of Thebes in Upper Egypt, Thebes became the political center, and the old capital Memphis in Lower Egypt was repeatedly plundered:
① Nubian region - Kingdom of Kush
② Assyrian Empire
③ Persian Empire
④ Ancient Greek Macedonian King Alexander
⑤ Roman Empire
⑥ Arab Empire Abbasid Dynasty
After being plundered by armies from various countries for over a thousand years, the city of Memphis was completely destroyed.
【A Brief History of Ancient Memphis】
Ancient Egyptians called the Nile River 'Iteru' (meaning 'river').
Before 10,000 BCE: Traces of humans appeared in Egypt, and the tropical savannas of the valley provided ample food and raw materials for production and life for the primitive tribal hunters. Later, climate change turned the lush vegetation into desert areas, and these tribes gradually gathered near water sources, making the Nile River banks a fertile habitat.
3100 BCE: King Narmer united the people from the first cataract of the Nile to the Mediterranean estuary, and Upper and Lower Egypt were unified into one state. Narmer became the pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt and established the capital at Memphis.
2650-2323 BCE: Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom built pyramids on the plains of Giza and Saqqara, and a large number of nationals were engaged in this monumental project.
2125-1650 BCE: The city of Thebes in Upper Egypt rose, and Thebes became the center of religious belief and political power in Upper Egypt. The then ruler Mentuhotep II moved the capital to Thebes in Upper Egypt, and Memphis in Lower Egypt gradually declined.
The first capital of ancient Egypt is now just a small village called Mit Rahina, a stopover for a day trip. Busy tourists only glance at a few stone sculpture fragments in the square, then sigh over the fallen colossus of Ramesses II.
Another similar statue of Ramesses II, which originally stood in Ramses Square in Cairo, was transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2006, but nearly 20 years have passed, and the museum is still not fully open.
Pyramid of Djoser Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara|A sensational deification campaign
A sensational deification campaign. The local Memphis god of death, Sokar, is phonetically similar to Saqqara
【Highlights of Saqqara】
① Djoser's Step Pyramid: The first pyramid-shaped tomb from the Old Kingdom era of the Egyptian Pharaohs
② Hypostyle Hall: The entrance to Djoser's Step Pyramid, with over 40 columns in the style of papyrus stalks
③ The semi-open false door of the Hypostyle Hall: Originally colored like wood, its open structure allowed the pharaoh's soul to move freely
④ Heb-Sed festival courtyard in the south: The Heb-Sed was a running ceremony performed during the pharaoh's coronation
⑤ The Serdab in the eastern courtyard: Peek through a small hole to see the seated statue of Pharaoh Djoser, the original is now in the Egyptian Museum
⑥ The relief of the desert serpent god Wadjet: Wadjet symbolizes the fiery serpent of destruction in the desert and is also the protector of the pharaoh
⑦ Serapeum of Saqqara: A temple dedicated to the Apis bull, each granite sarcophagus weighs over 80 tons
【Step Pyramid】
The pyramid started as a flat rectangular mastaba, with layers added and each layer decreasing in size, evolving into a sloped pyramid.
【Hypostyle Hall】
Entering the Step Pyramid from the southeast corner temple, this Hypostyle Hall now has a concrete ceiling for protection, with over 40 columns in the style of papyrus stalks, leading out to the open southern courtyard.
【The Semi-Open False Door ka】
Originally colored like wood and with an open structure, it was meant for the pharaoh's soul, ka, to move freely. In ancient Egypt, ka was a synonym for the soul of the deceased.
【Wadjet Relief in the Southern Courtyard】
This fiery destroyer, who protected the childhood of the falcon god Horus, is also the protector of the pharaoh and a royal symbol. It often appears on both sides of the wings of Horus and on the pharaoh's headdress.
【Heb-Sed Festival Area in the Southern Courtyard】
The base of the pyramid is known as Heb-Sed, where the pharaoh's coronation ceremony included a running ceremony, symbolizing strong vitality and assuring the gods of his ability to protect the people and rule Egypt.
【Serdab in the Eastern Courtyard】
A small house containing the statues of the deceased, with a small statue of the pyramid's owner, Pharaoh Djoser, inside. The feeling of making eye contact with the deceased is quite eerie, and the original is now in the Cairo Museum.
【Vizier Imhotep】
The Step Pyramid was built around 2650 BC, designed by the then Vizier Imhotep. Imhotep was later revered by the ancient Egyptians as the god of architecture and construction.
【Old Kingdom Pharaoh Djoser】
Pharaoh Djoser (2667-2648 BC) commissioned his vizier Imhotep to design a grand tomb. Imhotep did not disappoint, creating a step pyramid with several surrounding subsidiary temples in a large ceremonial complex, with walls nearly 1.7 kilometers long.
【Serapeum of Saqqara】
Starting with Pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC), there was a custom of holding funeral ceremonies for the Apis bull here, as the bull symbolized Ptah (a calf struck by lightning), a sign of the Nile's bountiful harvest.
Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
The heat wasn’t stopping me
The pyramids, no matter which ones you pick are amazing. The camel rides are fun as well.
Whether you go to Giza, or any of the others in the region, I promise you that you’ll be impressed.
Be prepared for the heat if you decide to go Cairo in the summer, it is slow season then. The benefit of going then is that the crowds are way smaller at just about everywhere you go.
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The Sphinx of Memphis Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Memphis
#familytrips2024
Our family expedition to Memphis, Egypt, was like stepping into the ancient heart of civilization itself. As we wandered among the ruins of this once-great city, we were transported back in time to a world of pharaohs, gods, and towering monuments. Standing before the colossal statue of Ramesses II, we felt dwarfed by its grandeur and power, marveling at the craftsmanship that has endured for millennia. Exploring the remnants of temples and palaces, we imagined the bustling streets and vibrant life that once filled these sacred spaces. The air was thick with history and mystery, igniting our imaginations and fueling our thirst for knowledge about this ancient civilization that shaped the course of human history.
As for our next dream destination, we've set our sights on the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu, Peru. Nestled high in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is a marvel of engineering and ingenuity, offering stunning panoramic views and a glimpse into the ancient Inca civilization. We look forward to trekking along the Inca Trail, traversing rugged terrain and lush cloud forests to reach this legendary citadel. Exploring the terraced fields, intricate stone structures, and sacred temples of Machu Picchu will be a journey of discovery and adventure, immersing our family in the rich tapestry of Andean culture and history amidst the awe-inspiring beauty of the Peruvian highlands.
familytrips2024
familytrips2024
Saqqara Necropolis Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Older than the ones in Giza
The pyramids in Saqqara were believed to older than the ones in Giza.
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