Among the many wonders I encountered on my recent trip to Egypt, the Eye of Horus was a symbol that seemed to follow me everywhere. Whether exploring grand temples, browsing local markets, or marveling at ancient artifacts, this mystical emblem was a constant presence. The Eye of Horus, also known as Wedjat or Udjat, comes from ancient Egyptian mythology. It is linked to Horus, the falcon-headed god associated with the …
It is a curiosity, in stark contrast with the upscale metropolis of posh hotels and casinos in “new Cairo.” The narrow, unpaved streets of the City of the Dead wind between the tombs and family mausoleums along a 4 mile long Islamic necropolis. At the base Egypt’s Mokattam Mountain, located about 3 miles from Cairo’s lively downtown, the “City of the Dead ” is an ancient collection of pantheons, family …
The winner, besting 1,557 competitors from 82 countries, was the Irish firm Heneghan Peng Architects who was tasked to create the world’s most impressive, ethically responsible and sustainable museum in order to house, display and preserve tens of thousands of ancient Egyptian treasures. Twenty years in the making, it is now complete. The $1 billion project comprises nearly half a million square feet of exhibition halls housing 100,000 objects. The …
This story is epic “Indiana Jones” with hidden treasure, unsolved mysteries, international intrigue, romance, stolen artifacts and a movie set astonishing to even the most jaded viewer. At its heart, a young Egyptian boy with a secret and a couple of ambitious, even greedy explorers willing to listen. The two temples of Abu Simbel located in Southern Egypt, at the second cataract of the Nile, close to the Sudanese border were built …
Essential oils are part of our culture…used in aromatherapy sessions, relaxation techniques, in massage therapy, for holistic medicinal purposes, in yoga studios and an expansive range of cosmetics, perfumes and skincare. And as a lifelong scent devotee…I found Egypt a mecca for magnificent essential oils which, as I write this, scent my home with rich and complex fragrances. My recommendations are at the end of this post. The Ancient Egyptians …
We visited late on a January afternoon just as the sun was setting. Egypt had presented many of its most magnificent temples but this, the Temple of Luxor, was the most impressive. In both scale and complexity it follows the traditional temple design. Its construction began in 1392 BC and continued across the centuries as testimony of deity of the ruling pharaohs. It is a masterpiece credited to many…from Amenhotep …