Memphis was the first capital of Egypt. In Memphis, the Nile appears light blue. It is known as White City because it appeared white in sunlight. By 1550 BC, Egyptians believed Memphis was too old to be the capital city. Memphis covered about 400 acres. Today, Memphis has 260 acres of antiquities. In the 1860's, a fraction of the city was excavated. In the past three years, Dr. Zaehawas discovered more because he had sufficient funding.
The homes were square and were no more than two stories tall. In Memphis, the bathrooms were inside the house unlike the rest of the homes of that period. Current houses have 2-3 rooms, kitchen and inside bathroom.
The Nile has changed course over the years. There were hundreds of small island. Memphis used to be on an island. They buried their dead above ground because of the water level (think New Orleans).
The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about
the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt:
“Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say,
‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’ Why are
your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them
down. He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another,‘Arise,
and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of
the sword of the oppressor.’ Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy
one who lets the hour go by.’ “As I live, declares the King, whose name is the
Lord of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come. Prepare
yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without
inhabitant. ~ Jeremiah 46:13-19
We've arrived in Memphis. We're going to an outdoor museum. I just saw a goat and a couple of cows in the street. Hey, there is a load of bananas on cart pulled by a donkey. The heads of cabbages are bigger than basketballs. Huge palm and date trees are everywhere.
INEE-HEJ = White Wall = Memphis
MIT = road or avenue
RAHINA = Ram.
MIT-RAHNINA Memphis had a ram avenue similar to Karnak's.
PER = Palace
AH = Great Man.
PHAROAH = Man of the great palace. The term Pharoah was not commonly used until the Greeks arrived around 600 BC. The ancient Egyptians used other terms for their ruler: son of the sun god Ra, Lord of the bee and Lord of the two lands.
Queen Hatshepsut has a three-storied funerary monument in Luxor. She was possibly the mother or grandmother of Moses. She was the first to use the Valley of the Kings.
Alabaster, or Calcite, Sphinx. The face is similar to Queen Hatshepsut, Amunhotep II or Amunhotep III. It was carved during the Middle Kingdom (1700-1400 BC) and may have graced the entrance of the Temple of Ptah.
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| The enigmatic Alabaster Sphinx is 13 feet tall and 26 feet long. |
Ramesses was an army man. He wears a pleated kilt and holds a dagger. His name is inscribed into the buckle of the belt. On his right shoulder is a tatoo. He is smiling. A small boy with a side lock of hair is between his legs. Ramesses is strong = veins in muscles. His big knees symbolize fertility. There is a hole in his ear. Earrings were fashionable, especially in Nubia. Egyptians practiced acupuncture to counteract dental pain. His mummy has been examined and his teeth were in a terrible condition.
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| Crossfit? I think so. |
This was the cemetery. This is 26 km south of Giza. It was named after Succor, the cemetery god.
HEL = On top of
WAN = On
HEL-WAN = Upper On
Burials. In the earliest days, Egyptians buried their dead inside their houses under the bed. Sleeping = dead. It wasn't healthy to do this. Water destroyed mussums. How did they mark a graveyard? No mausoleums. no crosses. They just put a square (=bed) over the grave. The poor men were buried in a 10 square feet.
The Step Pyramid of Djoser (Zoser = brave) soars above the desert. It is hailed as the first monumental structure made of stone. His wives are buried nearby. Poor people were buried in a hole in the ground. Mastabas were used to men and women nobility. A mastaba tomb looks like a house. The step pyramid is formed from six mastabas that decrease in size.
We're at the step pyramid now. Osman has gone to get the tickets. This tomb reopened last year. It is the best preserved mastaba. It was built 400 years after the Giza pyramids and 600 years before Joseph. Illustrations of donkeys and calves but no sheep or goats. The father is further back in the tomb than the son. When the Pharoah would smell a lotus flower, he would awake to his second life.
Bent Pyramids. Each mound at the base of the step pyramid is a pyramid. Zoser's sons wanted straight pyramids.
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| The Step Pyramid of Djoser was designed and built by Imhotep, his vizier. |
We had a demonstration of how Egyptian carpets are woven. Then those who are interested in purchasing one (or more) begin haggling. The Arellano clan bargained for four carpets. The last one was 75% off. Their total savings was 35% off. Impressive!
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| Warp threads on the loom. |
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| Colorful skeins create carpets. |
Lamb and chicken, excellent rice, french fries and HUGE oranges.
Random Thoughts en route to Old Cairo
Traveling with a Tour. There are definitely positives to being with a tour group. Having access to Ferrell's knowledge/research sets this tour apart from others. Safety. Ease of travel. Lack of concern about where we'll sleep or eat next. It's fun to travel around with this group. Folks look out for each other. There is a low hum swirling from various conversations. We've blended with shared experiences.
However, in another regard it is odd traveling with a tour group. We never become a part of this culture and country. The windows of the bus shield us from the sounds and the smells. The Egyptians are living their lives as we roll by. I think about that. It seems so antiseptic devoid of interaction -- except for a smile and a wave. Yesterday in Goshen was strange. We were an anomaly. Stares were just as common as grins.
Dust of the Ages. Is it laundry day? Clothes are flapping in the wind. The lines are three rows deep. Today the dust is gone. Maybe THAT is the answer to my question. Clear day = laundry day. This morning there was a thin layer of dust on all the outside furniture.Yesterday I could barely make out the pyramids from my balcony. This morning the pyramids were crystal clear.
Osman. He is passionate about Egyptology. It amazes me how easily he comprehends and explains hieroglyphics. It's unfortunate that he couldn't continue his studies. But, fortunate for us that we have access to his knowledge.
Muslims who moved here initially made tent camps. Eventually they built homes.
Coptic Museum
No cameras allowed inside. The Nagamati were gnostics. IJN. They were anti-Christs and said He didn't come in the flesh. Recently reopened. This museum was closed eight years for restoration. Faruch was the grandson of the Secretary General of the United Nations. This collection is entirely Coptic antiquities. Manuscripts of St. Thomas from 5-10 Century AD. They compiled a different set of gospels than we have today (mentioned in the Da Vinci Code). Saw a 4th - 5th Century AD songbook bound in leather and decorated with bones.
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| The Coptic Museum has 15,000 objects on display. |
Traditionally this is the location where Joseph, Mary and Jesus rested after their flight into Egypt. This Coptic church is dedicated to two soldiers who became martyrs, Sergius and Bacchus. It is one of the oldest Coptic church buildings. 5 columns x 2 + 2 = 12 apostles. There are six icons which represent the last few days of Jesus' life.
Felucca
The felucca is the primary form of transportation on the Nile River. They rely on southerly breezes and on the return trip the north-flowing current. It was a peaceful and picturesque way to experience the Nile.
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| Excited about a sunset felucca ride. |
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| Captain (to me): I will give you 1,000 camels for your hand in marriage. |
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| Too bad I can't remember what caused this memorable blush. |
Our farewell dinner was held at the Grand Pyramids hotel. After dinner I went to the top of the hotel to have one last look at the pyramid. A wedding celebration was in full swing.
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| Lucky Wally was surrounded by a bevy of beauties. |
Purchases for customs report:
$10 - Egyptian dress
$77.75 - Linen store: 1 scarf + 3 table runners
$33 - DVD
$200 - Cartouche & Scarab
$1 - Cotton linen
$1 - Bookmarks
$1 - Postcards
$10 - Papyrus
$50 - Alabaster Vase
$3 - Red saffron
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