Tuesday 31 March 2015

Shocking Discovery: Egypt's 'Mona Lisa' May Be a Fake

Shocking Discovery: Egypt's 'Mona Lisa' May Be a Fake: Francesco Tiradritti



Recent research suggests the "Meidum Geese" painting on plaster (in the
Egyptian Museum of Cairo) is a fake created in the 19th century and that
a real Pyramid Age painting may be hidden underneath it.



The "Meidum Geese" painting on plaster in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo



Do read this article, Francesco is someone I respect highly and I have heard him lecture on art. He really knows his stuff so I think his remarks should be taken very seriously. I look forward to the peer review of his paper

Monday 30 March 2015

Free Egyptology Course Blue symposium

Udemy - Online Courses from the World's Experts



The world has always been a colourful place. But
do we see the colours of our modern world in exactly the same way that
the people of ancient Egypt saw the colours of their land? This course
will help you to consider how the ancients viewed their world by
introducing you to a remarkable, vibrant time and place: a place where
the sea was not blue, but green.

See the Ancient World Through Different Eyes

·Learn how the ancient Egyptians regarded the colours blue, green and “grue”

·Examine the technology of ancient glass making

·Explore aspects of ancient art and sculpture

· "Meet” some ancient Egyptian letter-writers

Contents and Overview

This course takes the form of a symposium which presents a
series of lectures given by world-renowned Egyptologists.

Saturday 28 March 2015

Isis Temple at Deir el Shelwit

Deir el Shewit 004 View through gateway

Isis Temple at Deir el Shelwit



To the S, on the road to Armant (footpath from Medinet Habu, 50 minutes), is the well-preserved Temple of Isis
of the Roman period, now known as the Deir el Shelwit. It dates from the
reigns of Hadrian and Antonious Pius, and the ruined pylon has
inscriptions of Vespasian, Domitian and Otho. The cella is surrounded by
a number of smaller chambers, in one of which (far left from the
entrance) is a staircase leading to the roof.......................




Because I can put up galleries on word press all the photos are on my website Isis Temple at Deir el Shelwit. I have put both mine and Michaels.

Sunday 22 March 2015

Two sections of Sphinxes Avenue in Luxor to open - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

sphinxes 

Two sections of Sphinxes Avenue in Luxor to open - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online: After five years of restoration the first and fifth Sphinxes Avenues, which once connected both Karnak and Luxor temples in ancient times, are to be opened tomorrow night for the first time.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Egypt to end visas on arrival for all foreign tourists as of May 15 | Cairo Post

Egypt to end visas on arrival for all foreign tourists as of May 15Egypt to end visas on arrival for all foreign tourists as of May 15 | Cairo Post: CAIRO: Egypt’s Tourism Promotion Authority office in New York announced Friday Egypt would no longer offer visas upon arrival to any non-Egyptian wishing to travel to Egypt for tourism effective May 15, 2015.

“Individual tourists must obtain visas (from the Egyptian Diplomatic Mission) prior to their arrival to Egypt. No visas will be issued upon arrival to the country,” according to the statement.

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Please ignore previous post saying visa restrictions lifted

I neglected to check the date of the article.

PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL EGYPTIAN EMBASSY FOR CURRENT VISA RULES

Sorry old article

Apologies this was an old news report, ignore this post



Changes to tourism visa regulations suspended: Egyptian ministry of tourism - Politics - Egypt - Ahram Online: Egypt will suspend the decision requiring tourists to get visas in advance, says the ministry of tourism.

The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zazou announced that the Minister of Tourism Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour has agreed with the Council of Ministers to suspend the decision. Zazou added that tourism companies and offices were already notified of the suspension of the decision.

Last Thursday the cabinet had announced that it was going to change the visa regulations and visitors could no longer get their visa upon arrival in Egypt. Previously, tourists from Europe, the US and other select countries could simply purchase a one-month visa at the airport upon arrival, which helped promote tourism in the country.

Monday 16 March 2015

Exclusive update from the Valley of Kings on the undecorated tombs







The Pacific Lutheran University Valley
of the Kings Project directed by Dr. Donald P. Ryan conducted a busy study
season during the month of February (and the team stayed at Flats in
Luxor!)  The work this year consisted mostly of documentation and
conservation work on the several undecorated tombs they have been
investigating.  Among their tasks, the team placed new informative signs
in front of each of the project tombs (a real help to tourists wandering about
the Valley wondering what all these obscure shafts and doors are!), and
installed a sturdy new door over the entrance of controversial tomb KV 60.




The small corridor tomb KV 21 serves as a "base-camp" and laboratory for the project.

Archaeologists Rose Campbell and Mojca Jereb working outside KV 27.

Reis Mohammed Farouk and Denis Whitfill install a new sign outside of KV 44.

A new protective door is installed over the steep entry stairs of KV 60.

Project director Don Ryan with a new sign and door for KV 60



 If you want to know more about the project there is lots on the website Ryan-Egyptian Archeology

Sunday 15 March 2015

Egyptian Economic Development Conference (EEDC).

There are LOTS of reports coming out of this conference which are exciting residents in Luxor.  So not strictly Luxor News but certainly good news for Luxor residents and all of Egypt. 



$45 Billion in Foreign Investments Pledged For Egypt | Egyptian Streets: Egypt’s state media has reported that as of noon on Saturday, $US 45 billion in foreign investments had been pledged for Egypt at the Egyptian Economic Development Conference (EEDC).



Egypt Announces Plans to Build New Capital - ABC News:
Egypt's government announced Friday plans to build a new capital
adjacent to Cairo, in a massive new project that in its first phase
would cost $45 billion and take up to seven years to complete.



BP signs $12 billion energy deal in Egypt | Reuters:
(Reuters) - Oil company BP has signed an agreement to invest $12
billion in Egypt that will produce 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent, a
joint statement from the company and the government said on Saturday.



GE signs $1.7 billion order with Egypt - Times Union:
General Electric Co.'s Schenectady-based Power & Water unit
announced a $1.7 billion deal with Egypt that was secretly signed in
December to provide 43 electric turbines.

Friday 13 March 2015

American archaeologists unearth Egyptian tombs in Luxor | Daily Mail Online

Some great photos in this report.

The tombs were found earlier this month near the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna dig site, situated at the feet of the Theban mountains

American archaeologists unearth Egyptian tombs in Luxor | Daily Mail Online: American archaeologists unearth stunning Egyptian tombs in Luxor featuring intricate and colorful murals unseen for thousands of years

New Visa Rules from mid May - Luxor Forum - TripAdvisor

I  have no idea of the truth of this but for what it is worth I spotted it on Trip Advisor. If planning to come to Egypt I suggest you check with the Egyptian Embassy in your country BEFORE traveling. I know the London Embassy turn these round really quickly, 48 hours has been the experience of my guests. 



New Visa Rules from mid May - Luxor Forum - TripAdvisor: This message is on the Facebook page of: Consulat d'Egypte à Paris

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php…

Nouvelle réglementation en matière de visas

A dater du 15 mai 2015, nous vous prions de noter que toute personne désirant se rendre en Egypte devra obtenir son visa avant le départ.

Cette réglementation s’applique à toutes les nationalités, aucun visa ne pourra être obtenu à l’arrivée en Egypte.

New regulations on visas

A date from the 15 may 2015, please note that any person wishing to Go in egypt will have to get his visa before departure.

This regulation applies to all nationalities, no visas can be obtained at the arrival In egypt.

Sunday 8 March 2015

Al-Tahrir News Network | Al-Azhar releases fatwa forbidding the destruction of artefacts

Al-Tahrir News Network | Al-Azhar releases fatwa forbidding the destruction of artefacts: Egyptian Islamic institute Al-Azhar has released a fatwa on Friday forbidding the destruction of ancient artefacts after Islamic State raids on a Mosul museum and the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud.

EgyptAir to resume Manchester service | World Airline News

EgyptAir to resume Manchester service | World Airline News: EgyptAir (Cairo) will resume the Cairo – Manchester route on July 3 initially with three weekly flights per Airline Route

Friday 6 March 2015

Karnak Excavation Yields 38 Artifacts - HeritageDaily - Heritage & Archaeology News

Osiris statuette and figurine 

Karnak Excavation Yields 38 Artifacts - HeritageDaily - Heritage & Archaeology News: The CNRS/Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities has just completed the excavation of a favissa, a pit discovered in early December 2014 near the temple of the god Ptah.

The dig has unearthed 38 statues, statuettes and precious objects, making this an exceptional find, both for the quantity and quality of the religious artifacts brought to light. Furthermore, a completely new recording method was used during the dig that makes it possible to virtually reconstruct each step of the discovery with millimeter accuracy.

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Ministry of Antiquities Press Office... - Ministry of Antiquities

Ministry of Antiquities Press Office... - Ministry of Antiquities:

Amazing Discovery in Luxor

A new tomb belonging to "Amenhotep " who is also called Rebiu, the door-keeper of god Amun have been discovered by the American Research Center's Mission with an Egyptian team of inspectors working at the area. The tomb most probably dates to the New Kingdom, particularly the 18th Dynasty….. Declared Dr. Eldamaty, the Minister of Antiquities.

The discovery was made during the work in the courtyard of TT110. Further work will determine if they shared the same courtyard or not. The tomb is T shaped and consists of a Transverse Hall 5.10 meters in length and 1.50 meters wide that leads to another chamber that is 2.50 meters long and 2.10 meters wide. There is a small unfinished niche at the eastern end. There is also an entrance in the south that leads to a small side room which is 2 meters by 2 meters. In the middle of this room there is a shaft that may lead to the burial chamber.

Eldamaty added that the tomb contains many stunning scenes with bright colors painted on plaster. Many of scenes represent the tomb owner and his wife in front of an offering table and a view of a goddess nursing a royal child as well as scenes of the daily life.

Furthermore, General Director of Upper Egypt, Sultan Eid commented that the tomb was deliberately damaged in ancient time; the name and titles of the tomb owner, some hieroglyphic texts and scenes in addition to the names of the god Amun were deliberately erased.

Monday 2 March 2015

TT184 Update

TT184





Excavation in TT184 and the south side of el-Khokha hillock. Lots of pics and updates

Sunday 1 March 2015

Warfare and Weapons in Ancient Egypt - FREE MOOC course from Joyce Tydesley



Joyce Tyldesley 


Warfare and Weapons in Ancient Egypt - Canvas Network | Free online courses | MOOCs

Dynastic Egypt united in approximately 3100 B.C. It remained an
independent land for much of its 3,000 year history, before becoming
absorbed into the Roman Empire in 30 B.C.



During this Dynastic Period, Egypt was able to recover from civil war
and foreign rule and use its military might to develop a vast empire
stretching from the Sudan to Syria. This military success shows that
Egypt understood the value of an efficient fighting force. Certainly,
the royal propaganda of the victorious king riding into battle in his
chariot, or smiting the enemy who grovels at his feet, is one of Egypt's
most enduring and instantly-recognisable images. But how accurate is
this image? What do we know about warfare and weapons in ancient Egypt?

This course, led by expert Egyptologist and author, Dr. Joyce
Tyldesley, explores the art, archaeology, and technology of Egyptian
warfare and weapons from the Predynastic Period (Dynasty 0) to the end
of the New Kingdom (Dynasty 20). Drawing on contemporary literature, it
introduces the mighty warrior Tuthmosis III, victor of Megiddo (the
Biblical Armageddon), and the self-proclaimed hero Ramesses II, who
claims to have single-handedly won the Battle of Kadesh.

  • Kings, enemies, soldiers and weapons
  • Warfare in the Old and Middle Kingdoms
  • Warfare in the 18th Dynasty
  • Warfare in the Ramesside Period