Monday 29 June 2015

Egypt's Karnak temple theft claims 'unfounded': Officials - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

Egypt's Karnak temple theft claims 'unfounded': Officials - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online: Sultan Eid, head of Luxor Antiquities, has denied media reports that artefacts have been stolen from Karnak temple galleries.

He told Ahram Online that all the artefacts are safe and sound.

The car which was parked at the western gate of Karnak temple, he continued, belonged to the archaeological mission of the American Research Centre in Cairo which is working in Khonsu temple and tomb number 110 at Assassif on Luxor's west bank.

The car, Sultan asserted, was not filled with artefacts, as claimed, but with samples of rubble, sand and cement that were transported to the restoration laboratory inside Karnak temple for study.

If these samples prove a success, Sultan explained, they would be used in the restoration of tomb number 110 at Assassif.

The car transported these samples a month ago, not a week ago as reported, and it was done after taking all security and safety measures and under the supervision of the Tourism and Antiquities Police.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Egypt sees sandstorm and earthquake on the same day

Apparently my 4th floor guest felt it and yet I (2nd floor) didn't nor did my ground floor guest. :)

Egypt sees sandstorm and earthquake on the same day: Egypt faced treacherous weather conditions Saturday as a sandstorm blanketed the north of the country and a magnitude-5.2 earthquake centered in the Sinai peninsula shook buildings more than 200 miles away in the capital, Cairo.

The epicenter of the quake was 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of the beachside town of Nuweiba in the Sinai, and about 75 kilometers (46 miles) south of Egypt's border with Israel, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Wednesday 24 June 2015

Festival to be held in Karnak Temple Thursday

State Information Services Festival to be held in Karnak Temple Thursday: A massive festival will be held in Karnak Temple in Luxor on Thursday 23/6/2015 to convey a reassuring message after a failed terrorist attack a week ago, undersecretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry in the city said.

Medhat El-Sayyed said that Red Sea Governor Ahmed Abdullah agreed with Luxor Governor Mohamed Badr to invite 250 tourists from different nationalities in Hurghada to a one-day trip to Luxor.

The Red Sea governor will lead the tourists in their trip to Luxor, he added.

Wednesday 17 June 2015

The Valley of the Kings Opening at Night — NILE Magazine

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The Valley of the Kings Opening at Night — NILE Magazine: In a terrific move, no doubt designed to entice visitors back to Egypt, the Valley of the Kings will be opening at night - until 11 pm.

The late closing time begins on Saturday July 25.

Friday 12 June 2015

Ancient Egypt: A history in six objects - University of Manchester | Coursera

There is now a start date for this FREE course which can be taken by anyone all over the world.



Ancient Egypt: A history in six objects - University of Manchester | Coursera: This course provides an introduction to ancient Egyptian history, using six items from the collections of The Manchester Museum. These items have been carefully chosen to reflect the development of the dynastic age through their origin, manufacture, decoration, and use. Week by week we will examine a different artefact and place it in its social and historical context. This will allow us to journey from Predynastic Egypt and its first king, Narmer, to Greco-Roman Egypt and its final queen, Cleopatra.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Luxor bomb: Should tourists still visit Egypt? - Telegraph



Luxor bomb: Should tourists still visit Egypt? - Telegraph: “After a bomb is always the best time to visit Egypt. Atrocities mean less tourists, tighter security, and lower chance of a follow-up.”

It’s a cynical remark, but perhaps it reflects something about the British attitude to travel and danger. Today’s suicide bomb at the Karnak site near Luxor will no doubt put off some people – but they would probably not have gone anyway.

Update on Karnak Temple #luxor #egypt #karnak

To confirm there was no damage to the monuments and Karnak temple is unharmed. The only people killed were the attackers.

Police foil attack at Karnak


Reports are still very hazy and unclear but it appears the brave Egyptian police stopped an attack at Karnak temple today, shooting dead two attackers and the third blew himself up. Everyone I know and all my guests are safe and well

Tuesday 9 June 2015

Egypt's winemakers seek to revive ancient art - Yahoo News

Egypt's winemakers seek to revive ancient art - Yahoo News: Kouroum of the Nile, an organic winery based in the Red Sea resort of el-Gouna, has planted 120 acres of Bannati grapes, an indigenous variety used for its premium Beausoleil white wine, in central Egypt. The vineyard is an hour's drive north of Beni Hassan, the site of well-preserved 3,600-year-old pharaonic tombs.

Sunday 7 June 2015

Aswan Discoveries

Generous discovery in Aswan!

Egypt's Antiquities Minister, Dr. Mamdouh Eldamaty declared the discovery of SIX Late Period tombs (26th Dynasty) at the Aga Khan Mausoleum perimeter, west of Aswan. This magnificent discovery came within the framework of the excavation works performed by the Egyptian Mission in Aswan and Nubia.
Eldamaty clarified that a group of stone and wooden sarcophagi containing the mummies of their owners as well as fiance statues representing the four sons of Horus, a group of amulets and small wooden statues of Horus the Falcon were also discovered.
Eldamaty further added that this discovery is extremely important because it is the first Late Period discovery at the Ancient Cemetery in Aswan. The previously discovered tombs at this area date back to the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms.
On the other hand, General Director of Aswan and Nubia Archaeological Area, Nasr Salama said that most of the discovered tombs begin with a 30 steps stair leading to the tomb's main entrance. Each tomb is divided inside into three or four rooms with no inscriptions. Salama also pointed out that the technique used in digging the newly discovered tombs is completely different from the tombs of the same area.
Head of the Egyptian Mission working at the area, Mostafa Khalil finally added that this discovery will help in recognizing the architectural style of that period pointing out that the area was subjected to illegal digging lately and some burials were unearthed by thieves at the area.
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In PDF:

Six photos belonging with the press release:

Cairo to Luxor cruises return after two decades - Telegraph

Cairo to Luxor cruises return after two decades - Telegraph 



Wonderful article on the cruise, only one point I would take him up on. You can do all that by road! You see even more and there are some great hotels. I have done the trip and sent guests on it.

Cairo to Luxor cruises return after two decades

Egypt Ranked the World’s Second Cheapest Country for Tourists | Egyptian Streets

Time to see the wonderful sites in Luxor.



Egypt Ranked the World’s Second Cheapest Country for Tourists | Egyptian Streets: Egypt has officially been ranked the world’s second cheapest country for international tourists in this year’s “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report” (TTCR) issued annually by the World Economic Forum.

Wednesday 3 June 2015

Ancient Egypt: A history in six objects - University of Manchester | Coursera

Another free online course from Manchester Uni.  

Ancient Egypt: A history in six objects - University of Manchester | Coursera: This course provides an introduction to ancient Egyptian history, using six items from the collections of The Manchester Museum. These items have been carefully chosen to reflect the development of the dynastic age through their origin, manufacture, decoration, and use. Week by week we will examine a different artefact and place it in its social and historical context. This will allow us to journey from Predynastic Egypt and its first king, Narmer, to Greco-Roman Egypt and its final queen, Cleopatra.

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Model caleche for sale







You may have seen these advertised on Facebook so apologies if this a duplicate. Mr Hag Bedwey is 63 years old, married with 5 children. He used to be a caleche driver but due to the lack of tourists he sold his horse and he now makes models, it is all he can do. He is a Luxor resident, lived here all his life.

The big carriage is 2500LE and the smaller one 800LE.  It took him 3 months to make the big one (30cm by 70cm by 35cm). He can also make to order... however, please remember that as each is hand made they are all different. Please phone  0952280981 / 01091361544 if you are interested. Or contact https://www.facebook.com/mia.tripodi.5 via Facebook as he lives on her street and she is trying to help him.