The main sights of Egypt

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The amazing country of the pharaohs today captivates the hearts of tourists in the same way as travelers hundreds and even thousands of years ago. And now, when scientists have almost thoroughly studied the Egyptian monuments of architecture, tourists are still in a hurry to see everything with their own eyes. Everyone who has visited Egypt has the impression of a secret hidden here, something sacred and unimaginably ancient, guessed behind the walls of cities and in the strict outlines of the towering pyramids. Thanks to the efforts of ancient architects, many local buildings have survived surprisingly well, which allows you to more fully plunge into the atmosphere of the past and imagine the life of the people who once lived here. The temple complexes look especially impressive - this priceless historical heritage deserves special attention.

The sights of Egypt are numerous and varied. Among them are quite modern, but no less interesting places, such as the Naama Bay resort area or the giant nature reserve Ras-Mohammed, where you can see all the rich diversity of the local underwater fauna. But the main attractions of Egypt are, first of all, its unique pyramids, of which a great many have been preserved here. The historical component is the main factor, because of which most tourists are so eager to set foot on the land of the pharaohs. Excursions in Egypt almost never do without visiting at least one of the pyramid complexes. This is understandable, because otherwise the impressions received from the trip will be incomplete.

Sights of Ancient Egypt

Mountain of the Law (Mount Sinai). Religious treatises say that it was here, on the top of this mountain, that the prophet Moses received from the Lord the tablets with the ten main commandments. Its height reaches 2285 meters. There are two paths to reach the summit, one of which is short but difficult to overcome, and the other is long, but much less steep. Both paths join at the top.

Here stands the chapel of St. Catherine, and behind it opens the path to the stairs leading to the very top. The latter was carved by the monks right into the rock and has exactly 3400 steps. Conscientious pilgrims prefer to overcome it on foot, although it is allowed to climb up and on a camel. The journey begins every night, when travelers from all over the world climb up to meet the dawn at the very top.

Great Sphinx. Speaking about therecognizable sights of Egypt, it is he who first comes to mind. This unique architectural monument looks like a lion with a human head. Like many buildings of its era, the Sphinx is carved from a single rock. At present, it is almost impossible to see the features of his face, but it is believed that they bore a resemblance to Cheops' brother, Pharaoh Khafre. The grandiose statue belongs to the Giza Pyramid Ensemble, which also includes the three tallest pyramids in Egypt (Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure).

Cairo Museum. Most of all ancient finds ever discovered are stored here. This repository of rarities has no analogues in the world, because even the "youngest" exhibits on display are over two thousand years old.

Temples of Abu Simbel. Built on the orders of Pharaoh Ramses II, this temple complex includes a large temple, four majestic statues about 20 meters high, and many smaller statues. The four depicts the pharaoh himself, and the smaller figures represent his entourage and children. The temple was built in honor of the great victory of the Egyptians over their enemies the Hittites.

Luxor. This name hides a whole city, located on the right bank of the Nile River. It was here that in ancient times there was the capital of Ancient Egypt, best known under the name of Thebes or, as the Egyptians themselves called it, Waset. Luxor is the world center of archeology; numerous samples of ancient architecture are concentrated on its territory, divided into the "City of the Living" (houses of loc altownspeople) and the "City of the Dead" (necropolis, temples and the residence of the kings).

Of course, the sights of Egypt named in this article are only fragments in the bright mosaic of this mysterious country. It would be unfair not to mention also the Roman Antique Theater and Kai Bay Fort, the Colored Canyon, the Montazah Royal Palace in the former Alexandria, and the Scarab Beetle Statue in the Karnak complex.