Travel guide: Egypt  

Ramses the II was the biggest builder of Egypt. His rock temples of Abu Simbel display this impressively.... He had mighty testimonies of Egpyt built outside of the Egyptian mainland in Nubia. The four colossal figures of the divine ruler rise 20 meters high in front of the Ramses temple. Inside, reliefs of the battle of Kadesch against the Hittites depict the military power of Egypt. The Pharoah sits enthroned next to the mightiest gods of the country, Amun, Re and Ptah in the holiest part of the tempel. The smaller temple of Abu Simbel is dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of love in the shape of Nefertari, the wife of Ramses. Inside, the goddess steps self-confidently in front of the gods and accompanies her husband during the offering procedures. The building of the temple was a masterstroke: they were about to sink in the Nasser Sea because of the construction of the Aswan High Dam. With a spectacular operation, from 1965-68, the holy sites were cut out of the sand stone and rebuilt 64 cemtimeters higher. more

The city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean is the second largest city in Egypt and the favorite city... of most Egyptians. This is a place to come to during the summer to escape the sweltering heat of the heartland and to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. If you go to Alexandria, you will not see much antiquity except for the Ptolemaic-Roman grounds, but you will experience a lively city. Stroll along the corniche from the new library to Fort Qaitbay, which was built from the remains of the old lighthouse. Let your imagination run free while looking at the eastern harbour, where divers had found the ruins of Cleopatra's Palace. The old coffee houses of Alexandria are legendary and an obligatory culinary enjoyment just like the numerous fish restaurants! more

The Nubian City - this is the surname of the most southern city in Egypt. Its nucleus was on Elephantine,... a large granite island amidst the Nile. Already in the early days, the goddess Satet was honored as the bringer of the Nile water. The ancient Egyptians considered the gurgling whirls of the Cataract Mountains as the source of the Nile. A sailing tour around the island offers the best views. The governors of Elephantine, rulers of the border city, had important military duties and also controlled commercial routes to inner Africa. Up to this day, the Aswan bazar shows clear Nubian influences. The history of modern-day Aswan is influenced by the construction of the tremendous High Dam, during which the temple of the goddess Isis was relocated to a higher situated neighboring island. The Nubian Museum is Aswan's newest gem, documenting the Nubian history from early ages to modern times. more

In the surroundings of the Djoser in Saqqara lies a huge burial ground that has been used for many centuries.... Many high officials, priests and officers of the Pharaonic period were buried here. Ti was the custodian of the royal funerary temple and was considered part of the elite of the fifth dynasty (2400 BC). The very fine reliefs of his burial chamber display him on a boating through a papyrus thicket, as well as inspecting estates and workshops. These reliefs are one of the highlights of Egyptian art. Small slits on the southern part of the wall reveal a small chamber, in which statues of Ti are set. As perpetual replacement bodies, they were supposed to host the souls of the masters of the burial grounds. Images of sacrifices are placed in between, which were brought to supply for the deceased on the other side. more

The oldest pyramids of all can be found in the south western part of Cairo. It was in Saqqara where Pharaoh... Djoser ordered his genius architect Imhotep to build him a tomb made of stone. It soars six steps and 66 meters towards the sky. Imaginary palasts, chapels made of stone and a huge yard, in which different ritual acts were performed, belong to this impressive final resting place. The French archeologist was responsible for reconstructing the entrance area. Once a massive wall with numerous niches encircled the entire area. Take your time for a visit to Saqqara and bring along a pair of comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking to be done in the stone desert. The facility is most appealing in the afternoon light. more