Trip to Egypt - Day 3 - 25/12/2006

Christmas day! Which started with us visiting the Cairo museum.

Immediately through the gate is a courtyard leading to the actual museum itself. Within this courtyard is a pond with Papyrus in its centre surrounded by Water Lilies - the two symbols of Upper and Lower ancient Egypt with the two brought together symbolising the unification of these two parts of Egypt. (For those not in the know the Upper part of Egypt was actually in the south of Egypt - called Upper because it is from where the Nile flowed).

Inside the museum (where we were not allowed to take pictures) was a vast collection of items showing how well advanced this ancient civilisation was.

We were immediately shown a picture of the Rosetta stone - the original being situated in London in the British Museum - which had writings in three languages: hieroglyphics (used in important or religious documents), demotic (common script of Egypt) and Greek (used by the Egyptian rulers at the time). The hieroglyphs on it were deciphered Jean-Francois Champollion in 1822 after several hundred years of others making an effort at it.

Further on we were shown statues with amazing detail some from rocks so dense and difficult to carve yet the finished product looking effortlessly created.

We were of course shown real life, thankfully not live, proper mummies. First we looked at mummified animals - crocodiles, birds, horses almost any animal was prepared for the underworld using this process.

This was an impressive sight but that of the royal mummies was something very special. The embalming process was frightfully good. One queen (the wife of Rmases XI) was made incredibly lifelike with a pair of glass eyeballs. Scary and I can still imagine her looking back at me.

During the embalming process all the organs were removed except the heart which was needed for the judgement in the Osiris' room in the afterworld. Here the heart would be weighed against a feather along with the deceased being questioned by a grand jury of 42 (has the deceased lied, stolen, killed etc.). Failure would be met by the heart being eaten and spending eternity in a place like hell.

We were shown artefacts used at the time:

• sewing needles
• combs
• instruments
• spears
• farming equipment
• jewellery
  
• dolls
• even boomerangs! (how dare they this is an Australian invention damn it!)
  

There was this and more which was just unbelievable. I was awestruck to imagine that over 3,000 years ago this is how some people managed to live. It was like someone was playing a joke on me! It was definitely real.

That is pretty much all we got to see in the museum... nothing else really just more ancient stuff here and there...

OK we did see one big major thing. The treasures of King Tutankhamen. An amazing display of wealth. Two sarcophagi incredibly decorated with symbols of protection and other decorations. There was a lot of gold in this well guarded exhibition room - head dresses, necklaces and jewellery Such magnificence and splendour for this relatively minor king who left little impression in Egypt's history.

Unlike other kings who left a bigger footprint in Egypt's history, King Tutankhamen's tomb was left untouched. Its treasures were well protected when sand from construction of another tomb (in the Valley of the Kings) truly buried king Tut's tomb.

We then visited an the Alabaster Mosque - the mosque of Muhammed Ali. Outside we enjoyed a quiet walk along walkways made of limestone greeted by kids we passed along the way.

Just outside the temple entrance was a carousel like structure with intricate designs and paintings with water taps.

Before entering the mosque we were made to take off our shoes.

Inside was a large room with a high dome ceiling, full of lighting including a large chandelier. The roof included had meticulous gold coloured designs which included praises to Allah. Atop a large flight of narrow stairs was the "alter" (the pulpit).

While in the temple Maged discussed religions and politics. Of course the war in Iraq was mentioned with Maged making an interesting point that fighting amongst the various tribes has been going on for centuries. It is a way of life for them - having a kid with an RBG is a way of life for them (which was around before the war in Iraq). This is what the Americans are up against.

In Egypt around 17% of people are Christian (who own 50% of its wealth). I mention this because we next visited the hanging church. Named as such because it is situated 15 metres above ground. Previously its lower levels used to be flooded by water until some work to stop this was performed.

The church was built in Basilica style and seeing as I have been over-churched in Europe that is all I shall say (but you cannot say I didn't go to church on Christmas).

After visiting several other churches we headed off to some markets. A lot of activity packed into narrow lanes. Small shops selling glass constructs, miniature pyramids and sphinxes, representations of gods and of course fake papyrus.

Just outside the markets were unlicensed people selling furs and stuffed animals (some of whom were chased away by the police).

We finally headed to our hotel for some rest before a 14 train hour journey to Aswan.