A Trip Down The Nile
Egypt is among the most fascinating countries in the world – and one of the oldest.
Did you know that the Great Pyramid at Giza was constructed in 2,500 BC, more than 2,000 years before the founding of ancient Rome? And did you also know that it remained the tallest building in the world for nearly 4,000 years until the construction of Lincoln Cathedral in medieval Britain?
The reason for Egypt’s success in ancient times is partly due to its geography. It looks like a big square in the northeast of Africa, but most of the country is desert. The vast majority of cities and people reside on the banks of the Nile – the longest river in the world. Every year, it floods its banks, depositing fresh silt and soil, and providing much-needed water for farmers to grow their crops. Egypt, therefore, is a thin strip of a country, surrounded by deserts on both sides, with the Nile as the superhighway in the middle, connecting everything together.
Going on a trip down the Nile is a fascinating experience. As you travel by boat, you see thousands of years of history flashing before your eyes. Egypt is so old that the natural erosion of the Nile has changed the location of the civilization over the centuries. The pyramids you see on Egypt tours used to be right by the water, but now they’re several hundred yards from it, as the river changes its course.
Historians divide Egypt into two parts – Upper – which is close to the source of the Nile – and Lower – which is near to the Mediterranean. When you travel to Upper Egypt, you’ll encounter the ancient city of Thebes, the old seat of power for pharaohs like King Tut. As you go downstream, you head towards the port of Alexandria on the Nile delta, the site of the Great Library and Lighthouse.
If you take a trip down the Nile, where should you visit?
Karnak Temple
If you’ve ever watched a history documentary on Ancient Egypt, you’ve probably seen images of Karnak Temple. It is perhaps the most impressive ruin in the whole country, featuring giant, sand-blasted columns that once supported a cedar roof.
Karnak was initially built to honour the sun gon, Amun-Re and is believed to be the biggest religious monument ever constructed by any civilization. The building’s internal space is enormous and was designed to impress from the outset.
Luxor Temple
Luxor temple is another columned masterpiece, dedicated to the worship of the Amun-Re and a bunch of other gods, like Khonsu, Horus and Muts. At the entrance to the temple are two giant statues of Ramses II – the Pharaoh who commissioned its building.
Valley Of The Kings
The Valley of the Kings is a unique location where dozens of Egyptian pharaohs were put to rest and prepared for the afterlife. It is here that archaeologists first uncovered the tomb of King Tutankamen who you learned about in primary school. It is well worth a visit.
