Karnak is an ancient Egyptian temple precinct located on the east bank of the Nile River in Thebes (modern-day Luxor). It covers more than 100 hectares, an area larger than some ancient cities.
Egypt’s history spans some five millenniums, and encompasses the origin of civilization, the rise of the Greeks and Romans, the establishment of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religions, the colonial era when first France and then the English ruled the country, and finally, a return to independence. Egypt has played an important role through all of these eras, and today one can find monuments that evidence Egypt’s role in most of the world’s historic events.
“Cleopatra and Caesar” by Jean Leon Gerome
In Egypt, we find the earliest detailed records of warfare recorded thousands of years ago, but we also find the cemeteries and monuments of the world’s last global war, World War II. In Egypt, we find some of the first written words of civilization, but we also find great thinkers and writers throughout the Greek period, into the Christian era, the archaic Islamic period and even modern Nobel Literates. We find ancient pyramids and giant columns supporting massive temples; now we can find these architectural elements spread throughout the world. Along with the first monumental buildings made of stone, we find the first paved roads, the first wines and beer and even the first peace treaties between organized governments. We also find the world’s first scientists, doctors, architects and mathematicians.
Art of belly dancing
Egypt is our window to humanity’s distant past and in understanding its history, we find both mankind’s greatest glories and achievements, as well as his often-repeated mistakes. We can follow along with the building of empires, only to see them collapse again and again. We find great men and rulers renowned, but we often also see their ultimate demise. And here, we learn about religion, its evolution and, as the world grows older, its replacement with newer religions.
Please, take the time to understand ancient Egyptian history for you will find, within this knowledge, a better understanding of this modern world in which we live.
This article is Gail Ingis’s writing from her text book and lectures: History of Architecture & Interior Design. (unpublished).
Have you been to Egypt? Any favorite sites? Did you ride a camel . . . in Egypt? Can you belly dance?
Thanks for the post Gail (and the bonus horse info, Rhonda)! I would love to visit Egypt, but at the turn of the last century. I can totally picture myself in an Amelia Peabody mystery 🙂
Chuckle. Do it, with sunshine and flowers. Why not a mystery with all that light and color? Thanks Jesse.
Egypt has contributed to a lot of cultural development and artistic movements. Where would Art Deco be without Egyptian influences? Plus, where was the Library of Alexandria? Not Syria. Egypt! TaDa! 🙂
Also, in my equestrian obsession, Egyptian Arabian horses are of the purest blood. Their pedigrees stretch all the way back to the desert. To qualify as an Eqyptian Arabian, even though a horse may have been born in Fresno, that foal’s parents have pedigrees that can be tracked as pure all the way back to the desert. Although some Arabian horse aficionados may disagree, Egyptian Arabians seem to all have a visual type. They have the so-called “dish,” aka concave, faces, huge eyes and dainty noses. Imagine Bambi as a horse. Then, the odds are good that you’re thinking of an Egyptian Arabian.
Wow Rhonda. thanks, and that information about the Arabian horses is fascinating. Although I only rode briefly in my teens, for some strange reason, I love horses. I can’t imagine Bambi as a horse??? But you gave me an excellent image.
Egypt is one of those places that I hope to visit someday. Hopefully, the unrest in the region will eventually die down and resolve so that travel is less scary. I was in Turkey and Tunisia last year, but never made it to Egypt. After growing up and living in the US, the culture, history, and antiquity of the Middle East and North Africa is astounding. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Gail!
Thanks Paula. The unrest in Egypt is sad, but the world fights for freedom, as does Egypt. Egypt has amazing works of art, architecture, and design that gave us roots to build our civilization. We continue to explore and dig.
Thanks Katy, for the comments and encouragement.
Are you an archeologist, or b/c you are a home schooler, you research material, then you become what you have researched?
Are you anyone like ‘bones?’
I love teaching my children about Egypt. I also taught an archeology course to their homeschool coop which focused a lot on Egypt and early civilizations.
Great stuff!
And great excerpt from your work!