08May

What You Don’t Know About Egypt

Since the rise of civilization and even before the dawn of time, Egypt has always been a source of enchantment and wonder. For more than five thousand years, Egypt has set the standard on how to achieve greatness & immortality and was the source of infinite knowledge that leads the entire world into the age of enlightenment.

The wonders of Egypt are without an end filled with the greatest achievements ever created in the history of mankind worthy of exploring. In our current age, most of the information and history regarding Egypt is very well known to people in our current age but there is still an infinite number of details that most people may not know about Egypt.

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Egypt Has Two Seas and The Nile

Egypt Nile River - Safaga Shore Excursions

The location of Egypt is very unique as it is surrounded by to legendry red sea in the east with Palestine and the Gulf of Aqaba that separates Egypt from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The tale of the Red Sea and mosses are immortals dating back thousands of years and now acts as the source of natural tropical beauty and amazing aquatic adventure. To the North is the Mediterranean Sea which separates Egypt from Europe but it didn’t stop Alexander The great from crossing the while sea and constructing the city of Alexandria in 331 BC which was the gate for the spread of the future Greco-Roman influence in ancient Egypt.

Egypt has been known since ancient times as the gift of the Nile which was responsible for the rise of the ancient Egyptian civilization and had a great influence over their material and spiritual lives. It is the longest river in the world, that stretches for 6853 km in the northeast of Africa, and acts as the only water supply and waterway that links the countries of the Nile Basin and covers 11 African countries.

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The Wonders of Egypt

Egypt Wonders - Safaga Shore Excursions

The wonders of Egypt are infinitely created of the true beauty of magic that showcases the ancient history of Egypt with great detail that spans the ancient Egyptian, Greco-roman, Coptic and Islamic heritages. All around Egypt is a collection of the greatest monuments and attractions dating back to the days of the old kingdom (2686-2181 BC) such as the great Giza Pyramids Complex that holds the great Pyramid of Khufu the last intact one out of the seven wonders of the world and the Great Sphinx the oldest man-made statue in human history.

In the majestic cities of Luxor and Aswan lies the great collection of ancient monuments in the shape of great temples and artifacts on the planet such as the marvelous Valley of the kings home of the great tombs of the greatest rulers to eve take the throne of Egypt such as Tutankhamun, Ramsess Dynasty, Tuthmosis and many more, the marvelous Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is the ideal vision of ancient Egyptian architecture, the great Karnak temple complex one of the oldest and biggest open-air museum in the world, the captivating Luxor temple and many more in Luxor.

Aswan in the city of class, glory, and the home of the one of a kind colossal unfinished obelisk of Hatshepsut, the legendary Philae temple of Isis, the unique double temple of Kom Ombo, the modern high dam of Aswan, the great two temple of Ramsess the great Abu Simbel and many more.

In Cairo is a unique collection of everything from incredible pharaonic artifacts at the Grand Egyptian Museum to beautiful Islamic art and architecture at old Cairo in the Khan EL Khalili Bazaar, Muizz streets, and a number of mosques like the Al Azhar Mosque, Sultan Hassan, Ibn Tulan and many more all below the great Cairo Citadel of Salah El din home of a number of mosques, museums, art galleries, and the beautiful Mohammed Ali Mosque.

The gem of the Mediterranean Alexandria is a unique destination filled with marvelous Greco-roman attractions such as the Pompeii pillar, the roman burial catacombs plus the extraordinary Islamic Citadel of Qaitbey and there is also the legendry Great library of Alexandria.

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Geopolitical Importance of Egypt

Geopolitical Importance of Egypt - Safaga Shore Excursions

The geopolitical importance of Egypt is highly significant and ancient which would explain why it has always been referred to as the cradle of civilization and the subject of occupation and colonization in the shape of an external force ‘a province’ most of its entire history due to its importance. The unique geographic nature of Egypt makes Egypt a true crossroads between the two continents and many geopolitical regions.

Egypt is shared between the Mediterranean and Africa, materialized especially by the Nile Basin, is locked between emerging and traditional poles without finding a positioning base, and is caught between the fragmented Middle East and Arab-Muslim West which is also fragmented. The borders of Egypt have always played a key role in shaping the history of the middle east and the north of Africa.

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Climate of Egypt

Egypt Climate - Safaga Shore Excursions

The climate of Egypt is usually hot, dry, and sunny most of the year especially during the summer may to August as the temperature could reach 40 C (104 F) but in the winter months from September to April, the weather is very wonderful, relaxing with low temperatures 9.5 °C (49.1 °F). The winter months are known to be the best time to visit Egypt as the climate becomes quite easy-going and enjoyable.

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Famous Kings & Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Egypt Pharaohs & Kings - Safaga Shore Excursions

Across the span of more than 3000 years from 3400 BC till 335 BC ancient Egypt became under the rule of incredible individuals who wish to build an immortal legacy that would last till the end of time. One of these rulers was Ramsess the great (1292 – 1186 BC) the longest ruling pharaoh of ancient Egypt who created an immortal heritage filled with great triumphs such as the legendry battle of Kadesh which ended with the first documented peace treaty in history and colossal constructions across his 67 years of reign.

Some of his constructions are the marvelous Abu Simbel Temples and a number of other constructions across the Karnak temples complex and many more. there has not been more successful in the history of ancient Egypt than the queen who would be king “Hatshepsut” who came in power in 1478 BC and during her 20 years of reign, she was able to achieve a great deal of successful military campaigns and trade dealings with far nations in Syria and Nubia but she is more recognizable for her beautiful construction especially the beautiful Hatshepsut temple the most preserved temple in all of Egypt and the truest example of ancient Egyptian architecture.

One of the most famous names in ancient Egypt is King Tutankamun who is sadly remembered for his death more than his life. He came to the throne at the age of 10 and died at 18 years but besides undoing all his father’s Akhenaten work, he is most famous for his totally preserved tomb and treasures. Cleopatra was a queen that changed the face of history, she was the last ruler from the Ptolemaic and Macedonian dynasties. Her story of being the lover of Ceaser is quite known and her tragic suicide following the demise of her beloved Antony is a tale of ages

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Religions In Egypt

Religions In Egypt - Safaga Shore Excursions

The entire religious landscape of Egypt is diverse and religion itself plays a key role in all the aspects of social life. Islam is the official religion of Egypt as 90% of the entire population is Sunni Muslim while 10% is Coptic. Both Muslims and Christians share the same language, heritage, history, race, identity, culture, and Ethnicity. Religion has always been the main force in shaping the mentality of Egyptians since ancient times.

The ancient Egyptians created a religious system that focused a combination of beliefs, rituals, and practices that were based on magic, science,4 and divine deities within a complex society constructed on the principle of polytheism and connected their focus on the interactions between the mortal world and the divine realm, this was the reason behind the creation most of the famous constructions such as the Karnak temple complex, the Giza pyramids complex, Valley of the Kings and more in the purpose of winning the bliss and grace of the gods. many great beautiful mosques and churches were built and beautifully designed across Egypt to honor their belief and way of life and win their ticket to the heavens.

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Famous Festivals and Customs

Festivals and Customs - Safaga Shore Excursions

There are many customs holidays and festivals in Egypt varying from Islamic to Coptic to notional to social aside from the traditional weekend each Friday and Saturday or Sunday. Hospitality is the main custom of the land and each festival is followed by a certain custom. Some of the Islamic festivals are First of Moharam Which celebrates a new Islamic year according to the Islamic calendar.

RabeaAwaal 12th a.k.a “Moulid al Nabawy“Is a major Islamic festival that marks the birthday of the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).
Ragab 27th & 15 of Shaban a.k.a “Laylat Al Esraa W Al Meerag” which is the day that Prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven.
The Holy Month Ramadan in Egypt where Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual activity between sunrise and sunset every day. The end of the month is commemorated with a three-day festival called ‘Eidul-Fitr’ where everyone exchange gifts and sweets
Eid Al Fitr is the first day after Ramadan called Shawalit’s 10th month of Islamic Calendar ( from 1st to 3rd of Shawal ) that begins a three- or four-day holiday in Egypt called Eid al-Fitr.
Zo Al Hija 9th a.k.Arafat Day is the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar where people are doing their Holly Visit to Mecca for Al Hag.
Al AdhaEid From 10th to 13th which honors the willingness and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, as an act of obedience to Allah’s (God) command
January 7 the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Coptic Calendar and most Egyptians regardless of religion join in the festivities. The Egyptians also celebrated Christmas according to the gorgonian calendar.
January 25th Celebrates the day of the beginning of the Egyptian revolution against “President Mubarak”.
July 23 is celebrating the Egyptian revolution of 1952 against King Farouk and it was the main reason for the ending of the kingdom of Egypt.
25th of April is the Sinai Liberation Day that marks the final withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Sinai Peninsula during the rule of President “Mohamed Anwar Sadat” in 1982, a holiday in Egypt.
1st of May (Labour Day) which is not a public holiday
October 6th celebrates the military victory in the October War, which leads to the liberation of Sinai from the occupation.
Mother’s Day on March 21 which is not a public holiday
The Aub Simbel Sun Festival on the 22 of February and October

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The Great Politicians, Scientists, and Athletes of Egypt

Famous Egyptian Individuals - Safaga Shore Excursions

History is still being written by Egyptian hands till this day as many great Egyptian individuals were able to make great achievements such as Ahmed Zewail an Egyptian chemist who won the 1999 Nobel prize in chemistry for his work on femtochemistry, Farouk El-Baz who is an Egyptian American space scientist and geologist, who worked with NASA in the scientific exploration of the Moon landings and the planning of the Apollo program, Naguib Mahfouz an Egyptian writer who is considered one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature who would explore the themes of existentialism, Muhammad Anwar Sadat who Mohamed ElBaradei who is an Egyptian law scholar and diplomat who won a Nobel peace prize, Omar Sharif one of the most famous international actors in the world who worked on Egyptian, British and American productions who is the winner of a golden globe, a Ceaser award and more. There is also Mo salah who plays in Liverpool in the English league.

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Suez Canal

Suez Canal - Safaga Shore Excursions

In Egypt lies a magical gate in the shape of an artificial sea-level waterway that connects the red sea with the Mediterranean Sea called the Suez Canal. It was constructed between 1859 and 1869 AD to offer a more direct route between the Indian Ocean and the North Atlantic thus avoiding the South Atlantic and southern Indian oceans and reducing the journey distance between any two distances by a great margin.

The Suez Canal extends from the northern terminus of Port Said to the southern terminus in the city of Suez. Its length is 193.30 km (120.11 mi) including the northern and southern access channels. In 2012, about 17,225 vessels crossed the canal with an average of 47 ships per day.

The canal has played an important military strategic role as a naval short-cut and choke-point throughout the recent century. Navies with the coastlines and bases on both the Mediterranean and Red Seas in both Egypt and occupied Palestine “Israel” have had a particular interest in the Suez Canal for a long time due to its effect and influence on the geopolitical spectrum.

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Inventions In Ancient Egypt

Inventions In Ancient Egypt - Safaga Shore Excursions

The ancient Egyptians were the source of a great number of discoveries and inventions in many fields of science in order to make life easier. They made many amazing contributions towards language, numeracy, architecture, medicine, and science to the point where the ancient Greeks regarded Egypt as the land of mystery and wisdom.

The ancient Egyptians discovered mathematics and were very efficient in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and were the first ones to discover basic and complex fractions as traces were found on papyrus written in 1650 B.C.E. and the use of the decimal system in 3100 B.C.E. they were very skilled in using their advance architecture and their knowledge in triangle, square, quadrangle and other shapes.

Invent cement and custom-made bricks of the same size, use copper plumbing in 3000 B.C.E, precise surveying in 2700 B.C.E to create their marvelous structures, and construct the Astronomical calendar in 2400 B.C.E that we still use until today.

The ancient Egyptian doctors were very skilled and famous across the entire Mediterranean in 3000 BC where they extracted opium from plants and used it as a pain killer, they were able to stitch up wounds, repair broken bones or amputate limbs very successfully. They were the first to create and use a toothbrush and toothpaste for their dental hygiene and advised to consume foods like onions and garlic on a daily basis because of their health benefits.

The ancient Egyptian doctors used herbs to treat many wounds and performed very complex surgeries using several bronze surgical tools as the world’s earliest known mention of surgery was mentioned in 2700 B.C.E. the ancient Egyptians discovered some of the first rules in aerodynamics to construct their ships.

One of the inventions that the ancient Egyptians were famously known for is their agriculture which utilized the oldest irrigation systems in existence. The Egyptians were able to create glass in 1500 B.C.E and were skilled in metallurgy as they used bronze in 3300 B.C.E by fusing copper and tin which was made in the shape of weapons and tools. In 3100 BC, the ancient Egyptians blessed the world with Senet the world first recognized board game.

Safaga Shore Excursions travel agency is an entrance to a new world where every moment will spend will be totally filled with beauty, wonder, and excitement. We provide shore trips from Safaga port across the charming cities of Cairo and Luxor where the legendary history and rich culture of Egypt’s cities can be explored in the most memorable manner. So be one of the few lucky who explores the wonders of Egypt, book us now