On the West Bank of the Nile, not far from contemporary Sohag, is the most sacred city in all of Egypt. In ancient Egypt, the site to be buried was Abydos (also known as Ibdju), which served as the primary ritual center for Osiris, the god of the dead. The Egyptians recognised the burial site of Osiris as the tomb of King Djer, the third pharaoh of the first dynasty (c. 3000 BC). One of Egypt's most exquisite temples, which Seti I constructed during the New Kingdom, is still regarded as a national treasure.
From pre-dynastic to Christian eras (about 4000 BC - AD 600), Abydos was continuously utilised as a necropolis for more than 4500 years. The site hasn't been excavated in many areas.
The story states that Osiris's corpse was divided into parts and dispersed throughout Egypt, and that his head or according to other accounts, his phallus was buried in Abydos.
The Pre-dynastic and Early Dynastic kings of Egypt's tombs are the oldest structures in Abydos. The earliest pharaohs were buried in Abydos and hailed from a neighboring settlement. The temple of Osiris-Khentimentiu, dedicated to an ancient jackal god linked with Osiris-Khentimentiu meaning first among the westerners (the west being designated for the dead), and emphasises Osiris's function as the first among the living. These are the earliest ruins still standing today.
Early dynasty royal tombs as well as a number of wooden boats have been found during excavations. Djer, a mud-brick tomb of the First Dynasty ruler, was formerly believed to be Osiris's grave. This could have helped the religion of Osiris become more well-known. The OSIREION chapel, which was built out of massive granite blocks and is said to be Osiris's fictitious tomb or cenotaph, is the most spectacular monument to him in Abydos. People visited Abydos on pilgrimages throughout the Middle Kingdom (2055 - 1650 B.C), and many of them left steles offering tablets for Osiris inscribed with their names and prayers.
The mortuary temple of Seti I was constructed mostly of limestone, with sporadic usage of sandstone in various locations throughout the edifice, and has a distinctive L-shaped ground plan. After Seti I passed away, his son Ramesses II finished the temple. Ramesses II's cartouches may be seen in several areas of the temple, along with his distinctive sunk relief style, which contrasts with his father's extremely beautiful raised relief.
The temple's northeast entrance is through a huge pylon that has since been demolished, and it leads onto the first open court, which has likewise suffered significant damage. The second court is accessible by three entrances at the back of the pillared hall from a raised terrace reached through a staircase ramp on the temple's principal axis. Ramesses II adorned the courtyards with representations of the Battle of Kadesh and the King making a gift to the Gods. To reach the elevated terrace with the covered portion of the temple, use another stairway ramp. Seven gates, all except the central one of which were shut by Ramesses II, constitute the front and entrance to the first hypostyle hall. The portico is supported by pillars. Twelve pairs of sandstone papyrus columns with blossom capitals decorate the hall. The second hypostyle hall, which has 36 columns similar to those in the first hypostyle hall, is accessible by another seven gates. Seti I is seen bending down before the gods in the elegantly furnished hall.
Seven chapels honouring the gods Seti I (in his deified form), Ptah, Re-Hor-Akhty, Amun-Re, Osiris, Isis, and Horus may be found in the second hypostyle hall. These shrines were probably among the first parts of the temple to be adorned, and based on their stage of completion, they were probably finished before Seti I passed away. These chapels are adorned with representations of the king making a sacrifice to the gods and receiving from them symbols of dominance and life as well as regal insignia. The ceremonies that priests would have carried out behind the chapels' walls to change the monarch into the deity of death and resurrection, Osiris, would have complimented these displays.
The Osiris chapel opens up onto a transverse Osiris-cult complex with two halls and two sets of chapels. The gods Osiris, Isis, and their son Horus are honoured in the three little chapels to their right of the entrance hall. In the religion of the ancient Egyptians, the monarch who was alive symbolised Horus on earth, and after his death, he changed into Osiris, king of the underworld. The mysteries of Osiris were performed in the hidden room with two pillars behind these three chapels, which could only be entered by the top priests.
Other chapels can be seen in the southern portion of the temple, including those dedicated to the gods Ptah-Sokar and Nefertem, as well as the unfinished "Hall of the Butchers" and "Hall of the Barques" (where the barks that carried the gods' statues during rituals were maintained) (the temple slaughterhouse). There is also a part here known as the "Gallery of the Ancestors," which houses the well-known Abydos King List. It is assumed that this is where the rites of the temple would have begun. The little chapel of Osiris was then reached after a procession of priests had passed through the other six chapels. By the rites, Seti I, the deceased monarch, was changed into the deity Osiris, with whom the dead Egyptian rulers were associated.
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Egypt has many historical sites that you can visit and enjoy. Each tour is different and unique. If you go on a Nile cruise, you can visit Abu Simbel, Aswan, and Luxor in the South and enjoy the temples, tombs, and the treasures of the Nile. In the North, enjoy the Pyramids of Giza, The Egyptian Museum, Sakkara. Mosques, churches in Cairo, and many landmarks located in the city of Alexandria. On the East, Enjoy a beach tour for diving, snorkeling, and swimming in the Red sea. Every city has its charm, history, and flavor where you can do many tours and activities.
Your Egypt Tours is one of the leading and pioneer travel agencies in the Egyptian tourism industry. We offer very special care and personal touch to our clients making them feel at home with their family. Great and high-quality service to ensure that your trip with us is one of a lifetime. In addition, the commonly known reasons such as our customers’ feedback and testimonials, competitive prices - excellent customer service, punctuality and. Most important of all, our customers safety and enjoying every minute in your trip are our priorities. With us, you are in a safe hand.
It usually varies according to the type of tourist trip in Egypt, but the average cost for spending one week in Egypt is 1600 USD including visiting alot of tombs and temples and sailing on a 4 or 5 stars Nile cruise.
Don't drink the tap water - it is highly chlorinated. However, with enough time in Egypt, you could potentially grow accustomed to the water. This doesn't mean that the tap water is polluted, it simply means that you are not used to it, and you might get stomach problems. This happened to most people when they visit a country for the first time. They were simply not used to water there. It's a similar situation here. It is advisable to drink Bottled water during your entire holiday. That is why it is strongly advisable that you don't drink the tap water, and use it only for washing and brushing your teeth.
Enjoy Egypt Tours From September until March. It is the perfect time when the weather is good and mild. From September until mid-November, when it is very nice and the temperatures are pleasant for all activities - around 25 C to 15 C. mid-Nov until the end of February is wintertime when temperatures during the day are around 12 or 15 C, and at night can drop to about 7 or 8 C. In March and April, the weather is still so nice and travelers can enjoy the Easter vacation. From May to September is the summer season. Spending summertime in a desert climate does not appeal to most travelers. Average daytime temperatures hover in the high 80s and low to mid-90s, although they can jump up into three digits in the South as in Luxor and Aswan. Summer is really hot here, prices go down and it is a good chance for travelers with a tight budget.
It is usually hot and sunny. winter falls between November and January, and the peak of the summer months is between June and August. Winters are generally mild, although temperatures can fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) at night. In the Western Desert. Cairo and areas of the Nile Delta may experience a few rainy days during winter. Summers can be unbearably hot, especially in the desert and other areas of the country's interior. In Cairo, average summer temperatures regularly exceed 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), while the record high for Luxor and Aswan, popular tourist destinations on the banks of the River Nile, is 110 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius).
Safety and security are our first and foremost concerns! Egypt is a very safe country with a low crime rate. Now with the coronavirus outbreak, accommodations and sightseeing nationwide have finalized sterilization and disinfection in light of the Egyptian government's efforts to implement precautionary measures against the COVID-19. In addition, our company has followed the same procedures to make all our staff, guides, and drivers are well-trained with the current events to prevent and stop the spread of this outbreak. Traveling the world is a joyful experience and we want to do our part to keep the anticipation stress-free.
There are many things to do in Egypt during your visit depending on your interests and character. Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan Nile cruise must be your first priority if you are a history and culture lover. You must visit the pyramids of Giza, enjoy a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan and enjoy visiting the most important tourist attractions in Luxor and Aswan. You can visit the city of Hurghada, Marsa Alam, or Sharm el-Sheikh Red Sea for relaxation and enjoy many activities there such as diving, snorkeling, sunbathing, or swimming. You may like to go on a safari trip in the western desert if you are an adventurer. Many other activities are available in every single Egyptian city
The high season for tourism is all year with winter and spring being peak season for cultural travels with lots of sightseeing. Weather in Egypt is perfect for many kinds of tourism, and if coming in June, July, and August, head for the seaside resorts. Those months are very warm with temperatures that can reach around 45C. and the humidity is about 70 to 80%, but it is bearable with the sea and large swimming pools nearby. So the period of the high summer season is also a bit busy as hotels fill up with tourists from all over the world looking for a bargain, lots of sunshine, diving, snorkeling, etc. It is also a primary vacation time in Europe. If you come in the deep summer season you can still enjoy it because you can always sightsee early in the morning and go again at night when the sunsets. You will definitely need good sunscreen and a lot of liquids to drink with a nice hat on your head. Summer is a good time for people looking for good rates in accommodation and other services.
Egypt is a Muslim country and the dress code is towards the conservative side, especially for women. That being said, we are used to seeing travelers from all over the world. My suggestion would be to wear light clothes and not to wear short shorts, short skirts and alike to avoid the occasional unwanted stare. But it's really up to you. When you visit religious places (synagogues, churches, and mosques) you do need to cover your shoulders and wear over the knee dresses, if you are planning to wear one of course. If you plan to attend the Nile dinner cruise, there is no need for formal wear unless you want to make that night a special night! Also, you will be sharing this experience with other travelers so you can dress however you feel most comfortable.
You can get your visa when you arrive at Cairo Airport. It is an easy process for USA, UK, Canadian, Australian and European citizens. The visa is simply a stamp (like a mail or postage stamp) that you buy from the visa office, at the port of entry just before the immigration booth. The visa will cost you $25 US Dollars and after buying it; you just stick it on any empty page on your passport. Once you have bought your visa you then stand in line to get your passport stamped by the immigration officer. You can also apply for E-Visa via the official electronic visa portal: www.visa2egypt.gov.eg
Your Egypt Tours travel agency recommends two weeks so that you can enjoy the temples and tombs of Luxor and Aswan, explore the sights of Cairo, and relax in the Red Sea islands and nature reserves.
There are many Nile cruises. Not to name one but your choice depends on many things to put in mind such as the number of nights you want to spend on the cruiser, your budget, and the standard of the Nile cruise. We recommend you choose a 5-star luxury Nile cruise, and if you are looking for a private Nile River cruise you can choose Dahabiya cruises, it is only for the small-group tour, about 15 people. Most cruises have. There is another way of cruising the Nile, which is the Felucca boat. It is traditional and charming but it is cheap as long as it will be ok to sleep on the deck exposed to mosquitos and most of these boats do not have a toilet
The best time to visit Egypt is generally from October to April where it is suitable for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Egypt travel usually have guided tours to archaeological sites, museums, and historical landmarks. Also have optional activities may include hot air balloon rides over Luxor, snorkeling in the Red Sea, or desert safaris.
Travel has helped us to understand the meaning of life and it has helped us become better people. Each time we travel, we see the world with new eyes.
Absolutely mind blowing. A definite must see. We flew from Aswan after I contact them, as I did not want to sit in car for hours with my 10-year-old daughter. Just so much history and ancient love. You cannot miss this one thing if you are in Cairo. The rocks are just HUGE, so special.
I recently traveled with my wife, daughter, son in law and two grandsons (ages 4 and 2). We had a private tour experience. From the moment we landed at the airport on our arrival to the day we left we were treated with the utmost care and attention
Our trip to was wonderful. The accommodations and travel was seamlessly arranged by customer service rep, Mona, and we visited so many of the famous Egyptian antiquities. I would not have done the trip without the very knowledgeable guides, Ashraf and Mamdouh
