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Archaeology Travel guide Egypt

From Alexander the Great to the Romans, from Napoleon and his scientific expeditions to Thomas Cook and his Nile Cruises, Egypt has been firing our imagination for centuries if not millennia. Whether it is the Pharaonic Abu Simbel in the south or the Ptolemaic Library of Alexandria in the north, the Red Sea coral reefs in the east or the oases amongst mammoth dunes of the White desert in the west, the possibilities for adventure are endless.

Reasons to Visit Egypt

Egypt. Cairo - Giza. General view of pyramids

Pharaonic Egypt,

Ibn Tulum mosque, Cairo, Egypt

Historic Mosques,

View at Hanging Coptic Church (El Muallaqa)in old Cairo, Egypt.

Coptic Churches,

Nile Cruise Sunset
… and Cruising the Nile.

Interesting Things to Know About Egypt

Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, the modern nation state dates back to 22 February 1922, when the country gained independence from the British Empire. Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great, part of the Roman Empire, occupied by various Arab caliphates, and also a province of the Ottoman Empire.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, notable structures from classical antiquity. The Great Pyramid, built in the 26th century BC as a tomb for pharaoh Khufu, is the only seven wonder to remain largely intact. At a height of just over 146 m, it was the tallest structure made by humans for over 3,800 years. 

The Battle of Kadesh, fought between the New Kingdom of Egypt under Ramses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II, is widely thought to be the earliest recorded battle in history. Generally accepted to have taken place in 1274 BC, at the modern Lebanon-Syria border, the discovery of Kadesh inscriptions, including the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty, it is also thought to be the best documented battle in ancient times. The battle ended in a stalemate, but Ramses claimed victory, and depicted it as such in the temple of Abu Simbel.

The Nile River has historically been thought to be the longest river in the world. Now research suggests the Amazon River is slightly longer. The river has two major tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, that meet at Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. At the end of the 19th century the Aswan Low Dam was built at the first cataract of the Nile. Construction on a second, nearby dam began in 1960 – the Aswan High Dam. This created Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The Nile River played a key role in the development of ancient Egypt. A number of ancient temples were flooded by the dams, some of which have been recovered, including Philae and Abu Simbel, which are still on Egyptian soil. The temples of  Debod (Madrid), Dendur (New York) and Taffeh (Leiden) were gifted to those nations that assisted the Egyptians with the rescue of Au Simbel.

There is a lot more to Egypt that the spectacular remains of its ancient civilisations. The Red Sea is a popular tourist destination, and best known for diving and snorkelling. The Ras Muhammad National Park, not far from the resort of Sharm El Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsular, is protected against fishing and other commercial activities. Egypt also has a thriving film industry that dates back to the 1930s, with well known actors and directors, including Omar Sharif and Youssef Chahine.

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Inspiration and Itineraries

Cruise the Nile with Oberoi

Egyptomania

Five Popular Attractions in Egypt

Pyramids Giza Necropolis

Giza Necropolis

The entrance gate of Military Museum of Saladin Citadel neighbors with the tall carved minaret of Al-Nasir Muhammad Mosque, Cairo, Egypt.

Cairo Citadel

Valley Of The Kings Dawn

Valley of the Kings

Egyptian Museum Cairo

Egyptian Museum

The colssal statues of Ramses II at the Great Temple of Ramses at Abu Simbel against a brilliant blue sky.

Abu Simbel

Explore Egypt more deeply

Historic Cities in Egypt

Alexandria

Aswan

Cairo

El-Alamein

Luxor

What to See in Egypt

Deir el-Medina

On the West Bank of the Nile River at Luxor is the site of an ancient workmen’s village. It was here that workmen who were responsible for the construction o the tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the 18th to 20th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. These workmen knew the settlement as Set Maat, or the Place of Truth. In the Christian era the Temple of Hathor was converted into a Christian monastery. Hence the name Deir el-Medina, which means Monastery of the City in Arabic. The site was thoroughly excavated in the early 20th century, and as a result we have a one of the best documented records of community life from the ancient world. Besides the remains of the village, there are also the very well preserved painted tombs of the overseers of the artisans.

Giza Necropolis - Pyramids & Sphinx

Perhaps one of the most well known archaeological sites in the world. The site is a funerary complex for three ancient Egyptian kings. The site consists of three Pyramid Complexes, of kings Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid was built for King Khufu, while the Great Sphinx of Giza was part of the Pyramid Complex of King Khafre. Of King Menkaure’s Pyramid complex, three smaller pyramids thought to have been for his wives have also survived. Visitors can take a quick, two or three hour guided tour of the highlights or spend a full day exploring the various aspects of the ancient necropolis.