Trip To Egypt, Fall, 2004

The Trip To Egypt, 2004

Jim Hayes' Web Pages

Egypt Home
Day 1, Egyptian Museum, Cairo
Day 2, Pyramids and Sphinx At Giza
Day 3, Dahshur (Bent and Red Pyramid),
Day 3a, Sakkara (Stepped Pyramid)
Day 4, Abu Simbel
Day 4a, Aswan
Day 5, Philae Temple
Day 5a, Kom Ombo Temple
Day 6, Edfu Temple
Day 6a, Esna Temple
Day 7, Luxor, Medinet Habu, Village of Deir El Medina
Day 7a,Temple of Hatshepsut
Day 8, Valley of the Kings
Day 8a, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Museum
Day 9, Luxor, Tut's Tomb
Day 9a, Temples of Karnak and Luxor
Day 10/11, Cairo, Museum, Manial Palace, Churches and Mosque

Day 1, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Jan's Notes Jim's Photos And Comments

Cairo Museum

1225 BC stele: first use of Israel name exactly as used today.
30 dynasties
King Tut treasures: what can only be an aquarium (box w/fish in it) carved on box!
Wigs: shaved heads to avoid bugs; multiple styles
Kohl to protect eyes from flies
Scribe: fat; honored position; well-fed.
Actually mummies: Amenhotep: Getty gave money to display properly so Egyptian authorities willing to allow public to see
Misr= name Egyptians use, not Egypt
Cheops tomb only 1 tiny statue found despite it's being biggest pyramid
Strainer!
Lazy Susan!
Hippo: blue with lilies as artistic device to represent water. Material = blue faience.
Hinged bed & chair
King Tut's bed: shows (maybe?) position he slept in by wear marks
Box w/in a box w/in a box over sarcophagus.

What a thrill to see Tutankhamun speaking to us from beyond the grave 3,000 years ago!

Ramadan= 2 million poor fed daily for Ramadan. Just sit down at tables & are fed.
All hospitals free; all education free
Ticket system: end of year get all your tickets for violations at the end of the year!
Illegal to grow tobacco
Fresh chicken-buy live!
Per Aki: head covering for women is a "fashion statement".
No traffic lights after midnight. (Was Aki joking?!)

Unfortunately, the museum does not allow photography inside. But it is a joy to visit. Unlike the typical US museum which is more "entertainment" for kids or adults with short attention spans, this is a "old-style" museum with tons of wonderful "stuff" hiding in dingy corners or obscure display cases, like the Smithsonian of 30 years ago.
Highlights: 4000 year old wigs, a perfect wooden screw - wonder how it compares in time with Archimedes, sewing kits, Tut's underwear, statues on top of statues, tons of Greek statues too.
Funniest thing we saw: Students sketching exhibits, with a number of girls in traditional dress concentrating on drawing nude Greek statues!

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The Trip To Egypt, 2004 Jim Hayes' Web Pages Egypt Home Day 1, Egyptian Museum, Cairo Day 2, Pyramids and Sphinx At Giza Day 3, Dahshur (Bent and Red Pyramid), Day 3a, Sakkara (Stepped Pyramid) Day 4, Abu Simbel Day 4a, Aswan Day 5, Philae Temple Day 5a, Kom Ombo Temple Day 6, Edfu Temple Day 6a, Esna Temple Day 7, Luxor, Medinet Habu, Village of Deir El Medina Day 7a,Temple of Hatshepsut Day 8, Valley of the Kings Day 8a, Valley of the Queens, Luxor Museum Day 9, Luxor, Tut's Tomb Day 9a, Temples of Karnak and Luxor Day 10/11, Cairo, Museum, Manial Palace, Churches and Mosque	Day 1, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Jan's Notes	Jim's Photos And Comments
Cairo Museum 1225 BC stele: first use of Israel name exactly as used today. 30 dynasties King Tut treasures: what can only be an aquarium (box w/fish in it) carved on box! Wigs: shaved heads to avoid bugs; multiple styles Kohl to protect eyes from flies Scribe: fat; honored position; well-fed. Actually mummies: Amenhotep: Getty gave money to display properly so Egyptian authorities willing to allow public to see Misr= name Egyptians use, not Egypt Cheops tomb only 1 tiny statue found despite it's being biggest pyramid Strainer! Lazy Susan! Hippo: blue with lilies as artistic device to represent water. Material = blue faience. Hinged bed & chair King Tut's bed: shows (maybe?) position he slept in by wear marks Box w/in a box w/in a box over sarcophagus. What a thrill to see Tutankhamun speaking to us from beyond the grave 3,000 years ago!
Ramadan= 2 million poor fed daily for Ramadan. Just sit down at tables & are fed. All hospitals free; all education free Ticket system: end of year get all your tickets for violations at the end of the year! Illegal to grow tobacco Fresh chicken-buy live! Per Aki: head covering for women is a "fashion statement". No traffic lights after midnight. (Was Aki joking?!)	Unfortunately, the museum does not allow photography inside. But it is a joy to visit. Unlike the typical US museum which is more "entertainment" for kids or adults with short attention spans, this is a "old-style" museum with tons of wonderful "stuff" hiding in dingy corners or obscure display cases, like the Smithsonian of 30 years ago. Highlights: 4000 year old wigs, a perfect wooden screw - wonder how it compares in time with Archimedes, sewing kits, Tut's underwear, statues on top of statues, tons of Greek statues too. Funniest thing we saw: Students sketching exhibits, with a number of girls in traditional dress concentrating on drawing nude Greek statues!
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