Monday, 5/16/11

Today we pulled into Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria was originally an island in the Mediterranean connected to the mainland by a bridge. It is the largest and oldest port in Egypt. The harbor entrance is the Fortress of Quait Bay which is a 15th century medieval castle on the old Pharos Lighthouse. Nearby is Ras El Tin Palace, the summer residence of kings. King Farouk signed his abdication papers there. Alexander the Great founded the library as a clearinghouse of the world's knowledge. He is buried here. This is the second largest city in the Roman Empire and the second largest in present day Egypt. It is also the capital of Egypt. Before the 3rd century, Egypt was ruled by Greece and Pharaohs. In the 3rd century Alexandria was under the Roman Empire until the Ottoman Empire conquered it in the 7th century and trade ceased. The Christians arrived in Egypt in the 4th century. By the 19th century the trade was finally revived. Mohammed Ali helped Egypt fight off the French soldiers in the 19th century. On July 23, 1952 Egypt revolted, had King Farouk sign an abdication, and became a republic with a President. Another revolt erupted on January 25, 2011. In September they will elect a new Parliament and in December they will elect a new President. Now the people realize they need the police that belonged to the previous government under Mubarak. At first they policed themselves, but they still have to work and can't do both. But there's a feeling of hope now that Mubarak is gone.
Alexandria is the result of the Nile River Delta Valley, the first place civilization developed. Egypt is called the Gift of the Nile because the river bestows rich life along its banks. The Nile River starts at Lake Victoria in Africa which floods from the snowmelt of Africa's greatest mountains into the White Nile River. The rotted vegetation flows down through Sudan and merges with the Blue Nile River flowing from Ethiopia's Lake Taua with nitrates and phosphates. This is the perfect fertilizer. Every year the Nile floods in a 7-9 foot width all along its banks and adds rich silt to the fields.
In 3100BC the ancients developed a reliable calendar by watching the sun and moon. Within one generation, they developed written numbers, letters, accounting, geometry, architecture, astronomy, reservoirs, canals, and taxation. The labor before 2200BC on the pyramids was not by slaves, but by farmers and craftsmen who needed jobs when the Nile flooded. This ensured the entire society was at work during the off season.
The Mosque of Mursi Abul Abbas is the largest with 4 domes and a minaret. Egyptians are mostly Muslim. Muslims must pray 5 times a day and must clean their whole body before they pray. Then they must kneel and face the east to pray. The minaret sends out a chant over a loudspeaker when it is time to pray. The devout stop what they are doing and prepare themselves for prayer.
Pompey's Pillar is really a Roman Memorial column dedicated to Diocletian; it is not Pompey's tomb.
In 31 BC Julius Caesar entered Egypt and married Cleopatra, who was the ruler at 16 years of age. They had a son, Caesarium. But Romans killed Julius Caesar and Cleopatra and her son had to be smuggled inside a carpet back to Egypt. Then Cleopatra married Marc Antony. He was killed; then she took her life and left a 13 year old son who was killed also. Then Egypt came completely under Roman rule.
The catacombs in Alexandria were built by a Roman family who adopted the Egyptian style, but added a banquet hall because family and friends that visited would stay all day. They brought food from home and broke pottery when finished. It was okay to bring pottery in, but wouldn't take it back to their house because it had been near the dead. In the banquet hall are 3 benches for the family to sit and lay down on because they always reclined when they ate. For the first 100 years it was private. After that it was opened for anyone. the Greeks and Romans cremated the bodies, but in the catacombs are mummies. The Greeks and Romans wanted to be like the royals and pharaohs, so they started doing mummies. The catacombs has a central shaft. Leading to 3 underground levels; but you cn only access the top 2 levels because an underground stream has deteriorated the 3rd level. Once it was discovered everybody started using it as a cemetery.
We drove through the streets and saw many markets. they stack their wares on the sidewalks and streets so full it's difficult for the bus to pass by without hitting them. You can buy anything here: bread, sponges, clothing, veggies, fruits, purses, shawls, curtains, etc.
Khakotis Village is one of Upper Egypt's towns which Alexander the Great built in 293AD. First the Christians lived here, then it became a Greek community. The Egyptians worshipped animals. The Greeks worshipped animals in a human form. Pompey's Pillar was the highest and largest when it was built. It was made in Aswan and floated down the Nile when it flooded to Aleaxandria. The Greco-Roman Museum used to be a private home in 1922. It was sold to the American Embassy in 1952.
In 3000BC Egypt was divided into 2 countries: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. This was the time when writing started. It encompassed the old, middle and new kingdoms with the intermediate periods scattered in between when Egyot was attacked many times by the Asians, but not occupied. Queen Hatshepsut was the princess of Moses I. Moses II married his half sister to be able to rule legally. She was 20 and he was 69. She started to wear the double crown to represent both upper and lower Egypt. She reigned for 22 years and it was the most peaceful time Egypt had known. When she died her stepson scratched out her name everywhere.
The Persians were the first people to attack and occupy Egypt. When Alexander the Great arrived in Egypt he told them he was the son of their god, Amon, so they would accept him. Then he helped them defeat the Persians. ST. Mark was the first Christian to visit Egypt and spread Christianity. In the 4th century AD Christians were allowed to practice their religion. They were called Coptic Christians. In the 7th century AD the Arabs entered bringing Islamic culture with them. They made Cairo the capitol.