Colloquium - Egypt and the Mediterranean World

Accessed January 15, 2010 | Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale | Happening September 19 - 21, 2010 in central Cairo, Egypt at the French Cultural Center, the international colloquium Landscape Archaeology will be dedicated to Egypt and the Mediterranean World, shedding light on the evolution of the River Nile, an element that is the epitome of the relation between Man and his environment. The itinerary also includes a workshop/seminar taking place from September 23 to 25.

This announcement, although published originally in French, has an English translation.

Sailing Into Antiquity: Unearthing Clues About Ancient Egypt’s Sea Trade

Originally published January 11, 2010 | The Boston Globe | by Colin Nickerson | Here's an excerpt:

The archeological digs at Egypt’s Wadi Gawasis have yielded neither mummies nor grand monuments.

But Boston University archeologist Kathryn Bard and her colleagues are uncovering the oldest remnants of seagoing ships and other relics linked to exotic trade with a mysterious Red Sea realm called Punt.

[...]

'She’s found the first fragments of an ancient Egyptian seagoing vessel - a ship that actually sailed in pharaonic times,' Wachsmann said.

This month, Cairo’s Egyptian Museum will open a special exhibition, Mersa/Wadi Gawasis: A Pharaonic Harbor on the Red Sea, featuring, among other things, cargo seals, voyage accounts, and a shipping crate marked in hieroglyphic text: "Wonderful Things of Punt."

Follow the link to the video on PBS NOVA: Building Pharaoh's Ship.

Taming the River

Accessed August 11, 2009 | Business Today | by Ali El-Bahnasawy

The following is an excerpt from Business Today about the Nile River. Follow the above link to read the full story.

Shouting orders to his crew in a heavy Upper Egyptian accent, barge captain Emam Hussien supervises 300 tons of stone as they are illegally dumped into the Nile. His rusty old barge is resting in a small canal that feeds into what used to be a busy river port called Athar El-Naby near the intersection of the Maadi Corniche and the Ring Road.

The dark-skinned, strongly built Hussien brought the stones to Cairo from Beni Suief, a two-hour trip upriver. He had not worked in two weeks, so when a building owner offered him the job, he did not hesitate.

A Growing Thirst for the Nile

Originally published August 7, 2009 | BBC News | by Yolande Knell

Although the Nile River has lost some of its religious significance, it remains an important resource. The ever increasing need for water supply and climate change are daunting problems in and of themselves, but it's the lack of agreement on how much of the Nile resources belong to the six "Nile states" that seems to be the most annoying problem. The following article chronicles the current news about the Nile River and includes some lines describing it's long history to the people who depend upon it.

History and Meaning of the Ancient Egyptian Ankh Symbol

Originally published August 1, 2009 | Examiner - Chicago | by Kristen Wilkerson

I may get into trouble if I say anything about this topic, so I'll let the article speak for itself.

Upon researching the meaning of the Egyptian Ankh, a cross with a loop at the top, it appears to have been used with multiple intentions. Originally, a historian thought the ankh was merely the symbol of a sandal, due to its shape, with its loop going around the ankle. Although many modern historians find this to be accurate, Egyptian academics at the University of Cairo, interpret that the ankh is representative of the pivotal role of the Nile. The oval head is said to represent the Nile delta, with the vertical mark representing the path of the river and the East and West arms representing the two sides of the country and their unification. Many others claim the ankh has a much deeper significance in its historical roles, however. This article explores some of the ankh's deeper claims to fame.

Photos - Meroe is One of Archaeology's Greatest Mysteries

Originally published July 4, 2009 | Sudan Watch | by Ingrid Jones

Jones showcases several lovely photos of Meroe and the pyramid field of Nuri, describing these featured monuments and their place in history.

Saving the West Bank Temples in Luxor

Originally published June 25, 2009 | Luxor News Blog | by Jane Akshar

Work is being done near Luxor to save Egyptians structures such as Medinet Habu, Seti I's temple, the Ramesseum, and Karnak and Luxor temples due to the Awan Dam's causing the rise in the water table of the Nile River. Some success has been achieved and efforts elsewhere are being performs to save these ancient monuments. Pictures accompany the blog post.

Egypt's Ancient Sites Are a Wonder to Behold

Originally published June 21, 2009 | STL Today | by Sally Bixby Defty

This special interest editorial follows the author's adventures in Egypt, where she describes the awe-inspiring Giza pyramids; the magnificent Temple at Abu Simbel; an experience with tourism at Luxor; the vastness of the Valley of the Kings, the beauty of Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, and the east bank's Luxor and Karnak temples; the sensational treasures of Tutankhamun; the future plans of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; and dreamlike travels, floating across the Nile.

Travel: Cruising the Nile by Felucca

Originally published June 7, 2009 | Predynastic Egypt & Prehistory Blog | by Јohn D. Vаn dеr Јagt