Permalink  06 February 2006

BBC Egypt DVD released today
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Focusing on three of the most important discoveries from the world of the ancient Egyptians, this series journeys back in time to explore Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the Great Belzoni's finds from the reign of Rameses II and Champollion's deciphering of the hieroglyphs. Join Carter, Belzoni and Champollion as they overcome immense obstacles to unlock the secrets of an as-yet undiscovered world and reveal their seminal finds. Then travel even further back, to the amazing period of history unveiled by their astounding work.

The cover also states that it includes a bonus disc "Pyramid" which I assume is the BBC production "Pyramid Beyond Imagination"?

Buy the DVD from


#1305 posted by Mark Morgan on 06 February 2006, 5:32:46 PM  Permalink   comment [] trackback []

Denmark issues warning against travel to Egypt
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... The countries on the Danish foreign ministry's travel advice list are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates...

Danes issue travel warning list, BBC News, UK, February 06, 2006.


#1304 posted by Mark Morgan on 06 February 2006, 4:06:26 PM  Permalink   comment [] trackback []

Historic Cairo offers visitors more sights than ever before
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With an enthralling past, Cairo, the oldest and most populous city in the Middle East, is full to the brim with historic buildings, each with their own spot in history. One of the most interesting newly restored sights is Manzel Zainab Khatoun or Zainab Khatoun's house, and the district surrounding it, Al-Darb al-Ahmar.

Al-Darb al-Ahmar, contains more than 100 major Islamic monuments and antiquities, and was built as an extension to Old Cairo to house society's elite. It is centred in an area that represents Cairo's Islamic historic identity and is next door to the Khan al-Khalili, the merchant quarter, and Al-Azhar, the worlds oldest university and perhaps the most influential centre of Sunni Islam.

Al-Darb al-Ahmar and Islamic Cairo, as a whole, were ignored in the late 19th century by the Khedives, the descendants of Mohammad Ali, who moved the seat of government to a new Italianate palace in Abdeen. This gave the public the chance to move to Al-Darb al-Ahmar, which in consequence gradually changed from a locale for the elite to a home for the poorer classes...

Historic Cairo offers visitors more sights than ever before, The Daily Star, Lebanon, February 06, 2006.


#1303 posted by Mark Morgan on 06 February 2006, 9:53:15 AM  Permalink   comment [] trackback []

Rising water threatens great temples of Egypt
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Some of the world's most precious archaeological treasures — the ancient Egyptian tombs and temples at Luxor — are being devastated by salt water that is eating their foundations, scientists have discovered.

The temples of Amun, Luxor and Karnak, designated World Heritage Sites, have survived 4,000 years of arid desert heat but are now being destroyed by rising ground water.

The threat has been uncovered by American Egyptologists, who have warned that urgent action is now needed. Their view has been backed by Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. 'When I found out the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak were going to completely fall apart because of the rising water table, I was shocked,' Hawass said in an interview in Science...

Rising water threatens great temples of Egypt, The Observer, UK, February 05, 2006.

cf. Rising Water Poses Threat to Egypt's Antiquities, Andrew Lawler, Science, USA, Vol. 311, No. 5759, pp. 326 – 327, January 20, 2006. Subscription required.


#1302 posted by Mark Morgan on 06 February 2006, 9:45:06 AM  Permalink   comment [] trackback []