A few posts ago I talked about Lord Carnarvon, I thought today I would share a bit about Howard Carter.

Howard Carter was born on the 9th of May 1874 to Samuel Carter and Martha Joyce (Sands) Carter.
He had his first taste of Egypt at the age of 17 in 1891 when he was sent there by the Egypt Exploration Fund to assist Percy Newberry in excavating and recording tombs at Beni Hasan.
In 1899 Howard was appointed the first Chief Inspector of the Egyptian Antiquities Service and he supervised a number of excavations in Thebes before he was transferred in 1904 to Lower Egypt.

In 1905 Howard resigned from the Antiquities Service after an incident with some french tourists at Saqqara.    

In 1907 Howard was employed by Lord Carnarvon who financed his work from this time with a break from 1914 until 1917 due to the First World War.
On the 4th November 1922 the Tomb of Tutankhamen was discovered and work on the tomb continued through until 1932.

Howard Carter died of lymphoma in Kensington, London on2 March 1939 at the age of 64 and was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery in London.
On his headstone is written 'May your spirit live, May you spend millions of years, You who loves Thebes, Sitting with your face to the north wind, Your eyes beholding happiness' and 'Oh night, spread thy wings over me as  the imperishable stars' 





Howard Carter. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain

Howard Carter and the young Pharaoh he brought back to life

 Statue of Tutankhamen as the god Amun, Karnak temple

Hydro power in Egypt

There are two dam's in Egypt, both at Aswan.
The original Aswan low dam was built between 1899 and 1902 on the former first cataract. This dam was built to reduce flooding and support population growth in the lower Nile. Unfortunately the dam proved to be ineffective against the floods and had to be raised twice in 1907-12 and 1929-33. Additions were not enough though and floods nearly topped it in 1946 which lead to the building of Aswan High dam

 Looking back towards the Aswan Low dam from lake behind it

Dry river bed taken from on the Aswan low dam

The Aswan high dam was built between 1960 and 1970 with the help of the Soviet Union.

While this dam was constructed UNESCO help to move several historical sites higher ground to save them from the future Lake Nasser including Abu Simbel. Philae Temple is found between the two dams was also reconstructed and reconstructed stone by stone onto a nearby Island. This site had been flooded since the construction of the Aswan low dam, the only times it was not submerged was when the Sluices were open from July to October.

 Aswan high dam

 Philae temple

 Aswan high dam specs

Six things we can thank the Ancient Egyptians for

Eye make-up
Invented as far back as 4000BC soot was combined with a mineral called galena to form Kohl, which is some countries is still popular today. Green eye make-up was also used. This was made by mixing galena and malachite. Make-up was worn in Ancient Egypt by both sexes and as far as the upper classes were concerned, the more the better. Fashion was only one of the reasons it was applied though, it was believed to prevent eye infections and helped to ward of the evil eye.

Mail
The Ancient Egyptians were the first to use Carrier pigeons to deliver messages

Paper
The word 'paper' comes from Papyrus. Papyrus is a reed plant that grows along the banks of the Nile River. The Egyptians would cut the stems of this plant into strips and soak them to remove the sugar. It would then be pounded dry and woven together to make paper.

The calendar
Closely tied to farming, calendars were divided into three main seasons - Inundation, growing, and and harvest. Each season had four months which in turn were divided into 30 days. Adding these days up you get 360 days in the year. 5 more days were added onto the year between the harvest and inundation to bring the total up to 365.


Breath mints
Egyptians invented the first breath mints with a combination of frankincense, myrrh and cinnamon boiled in honey and shaped into pellets.  These were used to help disguise the results of deteriorating teeth and gums.

The door lock
Being used as early as 4000BC Egyptian locks consisted of a hollowed out bolt in the door was connected to pins that could be manipulated by using a key.

Well, it's a little over a month and I'll be able to pay the deposit on my trip next year and then I will be officially booked.
Looking at the photos I took last time has brought back lots of memories and given me ideas of the things I may want to look for when I am there to bring back with me.
I am really looking forward to Hotels, both Alexandria and Central Cairo hotels have gardens next to or around them which will hopefully provide heaps of photo opportunities. Also the prospect of being able to dip my feet in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean is rather exciting, maybe if I feel like it I'll do more than just dip my feet.
Then there are the extras I didn't  do last time that I have every intention of doing this time such as Abu Simbel. Maybe I'll even be able to talk myself into doing some decent haggling which was a bit of a disaster last time. lol
Another thing I am looking forward to is the updated Sound and Light show at Karnak Temple, I really enjoyed this last time and I have heard that it has been revamped and now uses laser lights. Maybe if camera's are allowed I'll be able to have a go at catching some of this - also this time I AM going to remember to buy the DVD!! Coming home last time without one was one of the disappointments of my trip.
Having the opportunity to go to the Sound and Light shows at Giza and Philae will be great too. Have seen photos taken at the Giza show which look rather impressive.
My Dslr camera will make things a bit different to compared to having a film camera last time. The fact that I will basically be able to take as many photos as I want is going to be very handy and then there's the fact that I'll be taking my laptop with me so I'll be able to download my photos as I go and not have to wait until I get home to see how they come out.

Well that's enough of my rambling, I shall finish by adding some photos of the things I am most looking forward to re visiting. 

 Tutankhamen's treasures at Cairo museum, it is a bit disappointing that you are unable to take photos in this museum any more but I am really looking forward to seeing all these treasures again especially the gold mask

Tutankhamen's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, looking forward to visiting this special little tomb. Only difference is this time the boy king's mummy will be on display.

 Karnak and Luxor temples, there are quite a few Tutankhamen photo opportunities in these temples. I'll have to do some research before I go and map out where statues and wall decorations are so if we are in the right place at the right time I am ready with my camera

The one photo that's not Tutankhamen related. The Nile cruise. In 1993 my Nile cruise lasted for 4 days this time it's 7. More time to sit and watch the world slide by and more time to take heaps of photos. :)

Thanks to the new external hard drive I just bought and the new photo organizing software I have I have found the digital copies of the photos I took while in Egypt in 1993.
Have been wanting to find them so that I could use some of them in this blog.

Today's topic will be pyramids

The first pyramid built in Egypt was the Step Pyramid which can be found at Saqqara.
This pyramid was build by the Pharaoh Djoser (Zozer) during the 3rd Dynasty of the Egyptian  Old Kingdom. The pyramid originally stood at 62 metres high and was encased with polished white limestone. Underneath the pyramid stretch nearly 6km of tunnelled chambers and galleries which connect to a central shaft 28 metres deep.

 Step Pyramid of Djoser

The more famous pyramids are the pyramids at Giza. The largest of these being one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. 

 Pyramids of Giza

The largest of these pyramids, the pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) was built over approximately 20 years in the 4th dynasty by Pharaoh Khufu. This pyramid was the tallest man made structure in the world for over 3,800 years originally standing at 146.5 metres high. The original entrance to the tomb in 17 metres above ground level. Tourists today enter via the robbers tunnel dug by workmen employed by Caliph al-Ma'mun around 820AD.

 Camel ride up to pyramids 1993. the robbers entrance into the Great Pyramid can be seen between me and the camels head

 

In front of the great Pyramid 1993

The second pyramid was built by Khufu's son Khafre (Chefren) and is 136.4 metres high. It stands on bedrock 10 metres taller than that of Khufu's so appears taller. 

There are two entrances into this pyramid, one is 11.54 metres up the face of the pyramid and the second at it's base, it is through this second entrance that tourists now enter.

Looking down into entrance at base of pyramid of Khafre

 Inside the burial chamber of the pyramid of Khafre

Me near the base of Khafre's pyramid, this gives an idea of the size of the blocks of stone that made up these amazing structures

The third and smallest pyramid at Giza was built by Menkaure. This pyramid originally stood at 65.5 metres.

  Looking towards the pyramid of Menkaure from next to the pyramid of Khafre

 At the end of the twelfth century al-Malek al-Aziz Othman ben Yusuf, Saladin's son and heir, attempted to demolish the pyramids starting with Menkaure's pyramid. They found it almost as expensive to destroy as to build. They stayed at their job for eight months. They were not able to remove more than one or two stones each day at a cost of tiring themselves out utterly. Some used wedges and levers to move the stones while others used ropes to pull them down. When it fell it would bury itself in the sand requiring extraordinary efforts to free it. Wedges were used to split the stones into several pieces and a cart was used to carry it to the foot of the escarpment, where it was left. Far from accomplishing what they intended to do they merely spoiled the pyramid by leaving a large vertical gash in its north face and proved themselves incapable. - Wikipedia

 Further interest 
My Flickr account
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ali_gata1970/
 Photo Blog
http://aligatasblog.blogspot.co.nz/
 


Note : I completely forgot to add I have received email back from 'Commonwealth War Graves Commission' with info on the location of Uncle Allan's grave at Commonwealth Cemetery at El Alamein.  
Grave location - Block I, row F, grave 24.   

Ten things you might not know about Egypt

1 The official modern and Arabic name for Egypt is Misr

2 The Ancient Egyptian name for the country was Kemet meaning 'Black land'

3 Since 1922 Egypt has had 5 flags

4 Egypt is the worlds 30th largest country

5 Because population centres are mainly centred along the Nile valley and delta  99% of the population use only 5.5% of the total land area

6 The sand dunes that form the Libyan and Sahara deserts surrounding Egypt were known to the Ancient Egyptians as the 'Red Land' and protected them from their neighbouring threats

7 Football (soccer) is the national sport of Egypt

8 Egypt has taken part in the summer Olympics since 1912

9 Cairo the capital on Egypt is the largest city in Africa and the Arab world with a population of more than 8,100,000 people

10 Egypt recognises only three religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism
 

Today's topic, a subject close to my heart, Crocodiles.

 

 Nile Crocodile by *Freeport on deviantART

Although these creatures are no longer found in Egypt they were well spread during ancient times. Sobek one of the Egyptian gods was a crocodile and places where they were kept or worshipped crocodiles were often mummified.
 

By Alensha (Own work) (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

Hathor and Sobek by Riley and Amos, on Flickr

The Nile Crocodile is found throughout most of  Africa and until Dams at Aswan were built in Egypt were found there as well. It is the second largest crocodile after the Saltwater crocodile which is found in Northern Australia, a very old mature one growing up to 6 metres and can weigh up to 730kg. The diet of a Nile Crocodile usually consists of fish but it will attack anything unfortunate to cross it's path including Zebra, birds and other crocodiles.

These crocodiles were almost hunted extinction between the 1940's and 1960's, since then international protection has helped them to recover in most areas. In other areas however things such as pollution, hunting and habitat loss have caused a huge reduction in numbers.

I thought I Would share a bit about Karnak Temple today. The remains of this Hugh temple Complex can be found in modern day Luxor. Unlike other temples in Ancient Egypt this temple was built and added onto for many years. Building beginning in the Middle Kingdom (2055BC to 1650BC) and continued through till Ptolemaic times (305BC to 30BC) Karnak was the main worship place of the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut and Khonsu)Amun being the head of these gods. Approximately thirty Pharoah's added to this temple through it's time including female Pharaoh Hatshepsut and Tutankhamen.

 Obelisk of Hatshepsut at Karnak Temple

 Hatshepsut's successor Tuthmosis III built a wall around the lower two thirds of the obelisk, it is thought to erase her memory.

 

Statue of Amun with the features of Tutankhamen

One of the most impressive parts of this temple is the Hypostyle Hall which was built to represent papyrus stems. The tallest of these columns are 24 metres high.

Hypostyle Hall, Karnak Temple Complex

copy of a pencil drawing of mine

I've been sitting here for the last few minutes trying to remember what it was I thought I could post back at lunch time. Thankfully the thought eventually came back.
Remembered the great book we have at the Library called 'Lady Almina and the real Downton Abbey'. This book as it's title shows is about the real life story of Lady Almina Herbert, her family and their stately home Highclere Castle in Berkshire, England.
I can hear people asking what has this to do with Egypt?
In fact more than you would think.
Almina was married to George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon who financed the excavations of Howard Carter who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen.
George Herbert was born  26th June 1866 at Highclere Castle. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.
He married Almina Wombwell who was believed to be the daughter of Alfred de Rothchild.
Very wealthy Carnarvon was well known as a breeder of race horses and a reckless driver of early automobiles.
In 1901 he suffered a serious motor accident and was severely injured.
His health was affected by his accident and his doctors told him that he should spend his winters in a warm dry climate and he chose Egypt.
In 1907 he was introduced to Howard Carter and they began excavations.  
And I guess the rest is history

 By Gunray at en.wikipedia. Photographer was Harry Burton. (Originally from en.wikipedia) [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

 I have been asked by some people why Egypt again. 

Looking on the net many things have changed since my last trip.

More tombs have been found in the Valley of the Kings, Avenue of Sphinxes between Karnak and Luxor Temples was under housing 20 years ago, now it looks like it can be followed from one temple to the other to name a few. 

One thing I am looking forward to though is the cruise down the Nile again though. Four days was not long enough so am really looking forward to a seven day trip down the Nile.

 Fellucah on the Nile - photo taken during Nile cruise in 1993

Another thing that will be great traveling back to Egypt with next year will be my Dslr camera. Unfortunately there are a few places that you are unable to take cameras now such as the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, but I'm sure the places you can will out number them. 

And as I plan on taking both my tripod and monopod I'll be able to have a go at low light and night time situations. Then add my wide angle and zoom lenses to the mix and the possibilities are endless. :)

Fact of the day

The Sphinx on the Giza Plateau of part of the funerary complex of Khafra the builder of the second pyramid.

The earliest recorded restoration on the Sphinx is recorded as about 1400BC when a young Thutmose IV had a dream while sleeping in the shade there had a dream where the Sphinx asked him to clear the sand away and he would become king. He did and became the 8th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty. 

I thought today I would talk a bit about my Great Uncle Allan who's grave I will be visting at El Alamein cemetery.

Allan George Thomas was born on December 12th 1917 to Walter Vaughan and Lillian Susan Thomas of Te Poi.
He spent his primary school years at Te Poi Primary when it was situated at the end of Omahine Road.

 Allan Thomas third from right in front row, his brother Rex (my Grandfather) is also in photo back row second to left

His secondary school days were spent at Matamata College

 Top photo Allan is third to right and second in right in bottom

After his secondary schooling was completed he attending teacher training College in Auckland and started teaching at Matamata Primary.

While teaching at Matamata Primary he boarded at Braeburn Hotel on Firth Street in Matamata.

 Photo of Allan possibly taken around the time he was teaching

Allan was still teaching when he enlisted in the Army  at Morrinsville on June 13th 1940.
He served in the 21st Battalion  2 NZEF.
Military training began on 1st October 1940 at Papakura then Fiji before returning to New Zealand in 1941 and departing for the Middle East.
At a Thomas family reunion a few years ago one of my older relatives recalled seeing him as he was boarding the ship in Auckland, a cheeky and cheerful goodbye to the last family member he would see.
Allan fought as a Private in the army in Egypt. At one stage he was offered a promotion to a higher position but turned it down as we wanted to stay in the action.
He died on the 21 June 1942 during the First Battle of El Alamein after being severely wounded in action and is buried in the Commonweath War Cemetery there.   

I realised recently that next year it will be 20 years since I last went to Egypt. So I have decided that I am going back. As I am going to travel to Egypt at the same time of the year as in 1993 it will be a case of same time + 20 years.
Back then I just did the Nile Valley and Cairo, this time I shall be visiting the Nile Valley as well as Sinai Peninsular, Alexandria and El Alamein.

El Alamein having a very special family connection. My Great Uncle Allan is buried there in the Commonwealth Cemetery.

Allan George Thomas died 21 July 1942

During the next year I shall keep you up to date with what I am doing and share some facts on a Country I love.

May 18 2012

Saving started, travel agent visited and although nothing can be booked until July when next years tour dates are available - I am in her folder. :)

Tour will be 'Grand Tour of Egypt' with Insight Tours 

http://www.insightvacations.com/grand-tour-of-egypt-2012

Monopod purchased for use with my Dslr and as a walking stick for Mt Sinai which I have every intention of climbing even if I have to hire one of the camels. lol

Fact of the day

Tutankhamen who is well known as his tomb was discovered virtually intact By Howard Carter in 1922 was named Tutankhaten when he was born in the city of Akhetaten (modern Amarna) during the reign of 8th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten.

Gold mask of Tutankhamen

Copy of watercolour pencil drawing of mine

 Further interest 
My Flickr account
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ali_gata1970/
 Photo Blog
http://aligatasblog.blogspot.co.nz/