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  • Al-Hakim be Aamr Ellah Mosque

    Mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    Al-Hakim Amr Allah Mosque, located on Al-Moez Street in Old Cairo, is a prominent Fatimid landmark and the fourth oldest surviving mosque in Egypt. Built in 380 AH during Al-Aziz Billah's reign, it was completed by his son in 403 AH (1012-1013 AD), making it the second largest mosque in Cairo after Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque. The mosque's name was attributed to him. The mosque, measuring 12005 meters in length and 113 meters in width, has two minarets at its sea front, surrounded by pyramid-shaped bases. The upper cubes are slightly backwards, and an octagonal minaret protrudes from each of the upper cubes.

  • tomb of Tutankhamun | Tutankhamun tomb discovery | king tut tomb pictures

    Tomb of Tutankhamun

    The Valley of the Kings, located on the Nile River's west bank near Thebes, served as a cemetery for pharaohs during the New Kingdom of Ancient Egyptians from 1539 to 1075 BC. The 20,000 square meter rocky valley houses 27 royal tombs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th Egyptian dynasties, which have been discovered to this day. Pharaoh Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, was the last Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh from 1334 to 1325 B.C. He is famous for his intact tomb and treasures, unmarked grave, and premature death due to broken bones. His minister married his widow after his death.

  • the Virgin Mary’s tree.

    The Tree of Virgin Mary in Matareya

    The Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into Egypt, a minor liturgical feast. It commemorates St. Joseph the Carpenter's obedience to an angel's command to take the child and his mother to Egypt, marking the entry of the Holy Family into the land of Egypt. The prayers begin on the eve of the liturgical day. The Maryam Tree Mazar, a significant tourist attraction in Egypt, is home to the Holy Family and has undergone significant development and renovations to maintain its historical significance.

  • Biography of Ahmad ibn Tulun

    Biography of Ahmad ibn Tulun

    Ahmad ibn Tulun's Turkish roots trace back to his father, who was a slave of Noah ibn Asad, the governor of Bukhara. Asad freed him, and Caliph Al-Ma'mun admired him. He was enrolled in the caliphate court and eventually became the head of the caliph's guard. Ahmad bin Tulun, born on September 20, 835 AD, in Baghdad, the capital of the caliphate, was well-cared for by his father, who taught him military arts, jurisprudence, hadith, and hadith, and encouraged him to learn from scholars and read the Qur'an.

  • Al Qusayr, Egypt | Al Quseir history

    Historical Background | Quseir Town

    The city of Al-Qusair is located on the western shore of the Red Sea in Egypt, 140 km south of Hurghada, and one of the most important villages of the city is Hamrawin village, with an area of 7,636 km², while its population is 50,023 people. Al-Qusayr, named after a fort that protected the nation during ancient Pharaonic, Roman, and other empires, was a hub for gold procurement by Pharaohs. Built by Sultan Selim I during the Ottoman period, the fortress remains intact.

  • Bayt al-Suhaymi architecture |  Al Suhaymi House

    Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo

    The Suhaimi House transports you back in time to the Ottoman period which was notable in being very artistic with the bold designs of Islamic architecture and Suhaimi House serves as an exceptional example of Islamic style of architecture of private residences. Al-Suhaimi House is an Arabic house with Ottoman-style architecture, dedicated to men on the salamlik floor and women on the haramlik floor. Built in 1058 AH / 1648 AD by Sheikh Abdul Wahab Al-Tablawi, it consists of two sections.

Visit Queen Nefertari’s Tomb

Details about Secrets of Nefertari tomb

  • 05 16, 2023

Tomb of Queen Nefertari

The history of ancient Egypt features a number of prominent female leaders. Some of them who actually acted like true, ruling “pharaohs” were Hatshepsut (c. 1479-c. 1457 BC) and Cleopatra VII (51-30 BC), both women who sat on the Egyptian throne for years. There were also the great queens of the New Kingdom (1550-1090 BC) Nefertiti, the wife of Akhenaten (1371-1355 BC), and Nefertari, one of the celebrated eight wives of Ramses II (c. 1279-c. 1213 BC). While Nefertiti is more popular for the exquisite portrait bust of her that is located in Berlin, Nefertari is famous mostly for her large burial site situated in the Valley of the Queens.

There's no question that Nefertari's tomb ranks the prettiest of all tombs in Egypt already built in terms of the scope and above all the artistry of the decoration. Indeed, none of the monumental tombs located in the Valley of the Kings can boast such a fully coherent pictorial representation. Though no one should expect to find any particular themes in the iconographic program that would stand out as particularly innovative. Expectedly, it narrates the tale of the dead person's soul interred in the ground and the journey she is expected to take through the afterworld ruled by Osiris.

Embarking on this odyssey, one can start at the ‘Hall of Gold’ that housed the queen’s sarcophagus. Here, the soul of the queen underwent gestation and finally reincarnation and as it made its way back to the ante-room, it reincarnated into the bright light before ‘coming out into the day’ like a sun that rises to mark the break of a new day. Conforming to the expected structures of an Egyptian tomb of the second millennium B.C. AD like most other tombs, what makes Nefertari’s tomb outstanding among others is the precision of the outlook with an overall use of flat vibrant colors that is effective.

When the Turinese Egyptologist Ernesto Schiaparelli entered the building in 1904, he found only scattered elements, oushebtis (funerary statuettes), a few jewels and fragments of furniture. The tomb had long since been looted. But the beauty of the wall paintings immediately aroused public enthusiasm and, for almost half a century, tourists flocked to visit the final resting place of “Ramses II's great love”. As at Lascaux, this parade of visitors upset the microclimate that had prevailed there for two millennia.

It was during the reign of Ramses I (c. 1295-c. 1294 BC) that queens began to benefit from fitted tombs (rather than simple shaft tombs), located within a specific necropolis. The Valley of the Queens was home to the graves of around a hundred royal wives, as well as princes and, perhaps, high-ranking private individuals. Many of these tombs were of mediocre workmanship or remained unfinished.

In this context, how can we explain the fact that the first wife of Ramses II was the beneficiary of such a high-quality funerary ensemble? The Pharaoh's love for his wife is a romantic explanation, but one that is difficult for historians to verify. While the inscriptions relating to Nefertari abound in amorous epithets - “sweet of love”, “beautiful of aspect”, “full of charms” - and lead us to believe that Ramses II was deeply in love with his wife, it should be pointed out that some of them come from the queen's tomb, where - and this is an essential fact - the sovereign appears nowhere!

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Hotels close to the Queen Nefertari Tomb :

  • Marsam Hotel
  • Venus Hostel 
  • Beit Sabee Hotel 
  • New Memnon Hotel
  • Steigenberger Nile Palace

Nefertari's tomb is renowned for its exquisite beauty and intricate wall paintings. It is considered one of the most beautiful and well-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Queens. The artwork inside showcases detailed scenes depicting Nefertari's journey into the afterlife and her interactions with various deities.

The tomb of Queen Nefertari, located in the Valley of the Queens in Luxor, Egypt, is renowned for its exquisite artistry and preservation. While not all aspects of the tomb are fully known or explored, here are some significant features and secrets:

Elaborate Wall Paintings: Nefertari's tomb is celebrated for its intricate and well-preserved wall paintings. The scenes depict Queen Nefertari in various religious and ceremonial contexts, accompanied by deities and engaging in rituals. The artistic quality and attention to detail are remarkable.

Nefertari's Title: The tomb reveals Nefertari's prestigious status as the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Her titles and epithets, such as "Mistress of the Two Lands," "Lady of All Lands," and "Sweet of Love," highlight her important role and position in ancient Egypt.

Queen Nefertiti joined her husband in worshipping the new religion of Aton, the power of the sun disk. She and her husband were the mediators between the people and Aton, and the full blessing was supposed to be given only when the royal couple was united.
 

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