Egypt has always been a very mystical place to me. I was first introduced to Ancient Egypt from stories in the Old Testament in the Bible. In church we would sing these songs that would elude to “Letting my people go” and “Way down in Egypt Land”. I just wondered where is this place called Egypt and who are these people called Egyptians I read about in the Bible. Egypt seemed to be such a powerful place. Full of strength and people that had very powerful existence and I just wanted to know more about them. My mom would always take me to the Library when I was younger so I would read about the Egyptian pharaohs and their wives such as Rameses, Hatshepsut, King Tutankhamen and the building of the pyramids and temples. I can’t help but to remember when they brought King Tut’s remains to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I just had to see the exhibit. I loved seeing the gold, the alabaster and most of all trying to read the hieroglyhs.
When I see Ancient Egypt I see tall large stone pyramids that seem to grow out of the ground, uniquely designed in perfect geometric shape. I see chiselled to perfection carvings of powerful pharoahs that have the crowns of upper and lower egypt on it’s heads. I see the dark complexions of the egyptian that are carved on every temple that I climbed into. I see the very coarse hair hanging at the Egyptian Museum some of the wigs look like dreadlocks, or cornrolls. I think to Abu Simbel and the carvings of Rameses II and his wife Nefetari carved out of the mountain. I think of the bluish green Nile river as I sail down it in a Flalucca sailboat. I see the very dark complexioned Nubian warriors that once conquered Egypt and are still there today. I see the various medical supplies carved out of stone in Luxor Temple. I see the sun shine on my face as the sun rises in egypt in the morning. I see the beautiful sunset in the evening on the Nile River.
Herodotus wrote “Egypt is the gift of the Nile” and a medieval Arab poet continued, “and the Nile is the gift of the Good God”.
Dr. Runoko Rashidi, Noted African Historian “Egypt is the gift of Nile and The Nile is the Gift of Africa” I agree wholeheartedly with all three. This area of the world is exceptional and very spiritual to me. As I researched more about the Egypt I see that I am not the only one that ever felt like this over the centuries. Ancient Egypt and it’s history is a gift to the world. The Nile River is God’s gift to Africa. It is the largest river in the world. It is one of the few that flow north. It has provided water to so many people from landlocked countries in the world. It is indeed a blessing to have two great places together.
I would certainly share with others that there has been a lot of misconceptions about how this area of the world came to be a foundations for mathematics and science and how it became so great as well as how it was built and who built it. I would firstly say that Egypt is in “Africa” Secondly, that there has been proof that the pyramids were not built by slaves. I would also say just visit any museum on-line and truly look at their collections with an open mind. Some of the authors I would have them read are writers such as Dr. Runoko Rashidi, Dr. Ivan VanSertima, Dr. John Henrik Clarke and other African Historians. Some of the museums I would have them visit are the Museums- Metropolitan Museum of Art, Egyptian Museum,Imhotep Museum and the Nubian Museum. There are so many more around the world but these a great starts to seeing Egyptian collections.
Here are some links to articles I found on google reader that were very interesting and I thought students would benefit from as well as relate to:
Ancient Egypt WebQuest
Tatooing Ancient Egypt
