The old and new museum are in transition. I visited the old one (see picture below) which still holds many artifacts that haven’t been transferred to the new one. The museum is not air conditioned which was unbearable at times. There are no elevators so there’s a lot of climbing in its high ceiling three levels. All of this is rectified in the new museum. It is still well worth a visit.

Following are two samples of its many features.

I often sit in this position to write and was attracted to the natural pose of the scribe.

Hatshepsut’s head bust follows. The Pharaoh is tanned and has a beard like her male counterparts.

This book was recommended to see all the detailed descriptions of the museum’s exhibits.

This picture of me (researcher and author of this blog) was taken by a fellow traveler, Lourdes. It was photographed by a friend and colleague, Brenda, to eliminate an unknown tourist near me.

The rock-cut Temple of Remesses II. It represents the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. The site was chosen with great precision so that twice a year the sun would shine directly into the inner sanctum, 22 February – 22 October.

When the rising waters of Lake Nasser threatened the temple, due to the Aswan Dam construction, the temple was moved to higher ground.

The faluca or falucca is a sailing boat used in Egypt. It is reminiscent of the Puerto Rican Nativo. It of course predates the Nativo. Both have only one sail. Originally used for fishing, they are now also used for sport and tourism.

The one sail is enormous and practically covers the length of the boat.

The boat was owned and managed by a Nubian family near Aswan.

1. Karnak – the Egyptian bark carries Amun Ra from sunrise to sunset. There are 134 columns in the temple to guide the day, year, and life from birth to death.

2. Luxor Temple. Has 2,800 sphinxes on each side of a long path connecting both temples.

3. The Edfu Temple honors Horus, falcon and son of Isis and Osiris. They travel together in the sacred bark.

4. Temple of Abu Simbel. Close to the Nile sources, it was partially drowned during the Aswan Dam construction. It was moved to higher ground.

5. Temple of Hatshepsut Engineering marvel that blends with its surroundings. The pharaoh who was told that she needed to be a man to be a pharaoh so she became a man. She’s depicted with a beard and with bronze colored skin, as opposed to the white skin of females next to bronze skin male pharaohs.

Then and now.

This library was burnt down three times with all its priceless scrolls and maps. Some of its scholars were stoned to death, such as Hypatia. UNESCO funded rebuilding a modern version of the library but following its ancient design.

The roof’s inclined angle was intended to allow light in without blinding scholars or students with direct sunlight. The mosaic glass was blue and green to provide calm and eye rest to readers and writers.

The walls in the modern version have the niches where scrolls were kept.

Here I am sitting on a bench resembling an in between scroll-book version. Awed and pleased to see young Egyptian students using the library. May all book burning worldwide stop and may this library be a symbol of the preservation of knowledge for new generations.

Yesterday and today, I observed various forms of sphinxes. The most famous one, the one in Giza is surrounded by mystery, pre-history, and a myriad of controversial research findings. To see it face-to-face the mystery is revisited by deep, mostly subconscious emotions bordering on Jung’s collective unconscious.

The Aker, the double headed mythological sphinx, is reminiscent of the Taino Cemí in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It looks to the east, orient, sunrise, and life. The other face looks to the west, occident, sunset, and death.

Today in Memphis, Ancient Egypt’s capital, I photographed Hatshepsut’s sphinx. She was a female pharaoh. There are many more representations of the sphinx in Egyptian history.

The Nile River divides two cities, Cairo and Giza. The pyramids of Giza. 136 m. high. It used to measure 140 m. It is hazy with sand dust, like the Sahara dust in the Caribbean.

The flight left Puerto Rico at 10:00 pm and arrived in Madrid at 4:30 am, Puerto Rico time. It’s presently 1:00 pm, Madrid time. The next flight to Cairo is in 4 hours. Tired but ok.

These are some of the books consulted for the trip to Egypt that starts on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Other books are digital, in Kindle, and those will travel best. Eventually a bibliography will be added to this blog.

This new post introduces information of the upcoming trip to Egypt and how it may link to the Caribbean region.

Me, typing from a hammock.