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  • Egypt Aswan Governorate Aswan

    Aswan Governerate in Egypt

    Aswan was known as ‘Sonu’ in ancient Egyptian times, meaning market, as it was a trading centre for caravans coming to and from Nubia. In the Ptolemaic era, it was called ‘Sin’ and the Nubians called it ‘Yaba Swan’. It was also known as the Land of Gold because it served as a great treasure or tomb for the kings of Nubia who lived there for thousands of years. Before the migration, Aswan's borders extended from Asna in the east to the border of Sudan in the south, and its inhabitants were Nubians, but after the Islamic conquest of Nubia, some Arab tribes settled there.

  • Things to Do in Luxor

    About Luxor Governorate in Egypt

    The South Upper Egyptian area is home to the Egyptian governorate of Luxor. Its capital is Luxor, which was formerly Thebes, the capital of Egypt throughout multiple pharaonic eras. Its centers and cities are spread over both sides of the Nile River. The said governorate was established by Presidential Decree No. 378 of 2009, which was promulgated on the 9th of December of that year.

  • kafr El Sheikh Governorate | kafr El Sheikh Governorate History

    History of kafr El Sheikh Governorate

    Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, located in the far north of Egypt in the Nile Delta, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, is characterised by the diversity of natural life and environments, and is one of the Egyptian cities that can be visited after the end of the first semester exams at universities and schools, as it features many diverse tourist and recreational places at symbolic prices within everyone's reach.

  • Egypt's New Administrative Capital City

    Egypt's New Administrative Capital

    The New Administrative Capital is considered the project of the era because it reflects a perfect image of the future and progress on the economic, cultural, social and civilisational level, as the capital is considered the new capital of Egypt at the present time. The importance of the New Capital is that it is a comprehensive transformation of the future of buildings, services and national and mega projects in Egypt.

  • Historical Importance of Al Gharbia

    Al Gharbia Governorate

    The Governorate of Gharbia is inclusive in the geographical area of The Arab Republic of Egypt which is in the African continent, more specifically in the region surrounding the Nile delta, between Damietta and Rashid governance. To the control of the region from the north is Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, from the south Menoufia Governorate, from the east – Dakahlia, Qalyubia Governorates, and to the west is the Beheira Governorate.

  • Marsa Alam City

    Hamata Islands (Qulaan Archipelago) in Marsa Alam

    Each reserve has several sectors. In Wadi El Gemal Reserve, there is one of the natural areas called the Hamata area or Hamata sector in Wadi El Gemal Reserve. Its sectors are the perfect and most ecological, land and water, and host countless animals and plants found in the oceans and on the land.

Nubian History and Culture

Facts about The Solar Boat Museum in Egypt

  • 05 16, 2023

King Khufu's Solar Boat Museum in Egypt

During the time of King Khufu in the 25th century BC, a watercraft known as Khufu's Boat, or Sun Boat, was built. It currently resides in the Sun Boat Museum, which is close to the Giza Pyramids in Egypt. The use of boats and ships for purposes of transport was also significant in the Nile River; the Egyptians remained in their own country while they also went as far as Sudan and other African nations: They went to Sudan and other nations to bring back animals including lions, elephants, tigers, monkeys, and cows.

They also imported foreign products, such as leather, gold, ivory, ebony, electrum, ostrich feathers, and incense. Electrum is a natural alloy, a mixture of gold and silver. They needed sails when sailing on the Nile south, against the current, but the masts were let down and rested horizontally on the deck when sailing north, with the current.

Although the number of surviving boats is not large, much has been learned about the forms and purposes of boats in ancient Egypt from hundreds of model boats found in tombs throughout the country, the most important of which is the Makt-Ra boat. Models of papyrus boats were made of painted wood, although real boats were made of wood, and only a few were made of papyrus sticks.

Wicker rafts were mainly used for swamp hunting; with long sticks, nets or pegs, or for organized sporting competitions. Papyrus boats were associated with lords or royalty. They were used: Either for daily activities, such as sailing and hiking, or for religious occasions, such as transporting statues of gods or for pilgrimages or ceremonies associated with exorcism. 

King Sneferu had a fleet of forty ships that were used to import cedar planks from Lebanon. The features and designs of ancient Egyptian boats varied according to their functions and whether they were used to sail on the Nile or across the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. Religious and ceremonial (ritual) boats sailed on the Nile and the sacred lakes.

Warships evolved in size and features (capabilities and equipment); the largest of them were those built in the era of the Raamasa, with a weight of about fifty metric tons. Two large boats were found for King Khufu. One of them was discovered in 1954 and dug out of its pit south of the Great Pyramid: The other remains in its pit to the west of the first. The (exhumed) boat consists of 1,224 cedar wood parts, with numerous holes: To bind the parts together with cedar ropes.

The Egyptian Museum displays two smaller boats belonging to King Senwosret III, which were found in Dahshur. In the tomb of King Tutankhamun, 35 wooden models of various boats were found, some with colorful cabins for the comfort of the king and his entourage.

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Egypt Tours FAQ

Read top Egypt tours FAQs

The Solar Boat is a testament to the advanced maritime technology of ancient Egypt. It provides insights into the craftsmanship, engineering techniques, and seafaring capabilities of the time. The boat's construction, materials, and design showcase the ancient Egyptians' knowledge of shipbuilding and their mastery of working with wood.

The Solar Boat Museum is a museum located near the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. It houses the reconstructed solar boat of Pharaoh Khufu, also known as the Great Pyramid.

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