r/history • u/MeatballDom • Jan 16 '23
Egyptian authorities unveil ancient tomb in Luxor dating back around 3,500 years that archaeologists believe holds the remains of an 18th dynasty royal Article
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2232406/middle-east214
u/Rhodog1234 Jan 16 '23
18 th Dynasty ... Known as New Kingdom Era, ended about 1292 bc. King Tut was of this time period.
51
u/fool_on_a_hill Jan 16 '23
yeah this appears to be in the neighborhood of tut's tomb as well
20
u/snkn179 Jan 16 '23
Yep the 18th through to the 20th dynasty (~1500-1000 BCE) all buried their pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings.
110
u/Welshhoppo Waiting for the Roman Empire to reform Jan 16 '23
Could be a very interesting development. There's a fair few missing tombs from the 18th dynasty. As well as a couple of Royal mummies we can't Identity/ are unsure of.
Shame about the damage to it, hopefully enough survives to give us a good idea who it belonged too.
4
118
u/Minuted Jan 16 '23
Not super relevant but I went down a wiki rabbit hole and it's the same time period:
I just learned that Nefertiti was Akhenaten's wife. No idea why I always thought she was her own thing or some sort of female ruler. I guess because of "Nerertiti: Queen of the nile"?
109
u/thestartinglineups Jan 16 '23
She may in fact have ruled briefly after Akhenaten’s death and before Tutankhaun under the name Neferneferaten. In any case, she had more power than a lot of wives of the Pharoahs (Queen isn’t really accurate since the royal house usually practiced polygamy - the closest equivalent was something like Great Wife). Before his death, Akhenaten made her co-regent and she’s depicted in art in poses normally reserved for the king, such as riding a chariot and smiting enemies. So, she’s much more than a famous name/beautiful face. The Amarna period is so unique and interesting.
14
26
u/No_Juice418 Jan 16 '23
Just very famous I guess. There's not many female characters around in ancient Egypt.
47
u/Foul_xeno Jan 16 '23
Hatshepsut was one, she was a pharaoh from the 18th dynasty as well. An impressive pharaoh all things considered, with a very successful reign!
13
u/Minuted Jan 16 '23
Yeah I knew there had been female rulers of Egypt, so I just assumed Nefertiti was one.
In fact there's some debate around whether she ruled for some time after Akhenaten's death to Tutankhamun's ascension to the throne, but it seems like it's not settled one way or another.
3
u/whitewalker646 Jan 16 '23
You might have mixed her up with hatshepsut who actually ruled Egypt before tuhtmose III
15
u/Karnorkla Jan 16 '23
Ancient Egypt is the gift that keeps on giving. I'm glad the tomb robbers didn't ruin it all!
7
u/TotalitarianismPrism Jan 16 '23
If modern media is to be believed, we have the fear of ancient curses on tombs to thank for that.
5
u/Vandergrif Jan 16 '23
Or in the case of some archaeologists - blow it up with dynamite while trying to excavate.
2
11
u/TotalitarianismPrism Jan 16 '23
I know nothing of Egyptian history. There were 17 other dynasties before 1300BC? That is insane.
7
u/chris6082 Jan 17 '23
Obligatory factoid: Cleopatra lived closer to the moon landinga than to the building of the Great Pyramid
45
u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23
My wife and I are heading back to Egypt this summer, I’ve been very fortunate in life and been able to travel extensively and Egypt is both of our favourite place in the world (that we’ve seen). The amount of history that’s yet to be discovered there is mind blowing. If all goes to plan we will be getting an internal flight to Cairo, staying at mena house overnight, flying to Aswan, visiting Abu Simbel before getting a nile cruise to Luxor, going back to the Valley of the kings and the other temples before heading back to Hurghada for the remainder of our trip. We’ve seen everything before with the exception of Abu Simbel and every time it’s just as magical as before. Can’t wait to see the work being carried out at the new entrance (I don’t imagine it will be open to tourists). Anyone who hasn’t ever visited, add it to your bucket list!
68
u/No_Juice418 Jan 16 '23
Stayed 4 months there in 2021. The ancient stuff is amazing, and wel worth it. Would go back in a second to visit. But I won't. As far as modern Egypt concerned, it's probably the most awful place I've ever been to. The whole civilization is morally bankrupt.
6
u/WendolaSadie Jan 16 '23
We’re headed there in 3 weeks as first time visitors. We chose a “high-end” tour, hoping to avoid problems. Can you expand on your experience…to educate us?
3
u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23
Absolutely, depending on where you’re going will depend on what I can recommend. Are you able to give me an idea of the areas you’re staying and where you’re going to visit?
2
u/WendolaSadie Jan 16 '23
Briefly: 4 nights in Cairo (Top hotel + day tours + all meals); flight to Luxor (day tours + all meals); small ship Nile cruise with multiple stops for 7 nights (day tours + all meals + Abu Simbel).
Not sure if that’s enough detail to help, but I’m also interested in the country culture and overall vibe. Are Egyptians happy to host Westerners?
Thank you for your time.
35
u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23
Ah ok, so pretty similar to what we’re doing then.
Ok, so going in just get your head around the fact it’s a VERY different culture. when outside a resort It can be a shock to the system and a bit intimidating but ultimately the locals are not trying to hurt you, they are trying to get you to spend money with them. They are poor and getting you to part with your money is food on the table for them. The phrase ‘la shukran’ (no thankyou) will help. You will use it a lot.
•Never accept free gifts, they won’t be free. •Don’t give your phone to anyone to take photos unless you’re happy to pay for those photos. It won’t be much, say around £5 but they will expect paying. (In my experience they won’t have any interest in stealing your phone, they just want paying for the photos they take) • Haggle for EVERYTHING, the general rule of thumb is to decide a price you’re happy to pay for something, half it and start there. Don’t go above the price you have in your head and be prepared to walk away (walking away is the quickest way to get them to your price). • don’t believe anything you’re told regarding the material or origin of the stuff you want to buy. (Personally the only place I would buy things that aren’t your usual key rings etc would be Aswan and Luxor, check out all the stands at the sphinx in Cairo and you get an idea of the usual tat, avoid that stuff in Luxor, but yeah, you’re much more likely to get something hand made in Luxor - but haggle haggle haggle). • Get your guide (you will pay but get them to go in to order for the cheapest prices) to buy LOTS of water from a street stall before you get to any tourist site, the cost for water in these places is astronomical. • The hot balloon trip you will be offered in Luxor is actually really good, it’s pricey but it’s an experience I would recommend to anyone. Be aware of the kids that you will find around the docks as you’re travelling to the balloons and as you land in the balloon. This is the only time I’d say you have to actively watch out for thievery. One little bugger tried snatching the wife’s bag. • take several packets of tissues with you, when visiting temples you may find you need the loo, don’t expect there to be toilet roll unless you pay for it, taking tissues solves this problem. • do pay to visit king tuts tomb, you’re there, the price is set so there’s no haggling, just do it so you can say you’ve done it. • if you haven’t yet paid for your hotel in Cairo, try to get it changed to ‘mena house’ it’s a Mariott hotel right at the base of the pyramids and it’s AMAZING. Any celeb or high profile person visiting Cairo will stay there and it’s not OVERLY expensive to stay at (think around £130 per person per night for a pyramid view room), make sure you get the pyramid view room (partial view is usually decent too). Honestly it’s a magical experience sitting there with a glass of wine on your balcony looking at the pyramids. • if you do stay there, you will find someone who if you pay them a tenner or so will take you to the room Winston Churchill stayed in, it’s again worth the little tour and is the actual room he stayed in.
If you’re staying in Hurghada for any of your trip then make sure you go to Sheridan street for an evening, it’s the main tourist strip. There’s a hotel there called The Seagull which has an outside area you can sit, have a drink and a shisha, it’s decent. There’s also a restaurant called Moby Dick a little further down and the food there is AMAZING.
There’s probably loads more I’m not thinking of right now but if you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. 👍
2
u/timonemillion Jan 17 '23
Just back yesterday. Found Egyptians SUPER nice (though as Imgculley mentions, constantly on the game - but you can’t blame them as their economy is in the toilet).
Try koshari from Abou Tarek, near the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It’s a local staple, and soooo good.
Don’t just see the pyramids at Giza - Sakkara is incredible. The step pyramid, the little room on the north face for Djoser to see the stars, the Serapeum… all fantastic.
1
u/nirataro Jan 17 '23
Yeah a lot of people missed the Sérapéum.
If people have time they should visit the pyramids in order of construction
- Saqqara
- Maidun
- Dashur
Etc
1
u/nirataro Jan 17 '23
There are two Egyptians
- the ones in tourism
- everyone else
The everyone else is so much nicer
1
2
u/No_Juice418 Jan 17 '23
The best thing about having a tour guide or all inclusive, is that, they will protect you from the constant harrasment, lies and ripp offs.
But also, watch out with the guides. It's not unusual to hear or see stories,even on reddit of the guides, demanding 'tips' and extra money and leave out must see things cause they are to lazy.
Like the other two gentlemen, who reacted on this, they will say it's their 'culture', but lying, cheating and stealing from people isn't a culture. People, like these two gentlemen, will point out that being poor has something to do with morals. But it hasn't.
I've been to 35 countries at this point, where ever you go, 95+% of the people are decent. Doesn't matter where, what religion, whatever. I have a hard time beliving that in Egypte. In Egypte, nobody is your friend.
So dont be naive or overly friendly.
It is all beautiful though. There's good books available. The rise of ancient Egypt by Toby'something' is a good quick read. It a good idea to prepare yourself, cause it's hard to actually grasp how much time they actually were around. They excisted longer then we did at this point. The pyramids where already ancient in their time.
Also in Caïro. Coptic cariro is an amazing interesting thing to go and look at, specifically the museum. Coptics are they oldes christian Church in excistens. With first renderings of the bubel about jesus's brother and children. Very cool.
If you have more questions, please ask.
2
15
6
u/elcapkirk Jan 16 '23
Like a lot of ancient Egyptian monuments, there are few things as awe inspiring as standing in front of Ramses II at Abu simbel
5
u/butterflycaught2 Jan 16 '23 edited Jan 16 '23
I did have trip planned to see the pyramids. I was staying in Hurghada, the trip to the pyramids was meant to start Sept 12, 2001. Needless to say, it never happened and I unfortunately never made it back to visit Egypt.
6
u/Xerisca Jan 16 '23
I'm like you. Egypt is my favorite place to visit.
My favorite temple is Abydos. It's a slog to get there, but it's totally worth the drive. The carvings from the Seti I era are just magnificent.
I was last at Abydos in ... 2016? I think. Might have been 17. My guide, my husband, and I were the only people there. It was incredible having such a massive complex all to ourselves.
Dendara is also really neat, but there's just something I like more about Abydos. I think all the temple complexes pale in comparison to those two though.
1
u/newtbob Jan 17 '23
Don’t do the donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings. [source: 45 years ago, I was warned. If it’s still an option, you’ve been warned.]
3
u/lmgculley Jan 17 '23
Have been many times and I’ve never seen it offered, I’m guessing it’s something they done away with 👍
1
1
u/nirataro Jan 17 '23
Next time stop by Siwa. Al-arag oasis is finally accessible again after 8 years.
2
3
1
1
642
u/medfreak Jan 16 '23
The timeline of the Egyptian civilization is mind blowing.