I am still basking in the glow of my trip to Egypt.
Let me take you to the Land of The Pharaohs. The old—or maybe young--king just died. His son, the new pharaoh will have to marry his sister who carries the royal blood. Men don’t. His first duty is to give her an heir and a daughter (think royal blood). As important in the line of duty, is to start thinking of his afterlife and build a temple to the gods and a tomb for himself.
The vizir, chief stonemason and architect choose a site. The Valley of the Kings is a great site for a royal tomb. Pharaoh approves. Construction begins by the removal of the surface materials to reach the bedrock. Stone cutters cut the entrance doorway, passages, and chambers. They use copper or bronze chisels struck by wooden mallets. The walls are polished with stones. The
surface is given a thin layer of plaster, and then draftsmen sketch outlines of figures and representations in red paint. Next come the sculptors and painters to fill in the background and designs.
The reflected sunlight was used to light the tomb near the entrance. Candles and oil lamps illuminated the depth of the tomb. The walls are decorated with scenes describing the journey of the deceased king with the sun god sailing through the Underworld at night in a boat.
There are three steps for the embalming process of the deceased king:
1- Removal of the brain through the nostril. {Yuck}
2- Extraction of the viscera through an incision in the flank.
3- Anointing the interior of the body and reclosing it.
Then the corpse is covered with natron ( salt) cleaned, dried and wrapped in several layers of linen like a bandage. Jewelry and amulets are put under the wrapping. The eyes are filled with plugs of material and the nostrils closed with resin. And there you have a beautiful mummy to last you 4000 years!!!
The royal mummies have their arms extended at their sides, or placed across the chest.
Let me take you to the Land of The Pharaohs. The old—or maybe young--king just died. His son, the new pharaoh will have to marry his sister who carries the royal blood. Men don’t. His first duty is to give her an heir and a daughter (think royal blood). As important in the line of duty, is to start thinking of his afterlife and build a temple to the gods and a tomb for himself.
The vizir, chief stonemason and architect choose a site. The Valley of the Kings is a great site for a royal tomb. Pharaoh approves. Construction begins by the removal of the surface materials to reach the bedrock. Stone cutters cut the entrance doorway, passages, and chambers. They use copper or bronze chisels struck by wooden mallets. The walls are polished with stones. The
surface is given a thin layer of plaster, and then draftsmen sketch outlines of figures and representations in red paint. Next come the sculptors and painters to fill in the background and designs.The reflected sunlight was used to light the tomb near the entrance. Candles and oil lamps illuminated the depth of the tomb. The walls are decorated with scenes describing the journey of the deceased king with the sun god sailing through the Underworld at night in a boat.
There are three steps for the embalming process of the deceased king:
1- Removal of the brain through the nostril. {Yuck}
2- Extraction of the viscera through an incision in the flank.
3- Anointing the interior of the body and reclosing it.
Then the corpse is covered with natron ( salt) cleaned, dried and wrapped in several layers of linen like a bandage. Jewelry and amulets are put under the wrapping. The eyes are filled with plugs of material and the nostrils closed with resin. And there you have a beautiful mummy to last you 4000 years!!!
The royal mummies have their arms extended at their sides, or placed across the chest.
If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat~
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, winner of 2009 BEST contemporary romance at READERS FAVORITE and 2009 BEST ROMANCE NOVEL at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.
Rx For Trust: 5 stars at Readers Favorite.
BABIES IN THE BARGAIN, winner of 2009 BEST contemporary romance at READERS FAVORITE and 2009 BEST ROMANCE NOVEL at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.
Rx For Trust: 5 stars at Readers Favorite.
Love your pics and post. Reminds me of my trip to Egypt maybe 15 years ago to visit my son who was going to the American University in Cairo. Love that part of the world. I'm lucky that my son is living in North Africa and I get to visit him there.
Looking forward to more pix.
Mona,
You're so lucky to be able to travel all over. I don't have the money, so I live vicariously through articles and travel shows. Your pictures are great!
Hey, Mona,
Welcome back to the US. What an informative and entertaining post. Think I'll pass on the mummy thing.
Love your photos.
Judi, how neat that your son went to the American University in Cairo. A friend of mine, professor of Chemistry at Penn State went there to teach chemistry a few years ago. But Cairo is so crowded. God, I couldn't live there.
Iliona, if you want to armchair travel with me, visit my blog for more pictures at: www.monarisk.blogspot.com
Mary, I can't believe what great engineers the Ancient egyptians were. You should have seen my DH studying the thickness of the columns and wondering how they moved the obelisks...
Some of those structures were engineering wonders!
I love that you've traveled so extensively, Mona, and are willing to share your stories about the interesting places you've been. Egypt must be a fascinating place. So glad you could go there.
Great photos. What wonderful adventures you have, Mona. It is no wonder your books are spiced with exotic places.
Cool photos, Mona. What a great trip. Thanks for sharing!
Judy, the monuments of Egypt are simply fabulous. One never stops to wonder and admire.
Thank you Linda.
Nancy, you should hear about the week I spent in Jerusalem. What a beautiful city and the hills around it are so green.
Amazing pictures of things I will never see in person. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us!
Mona welcome home, we missed you lady! Glad you enjoyed your trip. I'm green, we aren't taking a trip this year because we've bought a new house and will be moving this summer. Would so much rather be traveling. Wonderful pictures, please give us more, so we can enjoy your travels.
I can't wait to see Scarlet's new house.
I can't wait to see Scarlet's new house.
Wonderful post!
Now I am not wondering about all women commenting, since I just realized I am in a Pink Slippers Writers' Zone!
Thank you ladies...
Adam,
http://egyptgift.blogspot.com
Great blog, Mona! I was also in Egypt about 18 years ago, and took a trip down the Nile. Glad your trip went so well, and that you're back home safe.
Mona,
You are so well-traveled. Welcome back to the U.S. and the Pink Fuzzies. Beautiful pictures and interesting blog. Thanks for sharing your marvelous adventures.
Awesome post, Mona. Love the pictures. Gosh, I wish I had the opportunity to go to some of the places you've been.
What a fascinating post and super pics! Thanks Mona.