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CAIRO, EGYPT

    
    Cairo is the largest city not only of Egypt, but also of all Africa. The congenial strategic position between valley and delta of Nile contributed in originating of settlements on the territory of modern Cairo in an extreme antiquity. In different terms of the history the city carried two names: the Ale - Каhira ("Invincible") and Umm-ad-Djunda (" Mother of the world "). Among ancient Egyptians legends went about as if here there was a war between brothers - gods Gor and Set.
    The history of city begins with the VIIth century when in written sources the name of commander Amr Ibn the Ale-Asa is mentioned for the first time. Born, as well as Prophet Mohammed, in Mecca, this from the beginning fierce opponent of new religion has in future become the active vector of Muslim faith in Egypt. On the place of the Roman camp of Babylon he founds the military camp becoming blastemal Fustata (old Cairo). But only Fatimidas in 969 year base to the North from Big Fustata new city the Ale - Kahira, present Cairo. In 973-1171 years the city was the capital of the state Fatimidas. From 1250 till 1517 it was the capital of mamluks anthuruses, a residence of the last caliphs from dynasty Abbasids. Up to this time the city has become a large trade, craft and cultural center. Mamluks have decorated the city with uncountable mosques, mausoleums, schools of the Koran and by palaces almost unsaved, unfortunately. In the beginning of the XVIth century Cairo is seized by Turks - Osmanli Turks, and by the end of middle Ages it withers, more and more acquiring provincial shape. Only in 1805 the reformer Mohammed Ali has woken the city from century dream. In 1882 Cairo has been occupied by English armies, and from 1914 till 1922 was an administrative centre of the British protectorate. In 1922-1953 the city was the capital of the Kingdom Egypt, since 1953 - the Egyptian Republic, in 1958-1971 – of the Integrated Arabian Republic (IАR), and since 1971 and to the present day - the Arabian Republic of Egypt (АRЕ).
    The population of the Big Cairo increased fast in rates after the second world war (from about 2 million in 1947 up to 7 million in 1976 and 8,8 million in 1986). The present population of Cairo exceeds 15 million persons, switching on about 2 million visitors from the terrains accumbent to the city. As a whole in the capital and its suburbs about a quarter of the population of all the Egypt lives there. Cairo is a conglomerate of flock of cultures, modern capital and a multi-colored market simultaneously.
    The city is located a little to the North of that place where more than 3 thousand years B.C. there was Memphis - the capital of ancient Egyptian kingdom. The quarters of the city were stretched mainly along a dextral shore of Nile, and also have taken islands of Nile Gezira and the Genus, coherent by bridges with the other part of the city. Island Gezira is one of the most beautiful and green areas of the capital, a liked place of rest of inhabitants of Cairo. The prestigious sport clubs are located here; many of them are intended only for rich foreigners. For the last 40 years the left shore of Nile has been built fast up.
    Cairo is a huge, various megapolis. The quarters located along Nile, are built up by predominantly high-altitude buildings. Here there are the best shops, hotels, restaurants. On the right to the coast of Nile one of the most comfortable hotels of Cairo - "Hilton" is located. Constructed in 1958, it as well as hotel «Sheraton " is located nearby, is the most prestigious hotel of the capital.
    The center of modern Cairo – the area Аt-Тakhrir on which the basic state and public organizations of Egypt are located, and also headquarter of the League of the Arabian states. On same area in a massive building of neo-classical style the Egyptian museum - one of the most well-known museums in the world is placed. It has been founded in 1858 by the French scientist who studied Egypt O.Mariete. In its walls the richest collections of monuments of art and culture of Ancient Egypt, including treasure of a tomb of Pharaoh That-tanhamon, a gold sarcophagus with weight in 100 kg, a mask of That - tanhamon, the most ancient cot in the world, mummies of Pharaohs and a mummy of sad monkey are gathered. Now the collection totals of more than 100000 exhibits.
    From the square Аt-Тakhrir two streets go which nobody passes by, let him be in Cairo though a day or two. These streets are Taliban Harb and Casr-аn-Nile - trading business arteries of modern Egyptian capital. Along them shops, small cafes, offices of banks, the companies, air agencies, and cinemas stand.
    Old Cairo today is a suburb area of the capital. It is located on the East coast of Nile. Old quarters were saved almost immutable from the epoch of middle Ages, with labyrinths of curves streets and shabby apartment houses, denuded of elementary conveniences. On the border of Old Cairo there are debris of the Roman strong hold erected in the epoch of Emperor Trajan. Two towers of this strong hold carrying in the antiquity the name Babylon were saved. Closely to towers walls of the Greek monastery rise, and the small church of Saint George is standing right on the top of one of the towers were according to the legend the chains of Christian saint are kept. Here, near the walls of a monastery, there is a place where the city Fustat which was giving rise to modern Cairo had been incorporated by the Arabian conqueror of Egypt Amr Ibn the Ale-As. The temple of mosque Amr Ibn the Ale-As, built in 641-642 years on that place, where the conqueror for the first time has set up the green banner in time of assault of Babylon is the unique monument of that epoch which has survived up to now. The mosque was some times reconstructed (last time in 1798). Inside it one can see some series of different by the styles columns which have been transported here from ancient, basically of Coptic temples. One of them, under the legend, has been sent to Amr by Prophet Mohammed from Mecca.
    In an old part of the city there are noisy markets, flock of small-sized shops and craft workshops where produce not only subjects of daily domestic use, but also souvenirs for foreign tourists.
    In some areas of the city the population density reaches 120000 people on 1 square km. The one who wants not only to examine places of interest of the city but also to learn about its social problems, will by all means have a glance at these areas, will wander on narrow streets of Old Cairo, will observe life in court yards and lanes or with local residents will visit cemeteries. People here are not less friendly, than in other areas of Cairo. Visitors from whom furthermore it is possible to expect profit are interesting to them.
    Copts (Monophysits) are the Egyptians shriving Christianity (an aggregate number - about 2 million persons, the majority lives in Egypt). In Cairo there are numerous monuments of Coptic culture. So, in area Kasr аsh-Shamaa it is possible to see Pendant church (Ale - Мualakka), constructed in the IVth century above an austral gate of the Babylonian strong hold in honor of blessed Virgin Maria. In this church a unique painting on the wall of the XIVth century was saved. In the other church – in name of Mark (Аbu-Sefi'n) there is a unique collection Coptic art - more than 170 icons with reproductions Shabby and the New testament. Coptic churches over Saint Serge and over Saint Barbara have strict circuits of Byzantian basilicas. The richest in the world collection of Coptic art (the manuscripts, the icons, tapestries) are in the Coptic museum founded in 1908. Cairo is an important center of Muslim divinity. In city are more than 300 mosques. Most known of them - mosque Amra (642), Ibn Tulun (878), Аle-Аzkhar (970). As the Muslim faith forbids representing human faces and any other alive essences, creative energy of Egyptian artists was poured out in potent development of architecture and an applied art, in particular unusually expressive Arabian ornament equal to which does not exist in the world. For this reason the architecture of mosques not similar one to another is so emotional.
    Mosque of Ibn Tulun is one of the eldest mosques of Cairo, constructed in the IXth century, is located in Gamaliya - the densely populated by poor people area located to the West from the Citadel predominant above the city. For the first time in Muslim architecture potent columns and arcs are not used which usually give to a mosque an easiness and lightness. The mosque of Ibn Tulun is strict by architecture - there are no small-sized unnecessary dressings, the ornament of a colonnade is simple and geometrical. Nothing distracts here the person from his (her) ideas.
    The citadel (medieval strong hold) is constructed in the XIIth century at foot of mount Мukattam. Together with the mosque of Mohammed Ali having a circular dome and four sharp minarets erected inside it, the Citadel is the original visiting card of Cairo.
    Near the Citadel other well-known mosque - of anthurus Hasan (constructed 500 years after appearance of mosque of Ibn Tulun) towers. For the phylum it is a mosque - medrese (height of a dome - 18 m, diameter - 21 м). Its austral minaret is the highest in Cairo. The architecture of a minaret is masterly.
    Near the mosque the Museum of Anderson Geyer named so in honor of English major, who collected samples of traditional Arabian furniture and subjects of life, is located. The museum is placed in the house of a rich merchant constructed in 1631. Inside the house represents a labyrinth from narrow ladders, the smart transitions, unexpectedly found doors hidden in cases or covered with carpets. In small dark rooms there is always cool. Windows are covered by wooden shutter and by lattices with skilful thread, and figure of a thread always is different, any does not repeat the other. The museum enables evidently to introduce how rich inhabitants of Cairo of the last centuries lived.
    To the North from the Citadel the City of Dead is located, the biggest in the world necropolis which most ancient entombments concern to the XVth century. Near the Citadel there is also Muslim university Al-Azhar which prepares the highest sunnit clergy. Near there is a cathedral mosque of Cairo Seidna Ale - Hussein. In this mosque constructed at the end of XIX century, the entrance to non-Muslims is forbidden. Behind the mosque Seidna Ale - Hussein begins the well-known Cairian market of Khan Ale - Halili. On this colossal picturesque market place the items of aboriginal handicraftsmen are introduced. On Khan it is possible to purchase everything that the soul of tourist desire, except for alcoholic drinks and beer. It is the present market, and so ancient, that many people assert that the mere city has arisen around of it.
    The largest of industrial suburbs of Cairo - Heluan is located in 30 kms to a South-East from capital. Earlier Heluan was known basically as a climatic health resort glorified by sulfuric sources. In Heluan there was a palace of Egyptian king Faruka, thrown in 1952. Now Heluan is a large industrial centre in which the metallurgical plant and many other enterprises of a heavy industry work.
    The city Giza (more than 900 thousand inhabitants) almost merges with Cairo. Nearby the city there are well-known ancient Egyptian pyramids, including the largest of them – the pyramid of Kheops.
    One of the miracles of the world – the pyramid of Kheops was constructed in 2650 B.C., as well as the other monuments of the former power of Ancient Egypt are on the plateau Cafr As-Samman. The environs of pyramids are declared by area of outstanding natural beauty. The great pyramid – the pyramid of Kheops - in an antiquity reached 146 m, now the upper part of the pyramid is destroyed and its present heights compounds 137м. For the construction of the Great pyramid cunningly 2,3 million stone blocks in average weight of 2,5 t each were used. In days of Kheops sides of the pyramid have been reveted with the polished by plates from  fine-grained sandstone which then have been used for construction of palaces of mamluks’ anthuruses and building of houses in Cairo. About the volume of used during the construction of the pyramid   stuff it is possible to judge upon such fact: according to the inventories of English scientists, for the  construction of all the Christian churches in England there was used less material than for one Big pyramid.
    The entrance into the Great pyramid first was from boreal side, at a level of the 13-th of some granite plates. Now it is closed. To penetrate inside the pyramid it is possible by a manhole abandoned by ancient predators. The narrow corridor leads all over again in almost horizontal surface inside the pyramid, then by degrees lifts above and above. By it you get into the chamber of the spouse of the Pharaoh which is in midpoint of the pyramid, approximately in 120 m from its fastigium. Having returned a little back and having lifted by a narrow wooden ladder into the granite gallery leaving under an angle 30 °, you find yourself in the funeral chamber where there is sarcophagus of Kheops. To people subject claustrophobia, it is not recommended stay inside the pyramid for a long time.
    Near the Great pyramid the pyramid of Heffner, the son of Kheops (136,5 м) towers. It is a unique pyramid at which fastigium part of pristine facing was saved. Pyramid of Hefren in due course represented a uniform complex with a granite temple which ruins are about the Great sphinx - a mysterious essence with a trunk of a lion and a head of the person who has been cut down from one stone. Length of a sphinx from a tip of paws up to a tail - 57,3 m, height - 20 m. At huge paws of a sphinx the small temple now completely eroded was sheltered. In Egypt, in the season of Average and New Kingdom, sphinxes often were represented with a head of the ram or a falcon. For example, in Carnac temple the whole avenue of lamb-headed sphinxes was saved. However the Great sphinx in Giza is the most ancient of Egyptian sphinxes. Apparently, sphinxes played a role of guards of sacred places.
    The smaller from pyramids of Giza, the pyramid of Mikerin, the grandson of Kheops, is marginal from the Western side. Their height is 66 m, and length of each of the sides of the establishment - 108 m. The considerable part of stuffs from this pyramid has gone on manufacturing of a Cairo Citadel; therefore it was saved worse then others. To the South from the pyramid three small dilapidated pyramids were built in series. Along all rocky plateau on which pyramids of Giza stand, numerous entombments by guards of necropolis, grandees and the approached three Pharaohs of IV dynasties - builders of pyramids are located.
    To the present time it is known about the existence of about 80 Egyptian pyramids. All of them are located in necropolises - ancient cities of dead which were stretched on the Western coast of Nile as on the presentation of ancient Egyptians in the West the Country of dead is situated, to where the craft of the god of sun Ra goes down.
    The funeral place of the tsars of times of Ancient Kingdom (2705-2177 B.C.) Sakkara is in 30 kms from Cairo. It is the largest necropolis in Egypt (length - 8 kms, width - from 800 m up to 2 kms). In Sakkara almost all the history of civilization of Egypt is introduced. Here it is possible to look at historical monuments of times of Pharaohs of Ancient Greek and Roman Empire. In epoch of Ancient Kingdom under the order of the first Pharaoh of III dynasty there was built well-known six-ladder-shaped pyramid of Josser. To the North from Sakkara is Мastaba - a tomb of the last Pharaoh of IV dynasty Shepseskap, looking like a huge sarcophagus. In Saccara’s necropolis in 1851 the ancient Serapium has been discovered - a tomb of sacred bulls. In an antiquity the temple Serapium was an enormous religious complex. The underground catacombs in which there are sarcophaguses of sacred bulls represent its main part. One of them is made of granite, other - from basalt, the third - from sandstone. The weight of one of such sarcophaguses together with a cover is 69 t. till now in Serapium the archeological excavations which from time to time bring new sensational discoveries are led.
    On path to Saccara’s necropolis it is possible to turn to ruins of Memphis - capitals of Pharaohs of Ancient Kingdom. Here, in a palm grove under a concrete canopy huge statue of Ramses П, the great Pharaoh of XIX dynasty lays on land. Near to statue there is an alabaster sphinx of epoch of Pharaoh Amenofisa II. Once both the statue, and the sphinx decorated the austral fencing of temple Pta. Neither from fencing, nore from temple to the present time anything remained.
    Cairo is picked out very much on the background of other African capitals already by the fact that here there is an underground. In the city metallurgical, machine-building, textile, chemical industries, and also crafts (manufacturing of metal wares, skins, etc.) are advanced. There is an international airport. In the capital 4 universities, the Academy of sciences, Institute of Egypt, 10 museums work.

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