News — Educational

The Pyramids of Giza, located on the Giza Plateau just outside Cairo, Egypt, are among the most iconic and well-known ancient structures in the world. These pyramids are a testament to the incredible engineering and architectural achievements of ancient Egypt. Driving to the pyramids from Cairo is extraordinary because you go down a busy street and suddenly the pyramids appear beside the roadway.  The Giza complex includes three main pyramids: the Great Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Khufu or Pyramid of Cheops), the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure.   The Great Pyramid of Giza was built for...

The Valley of the Kings is a famous archaeological site located on the western bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. It is renowned for being the burial place of many ancient Egyptian pharaohs, including some of the most well-known rulers from the New Kingdom period (approximately 1550–1070 BCE).  The valley's location was carefully chosen by the ancient Egyptians due to its secluded nature, which provided a level of protection for the tombs against tomb robbers and natural elements. The valley contains around 63 known tombs, though the exact number might vary as new discoveries are made over time....

In Egyptian mythology, it was believed that after death, a person's soul would undergo a series of trials and judgments before reaching the afterlife. Here's an overview of the judgment scene known as the "Weighing of the Heart" or the "Judgment of Osiris." According to Egyptian mythology, after death, the deceased would enter the underworld, also known as the Duat. In the Duat, the soul would face the "Weighing of the Heart" judgment before the god Osiris, who was the ruler of the afterlife. The judgment scene involved the deceased's heart being weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess...

On a recent trip to Luxor, Egypt, I was in the backseat of a van on the way to Medinet Habu. I looked out the window and noticed two giant statues sitting in an open field by the road. Our guide turned the car around so we could get a closer look. This was the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III.   The two 60 foot statues of Amenhotep III stand at the gates of the pharaoh's funerary temple. Behind the large statues, you can see that archeologists are working to excavate and reconstruct the rest of the temple. The...