Great Pyramid of Giza and The Story of The Tallet Papyrus

The Great Pyramids of Giza are amongst the most famous Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still stand today. First discovered in modern times by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie in 1880.

The pyramids, built during the frenetic period between 2490 and 2560 B.C. are now located in modern times in the city known as Greater Cairo, Egypt. Markings within the temple indicate that the Great Pyramid was built as a burial site for the Egyptian monarch Khufu. The Great Pyramids of Giza once held the title of the tallest structure on earth for many thousands of years, being estimated to have been over 480 feet tall when originally built long before it's outer casings had been lost to the elements. The outside exterior as seen today is actually the underlying core structure as this pyramid was once fully covered in limestone casings.

The largest  of the pyramids is known as the Great Pyramid of Giza; dully entitled the Pyramid of Khufu or Pyramid of Cheops, it's the oldest pyramid with elaborate burial chambers built witn-in. Three chambers are located within the The Great Pyramid, the lowest is cut into the bedrock at the Pyramid's foundation and remains unfinished. Above lies the King and Queen's burial chambers. 

On site of the Giza Necropolis are also smaller pyramids built for Khufu's wives, additional mortuary temples, mastaba tombs, ship building facilities, connecting causeways and Sphynx Gaurdian at one entry. Khufu's daughter Nefertiabet as well is buried on site along with his wives and many other relatives. It's said that the pyramids original wealth's were emptied centuries before being re-opened in modern day.

Recently in 2015 an ancient document was uncovered by archeologists, known to be the oldest papyrus in the world. The Tallet Papyrus was found in a series of 30 ancient caves located in Wadi al-Jarf near the Red Sea. This location is very far from any known city, perhaps aiding it's survival over so many centuries. The team accredited with the discovery is composed of French and Egyptian archaeologists, who after years of excuvations located several ancient papyrus scrolls. Written upon these scrolls in hieratic and heiroglyphs are stories accounting the adventures of a worker named Merer, who worked to deliver construction materials to the great pyramid building site as it was built. Today the discovery is known as the Tallet Papyrus.

This ancient writing, being more than 4,500 years old is now the oldest writing on earth and was found in relatively good condition. It provides a glimpse into The Fourth Dynasty of Old Egypt and is the only known supporting document relating to building the Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Tallet papyrus details how the giant slabs of limestone were delivered to the pyramids building sites, which details have long remained illusive. Merer's accounts have indicated that the limestone slabs were actually carried across the Nile through canals and then rolled on special tracks. The writing also describes how copper was mined in Wadi al-Jaraf and used to make stone cutting tools for the project. Inscriptions at the excavation site provide detail that the pharaohs of the times sent thousands of workers in search of copper, turquoise and other valuable materials for their projects. Most treasures have long since been lost to the test of time, however the pyramids still attract the attentions of our worlds people today.

Visit Egypt's Lost Sunken City Heracleion and it's Sunken Treasures

Lost Ancient Harbor City Thonis Heracleion Revealed

Legends and Myths throughout told about this lost city have long left a mystery as to where it went and what fate had in store for Hercleion until recently. Ten years ago no one knew if Heracleion was fictitious or a real place, after many years of searching researchers have finally confirmed finding the lost city of Heracleion 150 feet below the surface of Egypt's Bay of Aboukir. This find has unearthed a treasure trove of ancient artifacts. In tales the city of Heracleion was known as a great harbor city throughout the ages. Items found so far in 64 ships, 16 statues and many smaller artifacts like jewelry, gold and silver.

This enormous statue represents the god Hapi who ruled and watched over the Nile and his statues can be found decorating the city temples across the lost city of Heracleion. 

Hapi is known as a symbol of abundance and fertility, has never before been discovered at such a large size. This statue reaches over 5 meters tall. The discovery of Heracleion who was named by the Greeks and ancient Egyptians is just amazing because the entire city had disappeared into the sea over 1200 years ago!

The excavations have dramatically revealed this beautiful city and what it was like before it was lost into the sea. The finds include architectural elements, colossal statues, inscriptions, coins, jewelry, ceramics and ritual objects that reveal the many intricacies of the people who live here many years ago in time.

Recovered gold from underwater excavation at Heracleion

Relics recovered by excavations reveal this lost cities’ beauty and glory long before it was swallowed by the sea. Many  great finds like colossal statues, inscriptions, cultural elements, jewelry, coins, ritual objects and ceramics have been found so far and each reveals what it might have been like to live in Heracleion. The finds show this city to be crucial to the ancient world economy. Huge lots of gold coins, bronze, as well as lead and stone weights used to measure value of goods coming into the harbor in ancient times have been found at the bottom of the sea. With many ancient sunken to the bottom of the bay, this is clearly the largest number of ancient vessels located in one location.

Egyptian God Isis found at Heracleion

Statues of Hapi the ancient Egyptian goddess and also Isis who was an Egyptian goddess have been found at the excavation site. Also found was an unidentified pharaoh and many other smaller statues of gods, pharaoh's, queens and assorted figurines. On site there was a sacrificial site dedicated to the God Amun-Gereb where animals were mummified then placed into sarcophagus's as gifts to 

Amun-Gereb the supreme god of the Egyptians.

The discovery is credited to the underwater Frank Goddio who first found the site. The date of the city is estimated to roughly 8th century B.C. far older than the lost city of Alexandra. The city endured many disasters over the years before being swallowed by the sea around 700 A.D. Soil erosion and rising sea levels likely played a part to the cities demise. 

This sunken treasure was also known as the City of Thonis; it's described as the main sea hub that controlled traffic in the Mediterranean Sea. Routes led to many famous cities delivering goods to Alexandria, Algeciras, Athens, Arish, Barcelona,  Beirut, Cannes, Damietta, Gaza, Haifa,  Ibiza, Nice, Marseille, Marbella, Port Said, Rome, Sarande, Sibenik, Tangier, Tunis, Tripoli, Tel Aviv Jaffa, Valencia and Valetta.

Out new rich understanding of the city allows us to see that it played a vital role in maritime economy due to close proximity to prospering Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey during the late period Egyptian era. As a major international trading port for Egypt it also served as a levy point for trade taxes and export duties.

Tales through the ages describe stories of Helen visiting the cities with her lover Paris just before the beginning of the Trojan War. 

A Monolithic chapel  found called Noas dates back to the Ptolemaic period and was  key to identifying this underwater excavation site and the lost city of Thonis-Heracleion.

This is known as the stele of Thonis-Heracleion was order by Nectanebo I (378-362 BC) and nearly identical to the stele of Naukratis at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, written upon this stele is the city Thonis-Heracleion.

This remarkable find is the life long dream of both treasure hunters and historians alike!

Egypt's Baron Palace Has Not Been Sold

As one of the most famous Palaces in Heliopolis if not all of Egypt the Baron Empain Palace is a destination for any tourist and history enthusiast.

Recently controversy arose over a rumor that the palace was being sold for 5 million EGP, with many different media outlets reporting on this. However, Egyptian Antiquities report that the palace is owned by the Egyptian Government and they are denying reports that it was sold.

More so the palace can never be sold, it's against Egyptian Law and Constitution. Under the Cultural Regulation Law, the building will remain public property and cannot turn into a private one.

An Official of Antiquities Youssef Khalifa also confirmed that the government owns the palace and the heirs entitled to the palace have been compensated. The story turns out that another property owned by Empain's heirs was sold, however it was located ion Al-Thawra Street, which is close by in the neighborhood where the Baron Palace resides, and this is the cause of the misunderstanding.

The Baron Palace originally built in the 20th century was designed by French Architect Alexandre Marcel. As a tale of the times the Baron Empain played a major role in redesigning the upper class neighborhood in Cairo, Egypt since his arrival in 1904. He also established his own business called the Heliopolis Oasis Co. purchasing large amounts of land and turned it into the present day city.

There is however a little more to the story. Later in 1929 the Baron after death was buried under the

Basilica Church in Heliopolis, the two were linked to the Baron's Palace by an underground tunnel.

Edouard Louis Joseph, the Baron Empain started life as a wealthy Belgian engineer by trade. He became known as an entrepreneur, financier and industrialist later in life. One of his favorite hobbies was learning about the culture and history of Egypt himself, and by this he became an Egyptologist. During World War I the Baron also earned the ranking of a Major General. The Baron also founded Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company.

The Baron Empain lived from 20 September 

1852 – 22 July 1929