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5.5: Culture

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    151334

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    Learning Objectives

    In this section, you will be:

    1. Learn about Egypt, its Geographical location, famous cities, its most famous artifacts, and its traditional food and clothes.

    Egypt مصر: Misr

    Facts to know about Egypt

    • Official Name: Arab Republic of Egypt- جمهورية مصر العربية- jumhuriat misr alearabia
    • Capital: Cairo- القاهرة- Al Qahirah
    • Population: 106,789,274 - (2022)
    • Currency: Egyptian Pound- الجنيه المصري- aljunayh almisriu
    • Continent: Africa- أفريقيا- afriqya
    • Official Lagrange: Modern Standard Arabic -اللغة العربية الفصحى الحديثة- allughat alearabiat alfushaa alhaditha

    1.1 Geographical location and flag

    Egypt in its region (undisputed)
    Egypt; CC BY-SA 3.0
    red stripe at top, white stripe with gold Eagle, black stripe at bottom
    Flag of Egypt

    Egypt is located in the northeast corner of Africa. It is the link between northeast of Africa with the southwest corner of Asia. It borders with Sudan to the south, libya to the west, the Red sea and Gulf of Aqaba to the east, The Mediterranean Sea to the north, and and Gaza Strip to the northeast. Egypt was a cradle of one of the most ancient Middle Eastern civilization, the Pharaonic ancient Egyptian civilization.

    Watch this movie about Ancient Egypt and learn about ancient Egyptian

    1.2 Famous cities

    Egypt map
    Egyptian Major Cities
    Egyptian major cities
    City Name City Name in Arabic Pronunciation Image
    Cairo القاهرة Al Qahirah
    Alexandria الاسكندرية Al-Iskandariyah
    File:Suez canalst-Alexandria, Egypt.jpg
    Alexandria; CC BY-SA 3.0
    Bur Said بور سعيد Boor Said
    File:Port Said pic.jpg
    Bur Said
    As- Suez السويس As -Suways
    File:EG-suez-19-bg-suez.jpg
    As-Suez; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Al- Mansourah المنصورة Al Mansoorah
    File:Al Mansourah, Om Kalthoum Sq.jpg
    Al-Mansourah; public domain
    Tanta طنطا Tanta
    File:Tanta-0.jpg
    Tanta; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Asyut أسيوط Assyout
    File:Assyout city Egypt.jpg
    Asyut; CC BY-SA 3.0
    Al-Fayoum الفيوم Al-Fayyoum
    File:Landwirtschaft im Fayyum Becken.jpg
    Al-Fayoum; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Az-Zagazig الزقازيق Az-Zagazeeq
    File:Zagazig, El-Hariry, Qesm Awal AZ Zagazig, Ash Sharqia Governorate, Egypt - panoramio.jpg
    Az-Zagazig; CC BY 3.0

    1.3 Most famous artifacts

    The Great Sphinx of Giza

    The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous artifacts in Egypt and one of the largest monuments in the world. It has two parts a lion's body and a human head. It is a huge 4,500-year-old limestone statue measuring 240 feet long and 66 feet high near the Great Pyramid in Giza.

    The great sphinx

    A View of the Great Sphinx of Giza beside a Pyramid; pexels license

    The Rosetta Stone

    The Rosetta Stone is one of the most ancient artifacts in Egypt. It went back to Pharaoh Ptolemy V. It contains a decree about religious texts written in three different writing systems Greek, Egyptian Hieroglyphics, and Egyptian Demotic. It is the key to undersatnd the ancient writing system of egypt.

    File:Rosetta Stone - front face - corrected image.jpg
    The Rosetta Stone; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Nefertiti Bust

    Nefertiti Bust is one of the most famous artifacts of the most beautiful woman in Ancient Egypt. She is the great royal wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaton. The bust is made of limestone covered with modeled gypsum.

    Egyptian Pyramids

    Egyptian Pyramids are Ancient buildings and great structures that are located in Egypt. They were built during the brightest time of the Egyptian civilizations especially the Great Pyramids of Giza. The oldest pyramids were built around 2630 B.C. at Saqqarah for the king Djoser.

    Ramesses II

    Ramesses II is known as Ramesses the Great. He was one of the most famous pharaohs of Egypt. He was the third Pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty. He was famous for his bravery, leadership, and martial Skills over the Egyptian army.

    Traditional Food & Clothing in Egypt

    Most Popular Food in Egypt

    Egyptian Food
    Food in English Food in Arabic Ingredients Image
    Ful Medames فول مدمس

    Fava Beans Stew with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and cumin
    File:فول حلبى مقطوع.jpg
    Ful Medames; CC BY 3.0
    Ta'meya طعمية أو فلافل

    Egyptian Falafel
    File:Falafel balls.jpg
    Falafel; CC BY 2.0
    Koshari كشري

    Mixed of rice, lentils, macaroni with spicy sauce
    File:Egyptian food Koshary.jpg
    Koshari; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Mulukhiya ملوخية

    leaves of the Corchorus plant with chicken or rabbit or meat
    File:Syrian Mlokhia.jpg
    Mulukhiya; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Hamam Mahshi حمام محشي

    Stuffed young domestic pigeon
    File:120820111243ت.jpg
    Hamam Mahshi; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Makarona Beshamel معكرونة بشاميل

    Pasta with ground beef and bechamel sauce
    File:Cheeze white sauce pasta - Our home at Pune - Maharashtra -IMG 4846.jpg
    Makarona Beshamel; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Basbousa, a dessert dish بسبوسة

    ( Semolina, Coconut, and yogurt)
    File:Basboussa - harisa - بسبوسة photo2.jpg
    Basbousa; CC BY-SA 4.0
    Om Ali أم علي

    Egyptian Bread Pudding made from milk, sugar, and pastry phyllo
    File:Om ali.jpg
    Om Ali; CC BY-SA 4.0

    Activity 1

    Write the missing words after reading the chapter above

    Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Most Popular Traditional Clothing in Egypt

    • Egyptian fashion mostly has simple patterns with high-quality cotton, linen, and wool fabrics mixed with Islamic, ottoman, and European cultures, traditions, and customs.
    • There are differences in the styles of fashion between rich and poor, farmers and city residents, Muslims and non-Muslims.
    • Egyptian Men's outfit differs from one place to another. Men mainly wear "Gallegaya" in striped colors with baggy pants and wide and large sleeves. For their headdresses, they put "taqiyia", or "turban" made from cotton.
    • Egyptian women's fashion is mainly inspired by Islamic Culture attire. Women wear "Gallebaya" that fully cover their bodies with headdresses, ears, and necks. while some of the women wear European fashion and others wear Islamic clothing with either Hijab or Burka.

    Watch this video about Ancient Egyptian Fashion

    Egyptian Men's Traditional Clothing

    File:Egyptian musicians.jpg
    Egyptian wearing gellabiyas; public domain
    Activity

    Plan a trip to Egypt during summer break. List the cities and historical places you want to visit and the famous dishes you want to eat.

    This page titled 5.5: Culture is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Hana Kassas, Layla Bahar Al-Aloom, Sameera Murtada, Maysaa Toma, and Roula Aoneh (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative (OERI)) .