Egyptian men - what are they? Criteria for selecting a travel agency.

Some of these traditions we do not understand at all, but something, on the contrary, will find a spiritual response from the Russians.

They visit after midnight

Relatives and friends in Egypt often visit each other, and these meetings usually occur late in the evening. Guests can stay up until 12 at night, the closest, especially on weekends and in Ramadan, - until 2-3 in the morning. If it is not a pre-arranged gala dinner, guests are usually offered drinks, at most small snacks. Most of the time, the Egyptians do not eat, but lively discuss everything in the world, argue, joke - pure epicureanism. If a foreigner comes to visit, then, on the contrary, they try to feed him with all possible traditional dishes, which are indecent to refuse.

They can let a stranger sleep over

In some areas of Upper Egypt, any traveler who asks to spend the night with a local resident will immediately be invited to the house, fed and put to bed, but only if there is a special guest room in this house, located separately from other rooms, so as not to embarrass the female half of the house.

They order delivery of everything and everywhere

At any time of the day in most residential areas of large cities, you can order home delivery of groceries, ready-made food and medicines. Even small shops are often open around the clock (or at least until 3 am) and for a small fee ($ 0.5) or even free of charge, they are ready to deliver to your home. In the daytime, you can also order the delivery of tickets, cosmetics, clothes, furniture, etc. In addition, many Egyptians, due to the crisis, buy things from dealers who bring goods from abroad and sell at a price lower than in shopping centers.

What can be done today, they put off until tomorrow

One of the most popular expressions in Egypt is "bukra" ("tomorrow"). The Egyptians, like many other Muslims, believe that everything is in the hands of God. However, in Egypt, this belief reaches its limit: either the hot climate, or the natural relaxation leads to the fact that the promised actions are repeatedly postponed until later. It is usually very difficult to achieve the fulfillment of the promised, and sometimes even impossible. An Egyptian will rarely refuse a service, but it is not a fact that deeds will follow words.

Egypt has a large Coptic community, as well as many foreigners who have come to work or are married to locals. Churches can be found in all cities, especially in Cairo and Alexandria. Muslims and Christians are often lifelong friends, celebrating each other's religious holidays together.

Even within the same religion, people can have different views on certain points and still remain friends. You can often see girlfriends dressed in completely different ways: one in a long skirt and a tightly tied scarf, another in jeans, a tunic and a turban, a third in a short-sleeved T-shirt and without a scarf. At the same time, marriages between Egyptians of different religions are an extremely rare phenomenon (unlike marriages with foreigners).

They paint eggs all over the country for Easter

Egyptians believe that many dishes considered traditional in other countries actually originated in Egypt. For example, the Armenian dolma originated from the Egyptian dish uara’a al i’nab (“grape leaves”). Lazy cabbage rolls, peppers with rice and meat, and in general any vegetable stuffed with rice are a reflection of the Egyptian dish of mahshi. And even the tradition of painting eggs for Easter has its roots in the ancient Egyptian spring festival Sham-en-Nessim ("flower fragrance"). To this day, Egyptians, regardless of religion, paint eggs with onion peels and red beets on the first Monday after the Coptic Easter (The Coptic Orthodox Church is the Christian church of Egypt, it is not part of the family of Orthodox churches of the Byzantine tradition. - Approx. Ed.).

They rarely get divorced

Although today's youth often practice relationships outside of marriage, in the end, the vast majority start a family. Without marriage, it is almost impossible for an Egyptian couple to rent an apartment and even stay in most hotels. A decent family will never let their daughter go with a man without additional accompaniment in the person of a brother / mother on a trip abroad or even to another city, even if the engagement has already taken place. Men usually marry in their 30s, when they have accumulated enough money to provide for their families. Girls approach marriage consciously, choosing a responsible and mature companion, but they try to do it before the age of 30. And divorce is the last resort here.

They love all children equally.

Children are loved and pampered here, which is not always good for them: they can stay up late, eat and drink whatever they want. To have an abortion for non-medical reasons in the presence of an official husband is a great shame, no matter how tense the relationship between the spouses and whatever the family income is. They try to give children the best education by selling apartments and land to send them to study abroad or to a prestigious local university. Orphanages exist, but usually there are children born out of wedlock, or orphans left not only without parents, but also without a single relative who is ready to take care of upbringing.

In the event of a divorce, even if the man is not very wealthy, he will fight for the right of custody of the children to the last, although the law in this case is usually on the side of the mother (children remain under the care of a Muslim mother until the age of 15, while the father is allowed to see the children at least once a week).

They share sorrow and joy together

When someone has grief, the person is not left alone, all friends and relatives visit him, talk, support, help around the house. However, friends are known not only in trouble, but also in joy. The Egyptian will share happiness with pleasure, inviting all relatives, friends, work colleagues and neighbors to the wedding (the number of guests can start from 200 and reach up to 1000 people). Most Egyptians know how to enjoy what they have, regardless of profession and wealth.

They are popular family houses

The elderly are treated with respect, they try to visit them as often as possible; Egyptian men are especially strongly attached to their mothers. They can call them several times a day, tell them about everything that happens to them, and relentlessly confess their love. Most young families live separately, however, the so-called family houses are quite popular, when the whole family lives in the same house, but on different floors.

Egypt is open for tourism, thousands of people come here every year for impressions and emotions. During the holiday season, the number of vacation offers increases significantly. Hundreds compete in the service market, surprise with seasonal discounts, offer interesting promotions. Tourism in Egypt today is developed at a high level, the country annually opens up new opportunities for guests from different countries, dozens of entertainment and show programs are offered.

General information about the country

Egypt is a state located on two continents: Africa and Asia, the capital is Cairo. The country is washed by the waters of the Red and Mediterranean Seas, has borders with Israel, the Gaza Strip, Libya and Sudan. Some part of the state is located on the Sinai Peninsula. The national language of the Egyptians is Arabic, here people use its special Egyptian dialect. The monetary unit is the Egyptian pound. More than 90% is desert, the rest is the coastal cultivated land of the Nile. The state inhabits over 70.5 million people, the main population is concentrated in Cairo.

National features

Most of the population of Egypt are Arabized descendants of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt. Islam is considered the main religion here, it is practiced by almost 90% of local residents, the remaining 10% recognize Christianity. The Egyptians are distinguished by hospitality and greet the tourist as an honored guest. They are happy to ask about the family, children and work, invite them to visit, the refusal of such an offer is considered a manifestation of impoliteness.

Women in Egypt must wear closed clothing, avoiding exposing their shoulders and legs. Tourists are advised to follow the general rules when leaving the hotel and not to be there without male acquaintances.

The most revered religious holiday among the Egyptians is Ramadan - the holy month. During this time, strict fasting and prayer must be observed.

Criteria for selecting a travel agency

The Internet is replete with offers from travel operators, so it is quite difficult to discern something worthwhile in such a flow of information. Guided by some criteria, you can simplify your life and not regret your choice.

1. Reviews. First of all, you should pay attention to the recommendations of friends and acquaintances who have already used the services of agencies for organizing tourist routes. Then you need to check popular sites with collected reviews about the impressions of tourists and choose the best option for yourself.
2. Agreement. You should thoroughly study the contract for the services provided before agreeing to a deal. You need to be careful when reading so as not to miss the subtleties. An agency that has a good reputation and values ​​it and its client always provides accurate information about the tour, hotel accommodation, entertainment program, etc., the words of the manager must be confirmed by the information in the contract. If there are no discrepancies or controversial points, then the company can be trusted.
3. History of the company. It is necessary to analyze information about the company on the Internet, view the date of creation, photo history. Preference should be given to agencies with extensive experience in the tourism business, since young companies do not know the market and its features so well, this can lead to negative consequences.
4. Price policy. Not always low prices for tours are a guarantee of an unforgettable vacation. Before agreeing to the company's services, it is necessary to analyze information about it, if there is enough information, for example, there is an active advertising company on the Internet, a good and comfortable office, a decent website and other factors that reveal the company's high status in the market, you can trust her without a doubt organizing your leisure time. If there is almost no information, there is a risk of falling for the trick of scammers.
5. Press. Not it will be superfluous to study the pages on request with the name of the organization of interest, to view articles, reviews related to the activities of the company.
6. The professionalism of the staff. It is not difficult to analyze the level of qualification of the working personnel, you need to correctly formulate the question of interest. If the answer is clear, fast and detailed, then the specialist is a professional in his field. If the question puzzled him, most likely, the manager has an initial level of training and does not know all the nuances and subtleties.

Description of popular resorts

Egypt is an amazing country known for its abundance of seaside resorts. Tourism in Egypt is developed at a high level, millions of people from all over the world annually become its temporary residents during the holidays.

1. Hurghada. Perhaps, one of the most popular and famous Egyptian resorts, which attracts the attention of tourists with its clean beaches, convenient descents to the water, and the absence of a coral day. The best time for a holiday in Hurghada is spring or autumn, the resort will appeal to families with children or people of honorable age. Due to its convenient location, from here you can get to one of the main attractions of Egypt - the Pyramids of Giza, Alexandria. Also, if desired, you can visit the port city of Safaga adjacent to Hurghada. It is located 60 kilometers from the resort.
2. El Gouna. The location of the resort hotels is very unusual, they are located on small islands, connected by various bridges. Mostly they move here with the help of motor boats. The resort of El Gouna is quite young, but despite this, it is already popular among tourists.

3. Marsa Alam. A resort for divers and those who love snorkeling, the sea depths offer a beautiful view of the unique coral reefs. The main part of the resort is not built up yet, so there are not many places to stay.

4. Sharm el-Sheikh. One of the popular resorts of the Sinai Peninsula, prices here are much higher than in Hurghada. The resort is distinguished by an abundance of bays, the main part of which is a protected object. Swimming in such a place is possible only with special shoes.

Entertainment for children

The development of tourism in Egypt is at a high level. Each resort offers vacationers a wide range of services and entertainment. Egyptian resorts are a popular destination for families. Due to its beautiful and clean beaches, the abundance of entertainment programs for children of different ages, parents are increasingly opting for Egypt. To ensure that children do not get bored on vacation, animators work in hotels, children's playgrounds and clubs function.

Holidays for adults

Adults can entertain themselves at the disco in the club or visit local restaurants or pubs. For those who do not like the standard options for recreation, a popular form of entertainment is suitable - an overnight stay in the desert, from where breathtaking views of the starry night sky open up. Egypt offers fans of extreme sports to plunge into the underwater world. The most popular entertainment among tourists is diving among sunken ships.

Another type of recreation in the deserts of the country is a jeep safari. Active racing across the sandy expanses in a powerful jeep will appeal to lovers of drive and adventure.

A visit to an oasis in the Egyptian desert is popular. Everyone can visit a piece of land with exotic greenery, see where the border between the worlds passes, evaluate the scale of the endless desert and stone plains.

Thermal springs have long been popular entertainment with health benefits. Most of them have been proven to have healing properties. The most famous is the Cleopatra pool, with local mineral water.

Tourism in Egypt is distinguished by a wide range of services for the entertainment and leisure of tourists. You won't be bored here.

Main Attractions

Egypt has something to show. The state is rich in valuable objects preserved from prehistoric times. Tourism feeds Egypt, but, unfortunately, the standard of living of the majority of the country's population can be equated to low. Thanks to the flow of vacationers, the economy of the state stabilizes. Here are some must-see attractions:

1. Pyramids at Giza- this is the main pride of Egypt. Among the rest, the pyramid of Cheops stands out, it is the highest and is the only surviving Wonder of the World.

2. Alexandria- a city rich in miracles, previously the famous Cleopatra ruled here.

3. Mount Moses. Anyone can plunge into the biblical story and climb the mountain in the footsteps of Moses, this route is very popular among religious pilgrims.

Features of entering the country

In 2015, the President of the Russian Federation imposed bans on direct flights between the Russian Federation and Egypt, the reason was the crash of a plane with Russian tourists. At the beginning of 2018, a presidential decree allowed the restoration of flights between the countries. Now tourism in Russia and Egypt will start resuming.

National cuisine. What you should definitely try

For many residents of Russia, Egypt is the center of tourism. That is why Egyptian dishes can often be found in modern Russian establishments.

In the diet of the Egyptians there are legumes, and the main meat is camel meat. They also eat all kinds of birds: pigeons, chickens, geese. Egypt's markets are a foodie's paradise. Especially the mill is famous for the abundance of spices, here they come in various types and flavors. The residents' favorite drink is hibiscus flower tea.

A local delicacy is a pigeon meat dish served with rice, it is worth a try! The bird is specially grown in enclosures to the desired size, then butchered, fried and served at the table.

The image of institutions affects the success of tourism in Egypt. Hundreds of restaurants, pubs, coffee houses maintain a decent level of service so that the tourist comes back again. The resumption of tourism in Egypt and Russia is a great contribution to the development of international relations.

But you can buy an amulet in the form of a human hand, they are very popular in Egypt.

It is worth remembering that in Arab countries, including Egypt, the left hand is considered “unclean”, which is associated with its traditional use for washing intimate places (especially hot climates). Therefore, you should not pass or take anything with your left hand, and if you are left-handed, it is better to warn your counterpart about this in advance.

Ideas about the connection of the left hand with something bad (with failure, loss), and the right hand with something good (happiness and prosperity), are reflected in the Koran, in the Bible. That is why, if you decide to refuse the Egyptian's request, but do not want to offend at the same time, put your right hand on your chest in the heart area, expressing your gratitude.

Handshake for an Egyptian- a much more personal process than for residents of Europe and America. Be sure to shake hands when you say goodbye. If a person is dear to you - with both hands. But you shouldn't shake hands with a Muslim woman if you don't want trouble. There will be a need - she will do it herself.

Don't show your feet

When visiting Egypt, it is worth remembering the customs associated with the feet, no matter how funny they may seem. So, for example, showing others the soles of your feet or the soles of your shoes is considered bad manners. By doing this, it is very easy to offend the feelings of the Egyptians and thereby discourage them from doing anything with you.

For the same reason, sitting with one foot crossed is not recommended - there is no point in offending people if you can do without it, and it makes no sense to spoil your own vacation.

However, it is worth noting that in the hotels of Egypt it is unlikely that anyone will pay attention to such a situation. Even the locals who vacation in such hotels may well sit with their legs crossed, without considering that they are offending someone, and without, in fact, having the intention to do so. However, getting out into the city, or visiting one of the many shops in Egypt, it is worth remembering this simple rule. Caution is never too much.

It is worth remembering that if for any reason you visit a mosque in Egypt (even if you are on an excursion), you must take off your shoes, otherwise the feelings of believers will be offended. It’s worth taking off your shoes and, entering someone else’s home, by doing this you will show your respect to the owners of the house. However, walking barefoot outdoors and especially on the street is not recommended in any case - it is quite easy to catch some kind of infection.

Arab mentality

All Arabs are characterized by a high degree of fatalism. A faithful Muslim relates to God as a servant, devoted to self-denial, dutifully following the path prepared for him by Allah. No wonder that “Islam” can be translated as “submission”. "Inshallah" - so they say in Egypt on almost any occasion, which means - "Everything is in the hands of Allah!" Both success and failure are all connected with the divine will. This is what predetermines the somewhat philosophical attitude of the Egyptians to life, which is why their characteristic feature is high patience.

Arabs calmly relate to difficulties and hardships, they are unpretentious and moderate in everyday life. This is due to the fact that Egypt for a very long time remained a country where the dominant form of labor was hard, physical, low-productive labor. And, it would seem, life in such conditions should have forced the Egyptians to develop a high degree of industriousness, readiness to take up work with joy. In fact, not everything in Egypt is the same way.

Labor itself and its quality for the Arabs are concepts that exist in different dimensions. And if something happens in your room, a faucet leaks, a lock breaks or a window stops opening due to a jammed latch - don't be surprised if the trouble is not fixed immediately. It's not about you - it's about the mentality The labor process is not considered here as the purpose of human existence, the Egyptian would prefer to do nothing, while enjoying all the possible benefits.

Such is Egypt, and if you ask an Egyptian to do something, and this does not arouse his interest, to remain unfulfilled at your request, despite the fact that every day you will be assured that everyone remembers and is about to do it. "Bukra". Tomorrow. Or the day after tomorrow.

The main thing is to remember that idleness and laziness among the Arabs are not condemned, and by urging their work activity on with shouts and scandals, you will not achieve anything, except that you will spoil your opinion of yourself, and spoil your rest too. The best thing to do in such a situation is to interest the employee.

How to behave in the market

Souvenirs are very rarely purchased by tourists in hotels - the very phrase “oriental bazaar” itself seems attractive to many. However, few clearly understand what it really is. The fact is that merchants in Egypt are not distinguished by either politeness or good manners. Their main goal is to sell their product, and even if you are not at all interested in it, it does not matter to them. What can be advised?

If you really liked the goods, be sure to bargain, in which case the merchant's respect for you will increase immeasurably. It is worth remembering that in Egypt to deceive a tourist will by no means be considered something shameful. On the contrary, they may even refuse to give you change, citing the fact that you paid the cost of the thing, no matter how much money has migrated into the merchant’s pocket. Or, alternatively, slip something completely different from what you paid for. So be careful and do not let yourself cheat or deceive in any other way.

If your unwillingness to communicate is ignored and the impudence of the merchants goes beyond all conceivable limits, tell them in English that you are calling the tourist police, and, picking up the phone, pretend that you are dialing the number. Most likely, they will leave you right there. If not, tell the fictitious officer that you were taken hostage - you will be left alone with a guarantee.

Women are generally not recommended to visit the markets of Egypt without being accompanied by men. The fact is that in such cases there is a high risk of a collision not only with annoying and annoying merchants, from whom it will be difficult to fight off on their own, but of attracting completely unnecessary attention from Egyptians who may wish to diversify their personal lives. And the most reasonable option would be to agree on joint shopping with other vacationers - this is both easier and safer in any case.

The telephone number of the tourist police on duty, however, is worth having on the phone. Whether it is useful to you or not, in any case, your ability to avoid unforeseen troubles will increase significantly.

Last parting word

Summing up, I would like to note that Egypt, like any other country, has its own customs, its own rules of conduct and communication. Whether you are dealing with a hotel clerk or an official, a merchant or a local you meet by chance, it is worth keeping these rules in mind and not breaking them. This will help you not only leave a good opinion about yourself and your country, but also fully enjoy your vacation in one of the oldest countries on Earth.

1. Organization of the city space. Residential dwellings. Even in ancient times, thanks to Greek and Roman travelers, fame spread about Egypt as a wonderland, a treasury of wisdom, a cradle of mysterious - mystical - knowledge. However, not only the sacred sphere of life of the Egyptians aroused the interest of Europeans - there were many curious things in the organization of the daily way of life of the inhabitants of the Nile. For example, where else on earth did they knead clay with their hands and dough with their feet? Where did you meet the sower who scattered grains directly into the uncultivated land, and the plowman who followed the sower, covering the grain thrown into the soil with an inverted layer of arable land? This could only be seen in Egypt. The Egyptians were among the first on the planet to create cities, form urban space, build fortifications and residential buildings of brick. This side of their everyday experience will now be in the center of our attention.

The ancient Egyptians cared more about their gods and the dead than about their well-being. Taking up the construction of the temple - the House of millions of years, or the tomb - the "house of eternity", they, regardless of costs and difficulties, brought precious stone, metals and expensive hardwoods, believing that temples and tombs are not temporary shelters for the gods and the eternal substance of people, but structures that challenge the inexorable influence of time. Therefore, temples and tombs survived many historical eras, and residential buildings (and not only ordinary Egyptians, but also pharaohs, as well as nobles), which were built from unbaked brick, ceased to exist along with their inhabitants.

The fragile unbaked brick made of river silt has not passed the test of time, so the appearance of cities and residential buildings is recreated with great difficulty.

Egyptian cities did not have strict outlines, a single building plan. Even their size, no matter what role they played in the economic or political life of the country, was determined mainly by the amount of free space provided for their construction in the narrow gorges of the Nile and the deserts and rocks approaching its banks. A common, distinguishing feature of all cities was their powerful, reliable fortifications. The walls of the fortifications could reach a width of up to fifteen meters, a height of up to sixteen or more meters. They hid from prying eyes almost everything that was within their limits, except perhaps the pyramidal tops of obelisks - monuments to the sunbeam and pylons - monumental gates in the shape of a trapezoid. The main wall was supplied with massive, strong gates with towers. Some cities could have several rings of fortifications. Behind the fortifications, additional, specially erected walls, the palaces of the pharaohs, temples and houses of nobles also towered.

If the size of the city was small, then its inhabitants could not enjoy home gardens with fragrant vegetation. This was an unaffordable luxury even for those who loved the coolness of gardens and parks and could afford to set up groves and flower beds: it was not easy to give shelter to a large number of people in a relatively small space.

At the same time, there were many spacious cities in Egypt, reminiscent of the Egyptian capital, built under the reformer pharaoh Amenhotep IV - the city of Akhetaton. A central road ran along the entire length of the city, which was crossed by several narrower streets. Dividing the city into a grid of quarters, they led to the piers, the necropolis and the quarries. In the central part of Akhetaten there were a palace, a temple, various state institutions (for example, the famous international archive), storage facilities and barns. Huge areas were set aside for parks and gardens both inside the city and in its immediate environs.

Beautiful gardens were laid out in Thebes, also called Opet, which means "shrine", "palace", "harem" in translation. The famous alley of sphinxes - rams with human heads led to the sanctuaries dedicated to Amun-Ra in Luxor and Karnak. Palaces of kings, princes, viziers and other high-ranking dignitaries were built on both sides of the alley of sphinxes, which connected the two circumferential walls, as well as along the river bank. Following the ambitions of the capital's nobility, the city was constantly growing, so the residences of the rich and the shacks of the poor probably turned out to be standing side by side with each other.

In Egypt, cities were discovered in which a thick wall divided the space into two zones: the region of the rich and the region of the poor. In poor neighborhoods, houses facing the entrance to the street crowded together and literally crawled onto neighboring buildings. The houses of wealthy citizens were almost fifty times larger than the dwellings of the city's lower classes. Often occupying an area of ​​two and a half thousand square meters, they were functionally thought out and distinguished by exceptional comfort. The entrance was decorated with a portico with columns, along the perimeter of the building there were open terraces (galleries) with high columns supporting the roof. Designed for the local climate, large houses also had cool corridors that opened onto the courtyard and were located between rows of separate rooms. On the galleries, the residents spent the cool hours of the day, dined.

In the royal palaces, the facades were decorated with multi-tiered cornices supported by an elegant colonnade, as well as richly decorated balconies, on which the pharaohs went out during the festivities. Symbols of royal power were carved on the walls of palaces and columns, and bas-reliefs were created, the plots of which reflected the immense grandeur and divine power of the pharaohs.

All the wealth of the owner of the house was defiantly located in the reception halls, where magnificent floor vases carved from semi-precious rocks, goblets made of rock crystal were paraded. Wall shelves were decorated with figurines of gods and sacred animals, foreign outlandish household items: caskets, vessels, utensils.

In the era of the New Kingdom, when the desire for luxury became fashionable, ceilings, walls and columns began to be decorated with plot and ornamental paintings, stone floors were laid with a whimsical pattern.

In the homes of the rich, much attention was paid to the design of bedrooms. In addition to wide beds, their interior was filled with numerous caskets, caskets, chests designed to store clothes, men's and women's wigs, jewelry, and cosmetics, which also belonged to both sexes. Mirrors made of polished silver hung on the walls.

The main accessories of the study rooms were desks with many drawers. They kept books written on papyrus or parchment (treated calfskin). In order not to break a book created on such a fragile material, it was placed in a leather or wooden case, previously rolled up into a scroll.

In rich houses there were refectories, rooms for children, baths and toilets - in general, the apartments could consist of fifty to sixty rooms.

The houses were surrounded by several courtyards, where there were buildings for livestock and barns, a kitchen and a bakery, dwellings for servants and managers.

Middle-class Egyptians lived, as a rule, in houses consisting of several floors, with an absolutely smooth facade: without columns and galleries. On the flat roofs of such houses, baskets of grain sometimes stood or flower beds were broken. Lighting of the first floor was carried out through a narrow doorway. Tiny windows with shutters could be located on the second and third floors, protecting the inhabitants of the house from dust and heat. The interior decoration of the houses corresponded to the material wealth of the owners, but cleanliness and tidiness were strictly observed by all Egyptians. In this regard, we note that the Egyptians were distinguished by exceptional cleanliness. Those who were not burdened with heavy production duties spent a lot of time in the baths. After the main, morning washing of the body and putting it in order by experienced masseurs, manicure and pedicure masters, wealthy Egyptians took baths six more times a day, before and after meals.

Both in the living quarters of palaces and in the homes of the rich, the main pieces of furniture were a variety of chairs and armchairs. The simplicity of their design was more than paid off by the skillful work of artisans. On the backs and armrests of the royal chairs, the king himself was depicted in the form of a sphinx tearing apart prey with its claws - an Asian or a Negro, as well as animals patronizing the victorious king: uraeus, vulture or falcon. The edges of the seat were decorated with the heads of lions, falcons or women; a hieroglyph was attached between the legs of the chairs, symbolizing the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Reed mats and pillows were laid out on the floor in the living rooms, on which, as on armchairs, those who did not get pieces of upholstered furniture sat. The refectories were complemented by chairs and small tables, at which the inhabitants of the house and guests took turns eating.

In the poorest houses, barely more than five square meters, "furnishings" meant reed mats and clay pots. A pot stand and a few wooden chests were seen as a luxury in such houses.

2. Diet. Clothing. In foreign studies on the daily life of the Egyptians (for example, in the writings of P. Monté), wealthy residents of Egypt are called gluttons who did not forget about food under any circumstances. In huge quantities they consumed the meat of large horned animals. One of the main sources of meat was African bulls, which were specially raised to huge sizes, fattened to such an extent that they could no longer move due to their own weight.

The Egyptians also bred poultry: geese, ducks and teals; the inhabitants of the Delta and the shores of the Fayum reservoir lived off fishing, however, during the New Kingdom, even the most valuable varieties of fish (mullet, catfish, perch) were excluded from the number of products donated to the dead, because they began to be considered the food of the poor.

Of the vegetables, the Egyptians were familiar with onions and leeks, garlic was in great demand, bundles of which were found even in Theban tombs. Lettuce, a sacred plant of the god Ming, was very popular. Believing that lettuce increases male strength and female fertility, the Egyptians consumed this product raw with vegetable oil and salt. They knew a lot about beans and peas, cucumbers, watermelons and melons.

Unlike our contemporaries, the ancient Egyptians did not hear anything about citrus fruits. Pomegranates, olives and apples were brought to Egypt by the Hyksos, pears, peaches, almonds and cherries were only grown in the Roman era. But fruits such as grapes, figs, dates can be considered truly Egyptian.

Milk here was considered a real delicacy; the main drink was beer, which was made from barley or wheat and dates; wine was in high demand in the Delta.

It is difficult to imagine an Egyptian feast without bread and flat cakes, during the baking of which milk, butter, honey and various fruits were added to the dough. Honey or carob seeds replaced sugar.

The main meal consisted of meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits, bread and cakes. Sometimes in the middle of the day, at about four or five o'clock, an additional meal was arranged, after which the Egyptians returned to entertainment or work. The poor, on the other hand, sometimes had to be content with the core of papyrus stalks, which they chewed for a long time, satisfying their hunger.

The social ranking of Egyptian society, clearly distinguishable when comparing the diet of individual social groups, betrays itself when studying Egyptian fashion. Although the basic details of clothing have been preserved for thousands of years, the material and styles, the presence or absence of jewelry served as unmistakable indicators of the social status of a person in Ancient Egypt.

The main part of men's clothing was an apron, for the poor made from a piece of leather, for wealthy people - from a solid piece of linen, which was tightly wrapped around the hips and held with a belt. Even the pharaohs wore aprons. True, for them this detail of the toilet was made of sheet gold, the trapezoidal surface of which was covered with symbols of royal power. The length and styles of the apron could vary depending on the type of activity of the man, the social status and purpose of the clothes. If desired, the apron could be replaced with a skirt or a straight dress with a light ruffled cape. Festive attire was complemented by a large curled wig and elaborate jewelry.

Women's clothing consisted of a long dress adjacent to the body. In the era of the New Kingdom, capes made of transparent materials came into fashion, which were worn over thin shirts. Capes could have deep cutouts and necklines, which made it possible to demonstrate expensive jewelry in all its glory. At the same time, for reasons of hygiene, women, like men, began to shave their heads, so for representatives of the Egyptian elite, the custom of walking in a wig with golden curls, curls, and braids becomes a generous tribute to fashion.

In the middle of the second millennium BC. e. The Egyptians learned to dress fabrics in such a way that they were not inferior in quality to tulle and the finest cambric. The natural lustrous whiteness of the linen remained the favorite color of the Egyptians, although they mastered the technique of dyeing the fabric in red, blue and green. In the New Kingdom, Egyptian shoes also became very popular: sandals and half shoes, which were made from papyrus fibers, leather, and even gold. The Egyptians treated shoes very carefully and never put them on unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, they often traveled with sandals on their hands, and put them on only when they reached their destination.

Wealthy Egyptians loved to adorn themselves. Both men and women used cosmetics, tinting eyebrows and eyelashes with black paint, green for eyeliner, white for fingernails, and orange for hands and feet.

With the help of jewelry, the Egyptians gave their appearance gloss and respectability. A common decoration for all Egyptians, with the exception of the lower layers, was a wide collar (cape), covering the shoulders and upper chest. It could be made of noble metals, multi-colored enamel, painted canvas, embroidered with beads.

Necklaces belonged to women's jewelry proper, and rings and wide hoops, which were worn on hands above the elbow, on wrists and on legs above the ankles, belonged to men's jewelry.

During festive outings, both women and men could treat themselves to other sparkling jewelry: beads, bracelets, pendants, pectorals.

Even the poorer strata of society could afford "trinkets" made of faience and bronze, with which they ennobled their modest, practical, simple clothes.

The royal outfit not only surpassed the luxury of the attire of the nobles - it emphasized the divine essence of the pharaoh. The clothes of the pharaohs, as well as the daily routine of their lives, were determined by the old court ceremonial. In accordance with the rules of this ceremonial, the “eternally living” wore a large corrugated gaiter, the wide belt of which was decorated with hieroglyphs of the royal cartouche in front and an ox tail in the back. The apron could also be made of precious material. The solemn clothes of the pharaohs were made mainly of transparent expensive fabrics.

The most important signs of royal power were considered a headdress and a scepter. Headdresses were of different colors and shapes. The simplest is a gold diadem entwined with a uraeus, symbolizing the power of the pharaohs over life and death. Ceremonial headdresses were the crowns of Northern and Southern Egypt, resembling a high pin-shaped cap and an elongated mortar (respectively). Connected together, they made up a red and white double crown - pshent, which denoted an ideal state that belonged to the ruler of the united country.

During the war, the pharaoh wore a blue helmet with uraea and ribbons on the back of his head; listening to reports and petitions, the pharaoh covered his head with a white scarf with red stripes, which was either tied at the back of the head or fastened with a gold hoop. This headdress was called nemes; it was often used as the basis for a double crown, attachment during religious ceremonies of ram horns, high feathers, uraeus with gold discs.

In high solemn headdresses, the pharaoh had to sit motionless so as not to destroy the complex composition. At these moments, he really resembled a living god, at the sight of which people, seized with sacred awe, lost consciousness.

The second sign of the pharaoh's ceremonial attire - a scepter, which had the shape of a curved staff and a three-tailed scourge - symbolized the connection with the eternal economic activities of the Egyptians, agriculture and cattle breeding. The crooked staff was also worn by the closest relatives of the pharaoh. The queen's scepter was in the shape of a lily; her golden headdress, in addition to the uraeus, was decorated with a hawk - the sacred bird of the goddess Isis, with which the main wife of the pharaoh was often identified.

An indispensable accessory of the solemn attire of the pharaoh was a false beard, braided into a pigtail. She was connected with a wig, without which the pharaoh could not be imagined even at home, two bandages. Usually the pharaoh shaved off his beard and mustache, but sometimes left a short square beard. Hatshepsut, who seized the reins of power in Egypt under the young pharaoh Thutmose III, was also forced to wear a garter beard. During the twenty years of her reign, many images of the queen were created, and it is difficult to distinguish her from a male pharaoh in all of them - all the symbols of royal power, including a false beard, were appropriated by her.

3. Family. The ancient Greeks, who ended up in Egypt, were surprised that the Egyptian families were very numerous. The Greeks explained this, first of all, by the fertility of the Egyptian land: according to their ideas, it had to transfer its vitality to all those who feed on its fruits. In addition, it seemed to the Greeks that the natural conditions of Egypt are exceptionally favorable for the creation of numerous offspring: the cost of maintaining children here is negligible, the rich nature provides food for everyone - that's why, the Greeks believed, raising a child in Egypt is not a big deal.

In fact, according to experts, large families in Egypt were the result of high infant mortality and low life expectancy. The average life span of an Egyptian barely exceeded thirty years (although, of course, there were also centenarians), so young parents, having barely started a family, tried to give life to as many children as possible.

Marriages in Egypt were concluded not only at the request of the parents of the bride and groom, who dreamed of turning the marriage contract into a profitable economic enterprise for them. Often a young man and a girl themselves found each other and, succumbing to mutual attraction, created a family. Touching literary works have survived to this day - texts of lyrical poems in which lovers describe their tender feelings, love anguish, fears of possible separation, the joy of jubilation after dates that have happened. In these first examples of love lyrics in the history of mankind, the spiritual impulses of young Egyptians who aspired to create their own families are frankly conveyed.

In the works, lovers often call each other "brother" and "sister". Such appeals of people preparing to start a family baffled researchers for a long time. Did consanguineous marriages really exist in ancient Egypt? Trying to answer this question, experts carefully studied all the evidence available on this subject. They managed to find out that members of royal families could enter into incestuous marriages, but ordinary Egyptians did not know this practice. We do not know of a single example of an Egyptian dignitary, a rich city dweller, a commoner being married to his own sisters. The appeal of the future spouses to each other as "brother" and "sister" was used because these words had many meanings, and therefore could mean "husband", "wife", "beloved". Depending on the context, the meaning of the address changed, and this was clear to the Egyptians.

The head of the family had to have his own house. To acquire a household and take a wife were synonymous concepts for the Egyptians. Science does not have information about the wedding rites of the Egyptians. Obviously, the main part of the ceremony was the transition of the bride from her father's house to the house of her future husband. Only an indirect analysis of the facts belonging to the Hellenistic era allows us to assume the existence of a kind of "wedding contract", which was presented to the official who registered the creation of the family.

In ancient Egyptian literature, women are depicted in an unfavorable light compared to men. They are frivolous and capricious, deceitful and vindictive, treacherous and unreliable. Therefore, husbands, who, unlike their wives, are the embodiment of decency and high moral qualities, were allowed to educate spouses from time to time. As was customary in the East, the husband could physically assault and even achieve a positive result by using a stick. However, all this should be done "within reason". A hundred lashes or deprivation of the right to dispose of his wife's property in the organization of family life awaited the guilty person of inflicting serious injuries on his wife. And only in one case the law was always on the side of the man: for the violation of chastity, the unfaithful wife was punished by death.

The birth of a child has always been an event in the family. For each newborn, a horoscope was drawn up, in which all favorable and all unfavorable days for the life of the baby were carefully noted. Predicting the fate of the newborn, the priests analyzed the behavior of the baby and the first sounds that he made. In order to protect the child from the influence of invisible harmful forces, they tried to make him the godson of a god or a pharaoh, whose miraculous powers did not differ, according to the Egyptians, from the spells of the celestials. It is no coincidence that in Egypt there were many men with the name Horus - the godchildren of the god Horus, Seti - the godchildren of Set, Ameni - the godchildren of Amon, Amenhotep, Khnumhotep, Ptahotepov, who also had heavenly patrons. When drafting legal documents, the holders of the most common names had to give their father's name, and sometimes their nickname.

Egyptian children were very attached to their mother, who did not part with the baby even for a moment. If a woman had to do any housework, she carried the child in a special bag hanging around her neck. The queens entrusted the feeding and upbringing of their children to nurses or reliable servants, so the grown-up royal offspring bestowed their tender feelings not on their parents, but on the servants.

At the age of five - seven years for children from wealthy families, a carefree childhood ended. The boy was dressed in a loincloth, the girl in a dress. For them, a new stage of life was beginning: preparation for the life of adults. Boys started going to school, girls were taught good manners at home.

The children of commoners began to master the production duties of their parents.

4. School and learning. Egyptian schools usually existed at the temples. Here wealthy Egyptians five to seven years old spent the next twelve years of their lives.

The main subjects of education - writing and reading - were not easy for the child, because, according to the calculations of J. F. Champollion, who deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics, there were almost one and a half thousand characters in the "sacred letter" of the Egyptians. Hieroglyphics was, according to the Egyptians, a secret system of transmission of knowledge created by the gods. Therefore, hieroglyphs were often perceived as living beings endowed with divine power and magic. The magical power living in the hieroglyphs was so strong, according to the Egyptians, that they, fearing its impact on their lives, did not fully write out the signs depicting lions, snakes, birds of prey. They deliberately damaged them in order to deprive the sign of inner strength and independent life.

Each student, learning to write, turned into an artist. He had to not only accurately convey the sign that had the outlines of birds, fish, animals, plants, people, but also observe color symbolism: the sign with the body of a man was painted red, cream-yellow - with the body of a woman, blue conveyed the height of the sky and blue waters, green - various manifestations of the vital principle in nature. The text was applied in the directions from right to left, from top to bottom, less often - from left to right.

The child wrote down his first words on polished limestone plates, graphed in a ruler or a cage, or on hewn fragments of stone. Having spoiled a sufficient amount of this cheap material, the student received an expensive papyrus, on which he could already draw fragments of classical works or entire literary texts, as a rule, of a didactic orientation. The largest number of them was created in the era of the Middle Kingdom.

Sitting on his haunches, the child dipped brushes of suitable size into multi-colored paints. The titles and the initial letters of the lines were written in red paint (hence the expression "write from the red line").

The matured student was taught mathematics, history, geography, the basics of technology and law. Such education can be considered universal for ancient eras. The student became comprehensively developed, and, after some time, he began to fulfill the duties of an official, he easily coped with the work of a judge, and with the management of the army, and with the collection of taxes.

Schoolchildren, ready to devote themselves to the service of God, were taught, like all children, grammar and writing, but in addition they had to master the basics of theology: to know the images of the gods, their epithets, attributes and legends associated with them, rituals. At the end of their studies, they most likely passed a kind of exam. Anyone whom the teacher recognized as worthy to enter the priestly path, said goodbye to his former clothes, shaved his head, put on a priestly robe and received access "to the heavenly horizon."

5. Holidays. On the reliefs and murals, the Egyptians appear before us as a cheerful, musical people who love noisy companies and generous holidays for distribution. At all times, people in Egypt loved music: even when there were no musical instruments, songs were accompanied by clapping. The flute, oboe and harp appeared in the era of the construction of the pyramids, the string instrument zither was brought from Asia, the drums, without which religious and folk holidays could not do, may have been borrowed from the inhabitants of Nubia. It was impossible to imagine dancing and singing without sisters and rattles distributing rhythmic sounds (the latter resembled castanets).

During home holidays, the drunken guests listened with pleasure to the singing of harpists, admired the dexterity of acrobats, the elegance of postures and gestures of naked dancers, followed the noisy games of children who competed in strength and dexterity.

Feasts dedicated to the gods were distinguished by pomp and elaborate scenarios. Their main participants, except for the gods, in whose honor national celebrations were organized, were the pharaohs, members of the royal family, priests and high dignitaries. The pharaoh burned incense, made libations, donated gifts to temples, sent arrows in all directions of the world, hitting his enemies, released four birds, the children of Horus, notifying the whole earth that he was the owner of Upper and Lower Egypt. If the scenario of the holiday required the performance of any symbolic actions on the part of the pharaoh (for example, drawing a symbolic furrow), then he readily performed this, glorifying his heavenly patron with a hymn. During the festive ceremonies, the priests carried the statue of the god out of the temple, danced and sang around it, and delivered it on a stretcher to the altar, at which they sang hymns and cast spells. They did not forget about the ancestors of the ruling pharaoh when they glorified the statues with their images. The dignitaries and the king's sons carried the pharaoh's ceremonial stretcher, covered him from the sun with umbrellas and ostrich feather fans, and demonstrated the symbols of royal power: a scepter, a flail, a staff and an ax.

The Egyptians, having abandoned their duties for a while, turned into idle onlookers, eagerly following everything that happened. The scenario of some holidays, for example, honoring Amon in Opet (modern Luxor), which took place during the flood of the Nile, assumed a more active participation of the people in its implementation. From both banks of the Nile, the inhabitants of Thebes watched as gigantic boats sixty meters long, upholstered in gold, silver, turquoise and lapis lazuli, weighing several tons, were preparing to sail Amun and his family members, Mut and Khonsu, from Karnak to Luxor. In order to bring these ships, reminiscent of temples, to the high water, a whole army was mobilized, which dragged the consecrated boats by the ropes to the encouraging exclamations of the crowd gathered on the embankment. The women shook their sistrums and rattles, the men clapped their hands and sang rhythmic songs. At the same time, they did not forget to knock over a cup or two of beer and enjoy the juicy meat of bulls and gazelles.

For almost a whole month, until the return of the sacred baroques, the people drank, ate, made noise, had fun, full of confidence in the power of Amon-Ra, the wisdom of the priests, the omnipotence and paternal generosity of the pharaoh who organized this unforgettable spectacle.

Egypt attracts most tourists with its snow-white beaches, mysterious pyramids and unique color. Rest here is like an eternal holiday. Coming here, it is worth remembering that this is a country with its own rules and traditions. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account all the national characteristics of Egypt.

Character and mores

The Egyptians have long been accustomed to the constant flow of tourists to their country, so they are quite friendly to them. They are also very emotional. When meeting, a local resident can easily shake hands, but you should not allow closer contact. They may see this as an invitation to continue the relationship.

All guests in Egypt are traditionally offered a cup of tea, so refusing a treat will be regarded as at least disrespectful. Women in this country have a special attitude, they all wear closed clothes and do not allow themselves liberties in communicating with men. The laws of Islam regulate the entire life of the Egyptians, and this must also be taken into account when communicating with them.

Begging is considered a common thing in this country, you can also bargain - this is a local tradition, so the prices of goods are always a little overpriced. Even the Egyptians are not very punctual, you can safely be late for a meeting, unless, of course, it is businesslike.

Kitchen

Egyptian cuisine is as hot and spicy as all Arabic cuisines. Pork is not eaten here for religious reasons, but seafood, vegetables, herbs, milk and cereals are popular. There is a fairly wide range of different sauces and gravies. Traditional dishes are: fulya (boiled beans); felafili (bean patties); Hama Mahshi (pigeon stuffed with rice); jacket (minced meat sausages).

Of the fish dishes, the Egyptians love tagine. This is the name of a dish of seafood baked in a pot. In addition, they make breathtaking desserts and pastries, especially they love rice porridge with candied fruit. Since the locals do not drink alcohol, they are happy to sell it to tourists. Traditional drinks are wines made from rose petals and grapes, as well as Egyptian beer.

Perhaps the most recognizable drink in the East is coffee, and it is very popular in Egypt. Coffee is usually served in three types, depending on the amount of sugar, and a bottle of water is also served with it. They also like Sudanese rose tea here. Another national Egyptian drink is cane juice. It is quite sweet and mixes with other juices.