1: Egypt from the Nile Although we think of modern Egypt as occupying the whole top right-hand corner of Africa, a brief glimpse at a satellite image makes the country's dependence on the River Nile clear. There are few alternative sources of water, so the area of habitable land in use today - about six percent - does not differ greatly from that which was in use during the several thousand years of ancient Egyptian history. In a land where rainfall is minimal, even the great modern city of Cairo remains entirely dependent for its survival on water extracted from the Nile.
The Far South From Aswan to Armant: This section explores the history and monuments associated with the area from the border with ancient Nubia at modern Aswan to ancient Hierakonpolis south of modern Luxor. Sites include (from south the north): - Philae temple; - Elephantine Island (Aswan); - Kom Ombo temple; - Gebel al-Silsila quarries; - Edfu temple; - Esna, Moalla, Gebelein - Hierakonpolis.
The Southern Heartland Luxor and the West Bank: This section explores many of the main sites visited today from modern Luxor to Abydos. Sites include: - Luxor temple; - Karnak temple; - The colossi of Memnon; - Temple of Hatshepshut; - Valley of the Queens - Mortuary Temple of Rameses II - Deir al-Bhari - Deir al-Medina - The Valley of the Kings;
Northern Upper Egypt and Middle Egypt From Medamud to Beni Hasan: This section explores the important sites in the middle of Egypt between Akhmim to the south and Beni Suef in the north including Amarna - the capital city of 'the heretic king', Akhenaten, and the birthplace of Tutankhamun. Sites include: - Akhmim; - Medamud - Naqada; - Dendera temple; - Asyut; - Armana - Abydos - Hiw - Armana; - Hermopolis; - Beni Hasan; - Beni Suef; - Oxyrhincus.
The Fayoum From Herakleopolis Magna to al-Lisht: This section will discuss the sites of the Fayoum Oasis to the east of the Nile, but fed with fresh water from the river. Sites include: - Herakleopolis; - al-Lahun; - Hawara; - Medinet al-Ghurob - Meidum; - Karanis - al-Lisht; - Shedet.
The Capital Region From Dahshur to Heliopolis: This section will cover the area surrounding the ancient capital city of Egypt, Memphis, the pyramids associated with it, and the temple to the sun god, Ra, at Heliopolis. Sites include: - Memphis; - Dahshur pyramids; - Saqarra pyramids and tombs; - Abusir temples; - The Giza Plateau (including the Great Pyramid); - Heliopolis temple.
The Delta From Leontopolis to Alexandria: The most fertile area of Egypt stretching out past Heliopolis is characterized by a large number of historic cities along the channels. Sites include: - Avaris; - Pi-Rameses; - Leontopolis - Tanis; - Bubastis; - Sais; - Buto; - Athribis/Tell Atrib - Mendes - Sais - Alexandria
Cairo and Lake Nasser Neither Cairo nor almost all the archaeological sites to be seen on the shores of Lake Nasser were located where they are currently found during the periods covered by this book, but it would be remiss not to include them. The modern megacity of Cairo must be included briefly because it dominates so much of the Nile riverbank in the north of Egypt, but its foundations were medieval not ancient Egyptian. Similarly, when they were constructed in their original locations, the important pharaonic sites now on the banks of Lake Nasser were not considered to be within ancient Egypt but in Lower Nubia, even though they now lie within the borders of modern Egypt (ancient Egypt began at Aswan). All but one of these sites was also moved from its original location during the construction of the Aswan High Dam (completed in 1970) and the resulting rising levels of Lake Nasser. - Sites include: - Cairo - Lake Nasser - New Kalabsha - New Sebua - New Amada - Qasr Ibrim - Abu Simbel
