|
| |
| |
|
|
Egyptian Trips and Initiation Adventures |
 |
The Egyptian
Experience
The land
of Egypt has long been felt as the most influential of our times. Some say it
was founded by a Priesthood that came from the seas to the West. The rapid
growth of a civilization of farmers to be the most knowledgeable at that time
with regard to the stars, mathematics, construction, becoming a nation under one
God and yet accepting the many faces of God.
Many great
Kings from Sneferu the father of Khufu, to the New Kingdom Pharaohs' were seen
to be blessed with knowledge not available elsewhere. The Greeks and the
historian Herodotus all knew of this land of knowledge.
Join us on a mystical adventure.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of the past and the future.
Be awakened to the cosmos and to
the Light. (See Below)
The adventure begins here!!
Trip
Includes: Domestic flights in Egypt, 5-star
hotels, hotel taxes & service charges, 5-star cruise/full-board, breakfast
daily, most meals, air-conditioned buses, airport welcome/pick-up/taxes,
portage, Egyptian Visa, luggage tags, document holder, escort through customs,
tips for baggage carriers/cruise personal/hotel personal/drivers/temple guards,
felucca ride on the Nile, camel or horse ride at the Pyramids, English speaking
Egyptologist guide, tour leader, Luminati host, special guest (when available),
ceremonies, lectures and/or classes (when applicable), sacred site entry fees,
farewell dinner.
Not
included: Some meals, guide & tour leader tips,
beverages, souvenirs, personal items, travel insurance, domestic flights to NY
for USA travelers, international to Egypt (USA travelers only)
Email me to join us on our special trips made for
you!
adventure@eldritchmaven.co.uk
A List of the Dynasties:
The Old Kingdom
From the 1st dynasty 3I00 2890 BC to the 8th dynasty 2181- 2125 BC
1st
dynasty 3I00 2890 BC
- Narmer
- Aha
- Djer
- Djet
- Den
- Anedjib
- Semerkhet
- Qaa
|
Before the first dynasty Egypt was
in fact two lands. The unifier of these lands, in folk tales, was a
fellow called Menes and known as the first mortal king of Egypt. The
Greek historian Herodotus, records that this king founded the
capital, Memphis, by damming the Nile to reclaim land for the city.
During this time papyrus was
invented and as a consequence writing was used as an administrative
tool of government. This created the conditions for prosperity,
which can be seen in the magnificent artefacts that have been found
from this period.
Egyptian dating is expressed by
ruling families - dynasties. The historian Manetho (270 BC) wrote a
history of Egypt giving the number of dynasties, the number of
kings, their names and the length of each reign.
|
2nd
dynasty 2890-2686 BC
- Hetepsekhemwy
- Raneb
- Nynetjer
- Peribsen
- Khasekhem
(Khasekhemwy)
|
At the end of the 1st dynasty there
appears to have been rival claimants for the throne. The successful
claimant’s Horus name, Hetepsekhemwy, translates as "peaceful in
respect of the two powers" this may be a reference to the opposing
gods Horus and Seth, or an understanding reached between two rival
factions. But the political rivalry was never fully resolved and in
time the situation worsened into conflict. The fourth pharaoh,
Peribsen, took the title of Seth instead of Horus and the last ruler
of the dynasty, Khasekhemwy, took both titles. A Horus/Seth name
meaning "arising in respect of the two powers," and "the two lords
are at peace in him." Towards the end of this dynasty, however,
there seems to have been more disorder and possibly civil war.
|
3rd
dynasty 2686 2613 BC
- Sanakht
- Djoser
- Sekhemkhet
- Huni
|
This period is one of the landmarks
of Human history. A prosperous age and the appearance of the worlds
first great monumental building - the Pyramid. The artistic
masterpieces in the tombs of the nobles show the martial wealth of
this time
Djoser - one of the
outstanding kings of Egypt. His step pyramid at Saqqara
is the first large stone building and the forerunner
of later pyramids.
|
4th
dynasty 2613 2494 BC
- Sneferu
- Cheops
- Radjedef
- Chephren
- Menkaura
- Shepseskaf
|
Egypt was able to accomplish
the ambitious feat of the Giza Pyramids
because there had been a long period of peace and no threats of
invasion. So their energies were spent in cultivating art to it’s
highest forms.
The fourth dynasty came from
Memphis and the fifth from the south in Elephantine. The transition
from one ruling family to another appears to have been peaceful.
|
| 5th
dynasty 2494 2345 BC
- Userkaf
- Sahura
- Neferirkara Kakai
- Shepseskara Isi
- Raneferef
- Nyuserra
- Menkauhor Akauhor
- Djedkara Isesi
- Unas
|
The first two kings of the fifth
dynasty, were sons of a lady, Khentkaues, who was a member of the
fourth dynasty royal family. There was an institutionalisation of
officialdom and high officials for the first time came from outside
the royal family.
The pyramids are smaller and less
solidly constructed than those of the fourth dynasty, but the
carvings from the mortuary temples are well preserved and of the
highest quality.
There are surviving papyri from
this period which demonstrate well developed methods of accounting
and record keeping. They document the redistribution of goods
between the royal residence, the temples, and officials.
|
| 6th
dynasty 2345 2181 BC
- Teti
- Userkara
- Pepy I
- Merenra
- Pepy II
|
There are many inscriptions
from the sixth dynasty. These include records of trading expeditions
to the south from the reigns of Pepi I. One of the most interesting
is a letter written by Pepy II.
"You have said in
your letter that you have come down in safety from Yam
with the army and brought many beautiful gifts which
Hathor, Lady of Yamu, has given to the King of Upper and
Lower Egypt.
You also say in
this letter that you have brought a dwarf of divine
dances from the land of the horizon-dwellers. Like the
dwarf whom the Treasurer of the God, Baurded, brought
from Punt in the time of King Isesi.
You say to my
Majesty, Never before has one like him been brought by
any other who has visited Yam.
Each year you do
what your lord desires - spending day and night with the
caravan. Now come northward at once to the Court. You
must bring the dwarf, alive, sound and well to rejoice
and gladden the heart of the King of Upper and Lower
Egypt.
When he comes
down with you into the ship, appoint reliable people who
shall be beside him on each side of the vessel and take
care lest he should fall into the water!
When he sleeps at
night, appoint trustworthy people who shall sleep beside
him. Inspect him ten times a night because my Majesty
desires to see this dwarf more than the all products of
Sinai and Punt.
If you arrive at
the Court and the dwarf is with you, alive, and well, my
Majesty will make you many excellent honours to be an
ornament for the son of your son for ever. All the
people will say when they hear what my Majesty does for
you: "Is there anything like this which was done for the
privy counsellor Harkhuf, when he came down from Yam."
|
The pyramid of Pepi II at southern
Saqqara is the last major monument of the Old Kingdom. None of the
names of kings of the short-lived seventh dynasty are known and the
eighth dynasty shows signs of and political decay.
|
|
