Egyptian Geese
were thought to
be sacred by
ancient Egyptians,
they domesticated
these geese and
would illustrate
them frequently
in their art








The Pyramids of
Giza are the
most famous
monuments of
ancient Egypt. 
These massive
stone structures
were built around
4500 years ago on
a rocky desert
plateau close to
the Nile








The Masked
Butterfly fish is very
common throughout
the Red Sea. The
large pectoral fins
of the butterfly fish
allow them to "jump"
  up from the water and
through the air, giving
them the appearance
of flying, thus the
name "butterfly" 








Egyptian Grasshoppers
have antennae that
are almost always
shorter than the
body. They make
easily heard noises by
rubbing the hind
femurs against the
forewings or abdomen,
or by snapping the
wings in flight








The Egyptians
were one of the first
major civilizations
to codify design
elements in art.
The wall paintings
done in the service
of the Pharaohs
followed a rigid code
of visual rules and
meanings


Reading List

Here is a brief selection of favorite, new and hard-to-find books, prepared for your journey. For your convenience, you may call (800) 342-2164 to order these books directly from Longitude, a specialty mail-order book service.  You can also find them at local bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders.

Essential

Knopf Guide Egypt
By Knopf Guides, 2003
A lavishly illustrated guide featuring 1,000 color photographs, innovative architectural diagrams and extracts from classic travel literature. It captures the thrill of ancient and modern Egypt, with a long section on Cairo (and a section of maps).

Egypt: Ancient Culture, Modern Land
By Jaromir Malek, 1993
This masterful book features 300 stunning color illustrations, innovative maps and a series of thought-provoking essays by an international group of experts on Egypt’s natural environment, culture, religion, economy and everyday life.

The Search for Ancient Egypt
By Jean Vercoutter, 1992
Packed with illustrations, maps and archival photographs, this slim 5”x 7” paperback documents the rediscovery and our changing understanding of ancient Egypt.

The Egyptians
By Cyril Aldred, 1998
A volume in the “Ancient Peoples and Places” series, this classic book, recently revised, is an outstanding account of the history and culture of ancient Egypt. With hundreds of illustrations and maps.

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt
By Bill Manley, 1996
Organized chronologically, this compact book reveals the economic and political development of ancient Egypt through a series of ingenious color maps. With accompanying essays, site plans and photos.

Eyewitness Travel Guide Egypt
Eyewitness Guides, 2003
A visually rich guide to the history, culture and monuments of Egypt for the traveler. With 1,000 color photographs, maps and innovative site diagrams.

Egypt
By Freytag & Berndt
MAP
This map, at a scale of 1:1,000,000, covers the length of the Nile.

History Culture People

Say It in (Egyptian) Arabic
By Farouk El-Baz, 1968
A handy phrasebook with phonetic pronunciation of 1,400 practical words and phrases for the traveler. Intended for travelers throughout the Arab World, it provides pronunciation for the widely spoken and easily understood Cairo dialect.

Cairo, The City Victorious
By Max Rodenbeck, 2000
Rodenbeck presents his home town in all its chaotic glory, combining a lively history of the 5,000-year-old metropolis with description, anecdote and modern political commentary.

Egypt, Splendors of an Ancient Civilization
By Alberto Siliotti, 1996
The ultimate Egypt coffee table book. Sumptuous full-color illustrations including close-up photographs of important treasures, sketches of locations of major finds, and colorful drawings that reconstruct many sites.

The Art of Ancient Egypt
By Gay Robins, 2000
A beautifully illustrated survey of 3000 years of history as told through sculpture, reliefs and other artifacts of the ancient Egyptians.

The Culture of Ancient Egypt
By John Albert Wilson, 1956
A classic history of ancient Egypt from the pharaohs to the Greco-Roman period, still noteworthy for its graceful, clear presentation.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs
By W.V. Davies, 1988
Here’s a short book that will help you to understand the ancient Egyptian language.

Ancient Egypt
By David P. Silverman, 2003
A handsomely illustrated survey of ancient Egyptian history, culture and archaeology featuring contributions by 12 scholars.

The Complete Valley of the Kings
By Nicholas Reeves, Richard Wilkinson, 1996
A thorough and intriguing look at the burial place of the New Kingdom pharaohs, this book brings together the art, architecture and history of the valley.

Pyramid
By David MacAulay, 1982
In this best-selling volume master draughtsman David MacAulay tackles the pyramids. Intended for children, but those of all ages will enjoy this look at the building of the pyramids.

In an Antique Land
By Amitav Ghosh, 1994
In this heady book, the author-historian recreates the life of a slave who lived along the ancient Nile. Not exactly historical fiction, this book artfully interweaves personal history, travel writing and philosophical meditation.

Cleopatra, The Life and Death of a Pharaoh
By Edith Flamarion, Alexandra Bonfante-Warren, 1997
An illustrated, pocket-size biography of Cleopatra, part of the “Discoveries” series, following the life, the empire and the noteworthy loves (Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony) of Egypt’s most famous queen.

The Egyptologist, A Novel
Arthur Phillips,

The White Nile
By Alan Moorehead, 2000
A lively history of the Victorian search for the source of the Nile including the extraordinary tales of Richard Burton and  John Spekes, not to mention the famous meeting of Livingstone and Stanley. A classic, originally published in 1960. With vivid descriptions of Zanzibar, the last days of Khartoum and the building of the Suez Canal.

Nine Parts of Desire,
The Hidden World of Islamic Women
By Geraldine Brooks, 1996
A highly readable overview of the role of women in Egypt and other Islamic societies.

He Shall Thunder in the Sky
By Elizabeth Peters, 2001
This riveting mystery novel by Egyptologist Elizabeth Peters finds Amelia Peabody and her family hard at work at an Egyptian archaeological site on the brink of WWI.

Palace Walk
By Naguib Mahfouz,1991
First published in 1956, this novel is a family saga that takes place in Cairo during the period after WWI. Part one of the “Cairo Trilogy.”

Death on the Nile
By Agatha Christie, 1992
Egypt’s most famous murder mystery.

Guide Books

There are thousands of guidebooks available to travelers. We recommend the following as the leaders in quality, content, and presentation, or for their specialized travel advice.

INSIGHT GUIDES 
LONELY PLANET GUIDES
MOON HANDBOOKS

European Cruises & Ports of Call
Frommer’s, 2006
A practical guide to preparing for and booking a cruise in the Meditteranean, Baltic, British Isles and Northern Europe.

The Spirit of Mediterranean Places
By Michel Butor, 1986
In this remarkable short book, the celebrated French novelist chronicles his travels to Cairo, Luxor, Crete, Istanbul and other Mediterranean sites. It’s an absorbing, wonderfully appreciative account of the region, a favorite of ours.

Flaubert in Egypt
By Francis Steegmuller (Editor),
Gustave Flaubert, 1996
Among the many romantic European travelers in Egypt, Flaubert, via his letters and journal entries, stands out. The place inspired him – and his observations are still delightful reading.