Show Notes
In this week’s episode, Francois and Laura continue their chat on the Giza plateau looking at Khafre’s Pyramid and the famous Sphinx. Khafre’s pyramid – the second biggest in the world – is notable not just for its size and grandeur but the marvel of its other structures – a well-preserved mortuary temple, causeway – and a Valley Temple with stones of enormous size. Then of course there is the Sphinx. Who built this monstrosity – was it Khafre? What is the symbolism behind it? And how did it ...
More from Secrets of Egypt Revealed Podcast!
It was the largest temple ever built all in one go – for one god! Yet, with earthquakes, flooding, looting and a thousand natural calamities, all that has remained for centuries are the two famous colossal statues– The Colossi of Memnon – standing like great guardians of the West Bank. Amenhotep III, Egypt’s golden king rich in wealth and alliances, built this great memorial temple to keep his cult alive forever. Now, a great Armenian archaeologist Dr. Hourig Sourouzian is resurrecting this s...
From its earliest origins in the fort of Babylon… to the tented town of Fustat…through the rise of Al Qahirah, sacred city of the Fatimids, Salah al Din and the Crusades… all the way to the Arab Spring of 2011, Cairo’s history is as vibrant and dizzying as its colourful and crowded streets today. Come learn some of the little-known stories about its citadel, mosques, qasbahs, fountains, markets, colourful sultans and emirs… and its utterly fascinating history from medieval to modern times. La...
From its earliest origins in the fort of Babylon… to the tented town of Fustat…through the rise of Al Qahirah, sacred city of the Fatimids, Salah al Din and the Crusades… all the way to the Arab Spring of 2011, Cairo’s history is as vibrant and dizzying as its colourful and crowded streets today. Come learn some of the little-known stories about its citadel, mosques, qasbahs, fountains, markets, colourful sultans and emirs… and its utterly fascinating history from medieval to modern times. La...
Ahhh… Philae Temple, the last surviving temple of Egypt – and the domain of Isis, goddess of love and beauty. In this week’s episode, Laura and Francois will delve into the fascinating cult of Isis, the beloved and its intersection with Christianity, the interesting history of the temple, its beautiful location on an island in Upper Egypt – and how it was moved in its entirety in an incredible engineering project during the 1970s to save it after the construction of the Aswan Dam. Philae is a...
Zahi Hawass calls it the greatest cultural project of the 21st century. It’s the largest archaeological museum in the world that stands at the foot of the Giza Pyramids. Recorded just prior to its opening, Laura and Francois discuss its incredible 20-year construction history, its massive Ramses statue, stairway of kings, hanging obelisk, and 4600 wooden boats of the king! Let’s delve into what to expect in this record-breaking world museum where all of Tutankhamun’s objects have been careful...