Cairo - Going To A Society Rich In Antiquity   by Ben Pate

in Travel / Destinations    (submitted 2012-02-08)

Ancient Egyptians maintain a place in world history that continues to fascinate many people. The capital city of Egypt, Cairo, was one of the major hubs of ancient civilization. Egypt was first established in 969 C.E., and rapidly evolved into a cultural mecca for Africa and the Middle East. Cairo, the largest city in Egypt, is now host to many resort hotels and tourist attractions. Cairo is a fantastic place to travel to if you're interested in ancient Egyptian life. If you plan on taking a trip to Cairo you will need to obtain a U.S. passport.

Passport Service

Obtaining a passport used to be quite the ordeal, however, now with online passport services, it's a cinch. Anything you need done regarding your passport is just clicks away. A name change, a U S passport renewal, a replacement, it's all done online now. No more waiting in lines or waiting for weeks on end for your passport to arrive. Because these services are expedited, as passport is easily obtained in time for any trip, no matter the deadline.

World Heritage Sites

Cairo is famous for being the location of two World Heritage Sites. The first, Coptic Cairo, was once known as Babylon. Babylon has deep roots to very ancient history. It is a site of great significance for religious historians. Babylon is featured in numerous religious texts and cultural stories. Coptic Cairo has five original churches and is the site of the very first mosque in Egypt.

Holy Sites

The other World Heritage Site in Cairo is known as Islamic Cairo. This is known as the medieval heart of the city of Cairo. This site offers some of the most grandiose and beautiful religious monuments the Egyptian culture has to offer. Some of these monuments include the Al-Hakim Mosque, the Qalawun complex, the Midan Hussein and Sayyidna al-Hussein Mosque. These are some of the most sacred sites in all of Egypt.

Pyramids

If traveling to Egypt, a must see site would have to be the Saqqara Pyramids. This site is an ancient necropolis where the most prominent figures in Egyptian history have been buried. Highlights of these structures include the Step Pyramid of Dioser, the Pyramid of Teti, and the Tomb of Ankhmahor. They are worth visiting because these represent the oldest excavated grounds in Egypt.

Dahshur

Dahshur is another ancient site featuring a few very large pyramids, such as the famous Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid of Sneferu (considered to be Egypt's oldest "true" pyramid), and the Black Pyramid. Many consider it to be equal to the pyramids of Giza, and many actually prefer this site simply because it is not as crowded as the Giza site.

Antiquity

Cairo is rich in ancient history, because of this the museums feature amazing artifacts and exhibits. The most famous is the Egyptian Antiquities Museum. The museum built in 1902 contains the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world, over 120,000. The museums has seven sections, some sections are dedicated to Tutankhamen's treasures, monuments of the Old World, sarcophagi and much more.

About the Author

If you're interested in history, art, religion, anthropology, or anything that has to do with antiquities, Cairo is the place to go. Cairo is home to vast riches both in the modern world and ancient. Apply for your US passport online and start planning your trip to Cairo, if you already have a passport be sure to check the dates and apply for a American passport renewal if needed.