Egypt to Uncover Second Solar Boat at Giza

I hope all goes well!

Egypt to uncover 2nd solar boat at Giza
Jun 22nd, 2011 | By Bikya Masr Staff

CAIRO: The Egyptian ministry of antiquities announced on Tuesday that it would uncover the second solar boat at the Giza Pyramids on Thursday morning. The original date had been scheduled for Wednesday.

According to a statement from the ministry, the boat had been discovered in 1987 after an electromagnetic radar survey west of the first solar boat, which is currently on display next to the Great Pyramid.

“It has been the focus of research since 2008 by staff from the Egyptian ministry of state for antiquities, a delegation from Waseda University and the Japanese Institute for Restoration Research,” the statement read.

The ministry added that onditions are now ideal to remove the stone cover, consisting of 40 panels.

“The uncovering event on June 23 will take place inside the large tent warehouse, constructed to enclose and protect the second solar boat,” the statement added.

It is being organized by the Japanese Embassy in Egypt, the event will be attended by its Chargé d’Affaires Masami Kinefuchi, the Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, and the Chief Executive Representative of the Nitori Holding Company, Akio Nitori.

BM

The Mystery of What Happened to the Great Sphinx's Nose

At Heritage Key
Who Nose What Happened to the Great Sphinx of Giza?
Submitted by Prad on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 10:55

Undated photo,
History of the Conservation of the Sphinx,
by Dr. Zahi Hawass.

Despite the horrid pun in the title (it would be hard to resist, though, LOL!), this is a brief and interesting historical review with images (old line drawings and sketches from tourists' diaries and the like) of the Great Sphinx - before and after destruction of her nose.  It seems that Napoleon's troops got a bum rap and they were NOT responsible for shooting it off in target practice back in 1798. 

So, who destroyed the Sphinx's nose - and why?  Were the people who did it religious zealots like the fundy Muslims who blew up the Great Buddha statutes in the Bamiyan Valley in 2001 in Afghanistan?  Will we ever know?

When Was the Great Pyramid Started?

New research claims an exact start date for the construction of the Great Pyramid: August 23, 2470 BCE. Exact Date Pinned to Great Pyramid's Construction? Andrew Bossone in Cairo for National Geographic News September 21, 2009 The Egyptians started building the Great Pyramid of Giza on August 23, 2470 B.C., according to controversial new research that attempts to place an exact date on the start of the ancient construction project. A team of Egyptian researchers arrived at the date based on calculations of historical appearances of the star Sothis—today called Sirius. Every year around the time of the Nile River floods, Sothis would rise in the early morning sky after a long absence. "The appearance of this star indicates the beginning of an inundation period" for the Nile, said team leader Abdel-Halim Nur El-Din, former head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Throughout their history, "Egyptians … started their main buildings, the tombs, and the temples at the beginning of the inundation"—an auspicious time, since floodwaters brought fresh soil, maintaining the region's fertility. In addition, pharaohs always started building their tombs at the starts of their rules. Khufu, the pharaoh meant to be buried in the Great Pyramid, took power in 2470 B.C., according to Nur El-Din and colleagues. The researchers therefore compared the modern calendar, the ancient Egyptian calendar, and the cycle of the star to find the exact day Sothis would have appeared that year. The team believes the ancient Egyptians observed the star from July 17 to 19, and the inundation period began 35 days later—on August 23. Rest of article.