Pathways Egypt

Cairo has been dubbed the “City of a Thousand Minarets”, which immediately tells you a lot about the importance of religion in Modern Egypt. Nonetheless, it would not be fair to say that the church – in this case, Islam – dominates Egyptian society, as the country does have something of a secular approach, with political parties banned from campaigning or governing on a religious agenda. Any legislation passed in Egypt must agree with Islamic law, in recognition of the fact that between eighty and ninety per cent of the population are Muslims.

The overall religious makeup of Egypt is stated as 85% Muslim, 14% Coptic Christian and 1% from other religions, although there are only three religions officially recognised in the country – the three Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism). This is despite a very small number of Jewish people in Egypt – believed to be around 200 – and Egypt plays an important role in the Arab-Israeli peace process due to its recognition of the Israeli state.

In Egypt religion is viewed as being an important part of life, and it is home to two major religious institutions, the Al-Azhar University (which was founded in 970 as the country’s first Islamic University) and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (founded in the middle of the first century). It is seen as having a strong principle of religious tolerance, as Muslims and Christians live side by side, working together and sharing more than separates them. The presence of a large Islamic majority in the country does mean that life is run according to Islamic principles, and some Coptic Christians are of the opinion that the institutions have something of an Islamic bias – however, there are legal provisions intended to avoid this.

The question of recognition is an important one to the Coptic Christian community in Egypt. Some members are of the opinion that in Egypt religion is used as a discriminating factor in the workplace, while others point to the recognition of Coptic Christmas on January the 7th each year as an effort to support the principle of equality. This debate is expected to continue going forward.

Of the many important cities in Egypt, one of the most interesting must certainly be the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Until 1967 the city was fairly unprepossessing, serving mainly as a fishing port and naval base. Since then it has become a major tourist attraction – attracting visitors keen to witness its stunning natural beauty, as well as being a strategically important venue for a number of international peace conferences. This latter has seen Sharm el-Sheikh being dubbed “the City of Peace” by many.

Sharm el-Sheikh is a city with history of a different kind, in comparison with other Egyptian cities such as Cairo and Luxor. While those latter two are known more for their connection with the Ancient, classical history of Egypt, Sharm el-Sheikh’s place in the spotlight has more to do with the 20th century during which it was captured twice by Israel, in 1956 and 1967. From 1957 to 1967 it hosted a UN peacekeeping force, and remained under Israeli control until 1982, when it reverted to Egyptian control per the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Since then there has been a good deal of regeneration to turn the area into one capable of dealing with a major tourist influx.

In Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt has a tourist destination that conforms to the standard expected by people who come on holiday to relax and soak in the location – whether they want to go sight seeing or not. The immense natural beauty of the area is jealously guarded. By law it is not permissible to build over a certain height in Sharm el-Sheikh for fear of obscuring the scenery, which truly has to be seen to be believed.

Sharm el-Sheikh is now an area of dual importance, with the tourist industry certainly important but its role in peace conferences also quite vital to the world leaders who make frequent visits. Due to Egypt’s reputation as being moderately sympathetic to the Israeli state in comparison with other Islamic countries, it is the ideal location for conferences. For those who simply want a relaxing holiday, however, in Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt has one of the finest locations you could wish for.

In modern society, the concept of bandage-wrapped mummy is rarely seen outside of horror films. However, despite this contravening the original reasons for mummification, it is understandable that this has become the case. Across the ages, in civilizations that have never practiced the act, mummification holds a grim fascination.

The most famous of all the known mummies tend to be those from Ancient Egypt, and it is with this period and location that most would associate mummification. The Egyptians practiced mummification as a way of preserving the body after death, which allowed for the life force (or Ka) to continue its journey into the afterlife. The ancient Egyptian concept of the soul is unlike the modern, Western idea: the Egyptian soul was made up of body parts and different entities, of which the Ka was only one. To preserve the Ka, one must preserve the vessel – the body – it has resided within.

While modern films portray mummies as being wrapped in ‘bandages’, the strips of cloth wrapped around a mummified body were the final, rather than necessary, part of the process. The main act of mummification comes from various chemicals, particularly salt, being applied to the skin to prevent decomposition. This is startlingly effective, and a mummy usually remains in tact when the ‘bandages’ are removed.

The process of mummification is long and arduous, involving both physical acts and spiritual rites of passage and ceremony. An important aspect of the process was the removal of organs , which were then stored alongside the mummy in its tomb. All organs but the heart were removed, as the heart was considered an element of the soul itself. The brain was usually disposed of without ritual, as the Ancient Egyptians judged it to be inconsequential; while this may seem somewhat alien to us today, almost all Egyptian mummies are found without their brain in the tomb with them.

The most famous of the Egyptian mummies is that of the Pharaoh, Ramesses II. Ramesses II was something of a legendary Pharaoh, and has gained a place in popular history due to it largely being presumed he presided over the Exodus referenced in the Old Testament. His mummy was discovered in his tomb – which is located in the Valley of the Kings – in 1981. Following a brief visit to Paris for examination, the mummy of Ramesses II is now on display at the Cairo Museum, where it continues to draw crowds of visitors.