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Names and descriptions of temples of ancient Egypt. II

Egypt attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The country is famous for its architectural monuments. It's not just pyramids and sphinxes. There are many ancient temples in Egypt, some of them were built long before our era, others were built in the Greco-Roman period. Some monuments have survived to this day, others are dilapidated and are at the stage of restoration.

Luxor Temple

These are the ruins of the central part of the temple of the god Amun-ra, built under Amenhotep the Third. Temple matches architectural features New Kingdom (16th – 11th centuries BC). At the entrance there are two statues and an obelisk made of pink granite. On the other side, an alley of sphinxes leads to the building. The temple is a rectangular building, its length is 190 meters. The path to the sanctuary leads through the vestibule of columns. On the territory of the ruins there are frescoes, statues, and so on. The ruins stand on the banks of the Nile. Currently they are included in the territory of the city of Luxor.

Karnak Temple

This is the largest temple complex in Egypt, the main sanctuary of the New Kingdom era. Includes temples dedicated to Amun-ra, wife Mut and son Khonsu. The most significant building is the Temple of Amon-ra, 113 m long, 15 m wide, and 45 m high. Other temples, white, red and alabaster chapels, are built on the territory of the complex, there are many frescoes and statues. Next to the central temple lies the Sacred Lake. Between the complexes of Amon-ra and Mut lies the avenue of sphinxes. In antiquity, the Karnak Temple was associated with the Luxor Temple. Located in the modern city of Karnak.

Medinet Habu

This is a mortuary temple built by Ramesses III, the last emperor of the New Kingdom. The temple was founded in the 1100s BC. It is a huge complex of buildings surrounded by walls. In antiquity it was surrounded by a moat with water. The complex includes the pharaoh's palace, rooms for the pharaoh's children and wives, dilapidated statues and columns, and so on. The Medinet Habu complex is a surviving example of mortuary temples. You can visit it when you arrive in the city of Luxor.

Temple of Hatshesup

This is a tomb built by Hatshesup, a female pharaoh. It was erected at the beginning of the 15th century BC, carved directly into the rocks. The temple has three multi-level terraces. They are connected to each other by ramps. The entrance to the tomb is guarded by two sphinxes and many statues. The tomb contains several sanctuaries, which are dedicated to the gods Amun-ra, Anubis and Hathor. The Temple of Hatshesup is located in Deir el-Bahri, in the vicinity of the city of Luxor.

Temple of Seti at Abydos

This is a temple dedicated to god Osiris. It began to be built during the lifetime of Pharaoh Seti, but the construction was completed by his son, Ramses II. Today, the restored complex is 110 by 76 meters. Presumably, its original length was 170 meters. The temple building is considered one of the most mysterious for those times, since the perimeter has the shape of the letter G. The history of the pharaohs is depicted on the walls, made in bas-reliefs. The complex includes the Hypostyle Hall, a room with huge columns. The temple is located in the ancient city of Abydos.

Temple of Hathor at Dendera

Hathor is the daughter of Amun-ra, the sun god. Presumably the temple was built during the Ptolemaic period, 4th – 1st centuries BC. This is a sandstone structure, 80 m long, with an area of 40 thousand square meters. It is surrounded by a high wall. The walls and columns are decorated with hieroglyphs and bas-reliefs. There are many wall sculptures in the temple, there is a Hypostyle hall with high columns, and several sanctuaries. The complex is located in the small town of Dendera.

Temple of Isis

The temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, was completed in the 3rd century. Although construction began 2 - 3 centuries earlier, even under Nectanebo the First. This is a sixty-meter structure with two pylons. The complex includes dungeons, chapels, a hall with columns, and a courtyard. The temple was built in different eras of Egyptian history, so it was influenced by Egyptian, Greek and Roman cultures. Built on the island of Philae, according to legend, it was the eternal sleep place of the god Osiris.

Temple of Horus in Edfu

It ranks second in size in Egypt, second only to Karnak. It was built in honor of the god Horus, but it was rebuilt during the reign of the Ptolemies (4th - 1st centuries BC). The length of the building is 137 m, width – 79 m. The height of the pylons is 36 m, they are decorated with inscriptions and images. Behind the pylons there is a courtyard with columns, then the Hypostyle Hall. The temple includes a room for a library, a prayer room, an altar, and a sanctuary. Located in the city of Edfu.

Abu Simbel Temple

Two temples were carved into the rock of Abu Simbel, not far from each other. The large one is dedicated to Ramesses the Second, and the small one to his wife. Both structures are guarded by statues. IN big temple includes a hypostyle, chapels, and sanctuary. After the 1952 revolution, planning began for a new dam. Then UNESCO approved the rescue plan, and the monument was moved, it was installed 200 meters further from the Nile. Today it is located next to the Nile River, on the border with Sudan.

They were built mainly from clay bricks dried in the sun. Unlike temples, which were built of stone for centuries, where the gods were worshiped constantly and at all times, each of the pharaohs built himself a new palace after ascending the throne. Abandoned buildings quickly deteriorated and collapsed, and therefore, as a rule, not even ruins remained of the palaces of the pharaohs. At best, on the site of magnificent palaces you can find the remains of walls and broken tiles.

Palaces of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom

We know the least about the features of palace architecture from the Archaic period and the Old Kingdom. It is assumed that appearance The pharaoh's palace and its facade repeated the forms of the architecture of the ancient royal tombs of that time. The tomb was considered the home of the deceased in his afterlife, it is logical to assume that it was similar to his home in this life. Based on this assumption, the palace wall could be divided by ledges with figured battlements on top. The few surviving images of the pharaohs' palaces indicate that the walls of the palace were decorated with bas-reliefs and ornaments.

We can see the palace facade on the famous pallet of Pharaoh Narmer; victories, the name and title of the pharaoh are depicted against its background. From this image we learn that the territory of the palace, shaped like a quadrangle, was surrounded by a fortress wall with towers. The line of the building's foundation is also marked on the pallet. A similar palace facade is depicted on the tombstone of Pharaoh Jet: on the rectangular field of the wall, three high towers stand out, decorated with three vertical features-blades. Between the towers you can see two recesses that look like gates.

Huge sarcophagi made of basalt or limestone tell us especially clearly about the palace architecture of the ancient Egyptians. Their carvings on each of the four sides depict the facades of the royal palace.

On the limestone sarcophagus of the chief priest of the V dynasty, Ravera, found in Giza, palace towers with elongated niches are clearly visible, between which there are doors and windows.

Palace-Castle

Based on all the evidence that has reached us, the palace of the pharaoh of the Old Kingdom can be called a palace-castle.

This form of the palace was formed around the end of the fourth millennium BC. and then persisted for most of the third millennium.

This rectangular parallelepiped, the outer walls of which were surrounded by a series of towers, evenly alternating with deep niches; the internal massif had courtyards and chambers located in the corners. The external facades of the palace are decorated with closely spaced, high pilasters, connected at the top and often framed by rich cornices and decorative panels.

The premises in the pharaoh's palace were divided into two large sectors: The first included the official premises of the king and his family: the throne room, the large audience hall, and, finally, the rooms used by the “master of the two thrones”, “guardian of the crown”, “master of the palace” and the "head of the royal regalia", who presided over the court itself and all the elaborate ceremonies. He was responsible for the royal harem, numerous court ladies, an entire army of servants, artisans, palace workers, artists, doctors and hairdressers. Nearby were located the “Royal Court” and the “Chamber of Works,” chaired by the “Palace Architect and Builder of the Royal Navy.”

The second sector consisted of the “Red House” or “House of Eternity” (Ministry of Royal and State Cult), the “White House” (Ministry of Finance), the “House of the Leader of the Armed Forces” connected to the barracks of the Pharaoh’s army, the “Chamber of Printing” (Ministry of Taxes). ) with a highly organized cadastre and a national property register.

The pharaoh's palace-castle reached its maximum splendor during the IV dynasty, when the façade captivated with the play of voids and fillings, emphasized by vertical lines and protruding elements, which showed the high level of architectural and technical knowledge of the Egyptians.

Palaces of the pharaohs of the New Kingdom.

Palace-temple

By the end of the third millennium BC. the palace-castle ceases to exist. With the advent of the second millennium, demands became more complex and varied: the growing empire demanded more and more prestige and more and more sophisticated instruments of power.

The palace now housed the official apartments of the king and his court; it was the place where the ruler of the world ruled, and the palace was equated with a temple. The central hall was a hypostyle hall filled with giant columns, leading to the throne room, also with a colonnade. Next to it were located in front of a large vestibule, also decorated with columns and pilasters, the “Hall of Celebrations” and auxiliary rooms for courtiers and servants. The architectural forms emphasized the passage connecting the atrium entrance with the throne room, which was often compared to a chapel in a temple.

During the reign of Akhenaten (1372-1354 BC) changes occurred in architectural style residences of the pharaoh and government buildings.

In the then capital city of Akhetaten in Tel el-Amarna, the architectural complex consists of an official palace with a throne room and a hall for festivities, a residence-palace of the pharaoh and his family, a zoological garden with exotic animals, a harem, several courtyards where flower beds were located, hanging gardens, fish pools.

Akhenaten's palace-residence is called Silver or Northern. It is a palace-temple. At the entrance to the palace, a sanctuary rises on both sides of the courtyard; other buildings also have a religious purpose. Following them is a central courtyard, in the middle of which there was a swimming pool. The servants were housed in the southern part of the palace, and the menagerie was located in the northern part. The living quarters (the palace itself) were located in the eastern part of the architectural complex. It was here that the pharaoh's apartments, the women's quarters and guest rooms were located. Inside the building there were small courtyards with verandas, around which there were galleries, living quarters, columned halls, etc.

In the center of Akhetaton there was a large temple of Aten, and next to it, on both sides of the Royal Road, stood the large, so-called “official” palace of the pharaoh. This was the official residence of the pharaoh. The residential part was located in the eastern part of the palace, the western wing extended to the very waters of the Nile. Through the huge columned hall one could enter the throne room. In the western part of the pharaoh's palace there were other rooms necessary for official ceremonies. There was a large courtyard with colossal statues of the pharaoh. The buildings of various administrative and government institutions were adjacent to the palace.

The western and eastern parts of Akhenaten's palace were connected by a covered bridge. The main street of the city, the Tsar’s Road, passed under it. In this passage was located the Pharaoh's bed, where he appeared before the people, showed mercy and administered justice.

Magnificent frescoes decorated the walls of the palaces. These cheerful and cheerful paintings depicting animals and plants testify to a love of life and a high sense of beauty.

The pharaohs of the 19th and 20th dynasties built their palaces next to mortuary temples. The ruins of the foundation of the architectural ensemble of the palace of Pharaoh Ramesses III in Medinet Habu make it possible to reproduce the layout of the palace.

Through the gate of the first pylon you can enter the first courtyard of the temple. It also served as a palace square. The palace façade also faced the western part of the courtyard.

On the veranda behind the colonnade there was a balcony intended for the appearance of the pharaoh in front of mere mortals. Part of the palace facade, where the pharaoh's box was located, was slightly moved forward. Both sides of this box were decorated with bas-relief images of the pharaoh, in which he defeated his enemies. On the bas-reliefs below, rejoicing and dancing people praised the strength and wisdom of the pharaoh. The palace gates opened in the middle part of the facade. Behind the gate a hall-lobby began, followed by a reception hall with six columns. Next were the pharaoh's residential apartments. They were a suite of many halls with columns. There was a throne room, and the pharaoh’s personal chamber and bathroom.). with bedroom and bathroom. The quarters for the pharaoh's wives also consisted of many rooms. Each of the wives had a bathroom. Long straight corridors made it easier to move from one apartment of the palace to another, as well as observation and security, because Ramesses III, taught by his bitter experience, was suspicious and cautious. The northern side of the palace overlooked the square. Ramesses III called his palace “the house of joy.”

Surrounded by temples and other buildings, the pharaoh's palace Ancient Egypt actually represented a self-sufficient city.

The ruler lived in a palace surrounded by numerous officials and servants.

The main royal palace was built in the capital of Egypt. In other cities, several less luxurious residences were built for the pharaoh, in which he stayed while traveling around the country.

Around the royal palaces there were huge gardens with large pools or ponds on which boats could float. The water in the ponds was changed regularly. The pools were usually rectangular and lined with stone.

The rulers of Ancient Egypt planted plants brought from other countries that were unknown in Egypt in their gardens.

There were many trees in the gardens: pomegranates, palm trees, acacias, willows, yews, peaches. There the pharaoh's family could enjoy the coolness, escaping from the scorching sun. The garden at the pharaoh's palace acquired particular importance and considerable size.

The earliest temples of Ancient Egypt appeared in the mid-4th millennium BC and resembled reed huts. The last of the Egyptian temples to be built was the Temple of Philae, which ceased to be used in the 6th century AD. Not surprisingly, this selection covers a wide variety of different structures built over a huge period of time. Your trip to Egypt would not be complete without visiting one of these places.

Great Temple of Medinet Habu

Located on the West Bank of Luxor, Medinet Habu is the Arabic name for a huge temple complex. In size it is second only to Karnak, but at the same time it has been much better preserved to this day. Pharaohs Hatshepsut and Thutmose III built a small temple in honor of Amun on this site. Next to their temple, Ramses III built his tomb, the largest surviving monument of the Medinet Habu complex. Ramses III surrounded the temple complex with a large brick wall that surrounded warehouses, workshops and residential buildings.

Kom Ombo Temple

Among greatest temples It is impossible not to mention Kom Ombo from ancient Egypt. Situated on a high dune overlooking the Nile, Kom Ombo is an unusual double temple. It was built during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The original temple began to be built under Ptolemy VI Philometor at the beginning of the second century BC. Kom Ombo actually contains two different temples that mirror each other. They have two entrances, two courts, two colonnades, two hypostyle halls and two sanctuaries.

Colossi of Memnon

Built around 1350 BC. The Colossi of Memnon are two large stone statues. They depict Pharaoh Amenhotep III sitting on a pedestal. The original purpose of the Colossi was to stand guard at the entrance to the temple of Amenhotep, where he was worshiped both before and after leaving other world. It was once one of the largest temples of ancient Egypt, but today it has almost completely disappeared, with the exception of these two statues. Both Colossi are significantly damaged, with parts from the waist up almost unrecognizable.

Temples of Philae Island

The island of Philae was the center of the cult of the goddess Isis. The first temple on the island was built by the pharaohs of the 30th dynasty. Construction of the temple continued during three centuries of the reign of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and Roman rulers. In 100 AD, the Roman Emperor Trajan built the famous Trajan's Kiosk, which most likely served as the river entrance to the great Temple of Isis. In the 1960s, the temple and other Philae monuments were moved to the island of Agilika. The relocation was carried out by UNESCO volunteers to save the historical heritage from the rising waters of the Nile due to the construction of the Aswan Dam. Philae Island is currently flooded by the waters of Lake Nasser.

Edfu Temple

The Temple of Edfu is dedicated to the eagle-headed god Horus, and is the second largest Egyptian temple after Karnak and one of the best preserved. Construction of this temple began in 237 BC during the reign of Ptolemy III and ended almost two centuries later in 57 BC by Ptolemy XII, father of the legendary Queen Cleopatra. This temple consists of traditional elements of the Egyptian Temples of the New Kingdom, together with several Greek structures, among which the House of Birth (Mammisi) stands out.

Temple of Seti I at Abydos

The Temple of Seti I is the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I on the west bank of the Nile at Abydos. The ancient temple was built towards the end of Seti's reign, and was completed by his son Ramses the Great after his father's death in 1279 BC. This temple houses the Abydos List, a chronological list of all the dynastic pharaohs of Ancient Egypt from the Egyptian King Menes (founder of the first dynasty) to Seti's father, Ramses I.

Egyptian Temple of Hatshepsut

This temple is the tomb of Hatshepsut, who ruled Egypt from approximately 1479 BC until her death in 1458 BC. It is located on the western bank of the Nile. The colonnaded structure was designed and built by the Egyptian architect Senmut. The royal architect Hatshepsut built a temple for her burial and also to honor the glory of Amun. The Temple of Hatshepsut is harmoniously inscribed into the cliff of a sharply rising cliff with three stepped terraces reaching 30 meters in height. These terraces are connected by long ramps that were once surrounded by gardens.

Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple is located on the eastern bank of the Nile River in the ancient city of Thebes. It was founded in 1400 BC during the New Kingdom. The temple was dedicated to three Egyptian gods Amun, Mutu and Khonsu. The temple was the center of the Opet festival, the most important festival in Thebes. During the annual festival, statues of the three Gods were transferred from the Temple of Amun in Karnak to the Temple of Luxor along the road of the sphinxes connecting the 2 temples. Today, Luxor is a major destination for travelers to Upper Egypt, and an important stop on most Nile river cruises. Among the outstanding temples of Ancient Egypt, Luxor has always occupied a special place.

Abu Simbel

Karnak Temple of Ancient Egypt

Even though horribly destroyed, the Temple of Karnak surpasses in beauty most other attractions in Egypt. This is the largest ancient religious building in the world, representing the combined work of many generations of Egyptian builders. The Temple of Karnak actually consists of three main Egyptian temples, smaller indoor temples, and several outer temples about 2.5 kilometers north of Luxor. It took millennia to build and expand the Temple of Karnak. Most of the work on Karnak was done by the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (1570-1100 BC). One of the most famous structures of Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall, which covers an area of 5,000 square meters with 134 large columns set in 16 rows.

October 11, 2016 | Categories: History , Topper , Architecture

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Series of author's publications Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan Kamil Hazrat Samigullin pentitled “Instructions for those who ponder” contains instructive stories for all Muslims, drawn from the stories of the Venerable Quran and outstanding biographies of our great prophets and fellow believers. Examples from their lives, filled with love for the Almighty and dedicated to sincere service to the Creator, will make everyone who reflects...

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Third instruction. MUSA (alayhi salam)

The family of Pharaoh enslaved the sons of Israel, using their labor in the most difficult jobs. The sons of Israel, tired of the oppression of the Copts, could not even return to the homeland of their ancestors, Palestine, since Pharaoh did not give them either permission or the opportunity to leave Egypt.

The children of Israel were divided into classes: some of them were employed in the construction of pyramids like mountains; others were involved in the construction or demolition of houses; thousands of their people worked excessively in the quarries. This was the hardest work, as a result of which many of the sons of Israel were hunched over. Those who did not work were subject to a daily tribute, for failure to pay which before sunset they were bound to be tied up and imprisoned for a month. The women of this people were busy with sewing and spinning.

The slave-owning order subjected the sons of Israel to repression and torture. In addition, by order of Pharaoh, the Copts killed all newborn boys from among the Israelites, leaving only girls alive. However, having reached a certain age, they were given in marriage to foreign men in order to completely exterminate the Israelite race.

Pharaoh's dream

One day in a dream, Pharaoh saw that fire from Palestine surrounded Egypt and burned all the Copts who lived there, without touching the Israelis. This dream greatly frightened Pharaoh, who gathered all the soothsayers, fortune-tellers and sorcerers to interpret the dream. The answer was as follows:

A boy will be born among the children of Israel, and you and your power will perish at his hands.

Pharaoh's decision after hearing this was monstrous: he ordered the killing of all newborn Israeli boys. The midwives carried out this order exactly. Those who showed sympathy were killed.

By order of the Pharaoh, scaffolds were installed throughout the country to torture pregnant women. The fate of the most healthy Israeli women, who managed not to lose a child, despite the torture they experienced, and gave birth to boys, was known: their newborn sons were killed immediately after birth.

Frightened by torture, many women voluntarily agreed to abortions. This is how Pharaoh barbarously tried to prevent the birth of Musa (alaihi salam). By his order, twelve thousand boys and ninety thousand newborns were killed.

According to another narration, the number of children of the children of Israel who were killed by order of Pharaoh reached nine hundred and ninety thousand.

Muhiddin ibn Arabi in his book "Fusus al-Hikam" writes: “Allah Almighty granted Musa (alayhi salam) the abilities and powers of all the children killed by Pharaoh. Therefore, the miracles of Musa (alayhi salam) were very obvious.” Thus, the time was bound to come when Musa (alayhi salam) alone would confront the army of Pharaoh.

Birth of Musa (alaihi salam)

Along with newborn children, elderly people from among the sons of Israel gradually began to die out. Fearing the complete extinction of this people, the Copts turned to the Pharaoh:

The mortality rate among the adult generation of the sons of Israel has increased, and their children are being killed on your orders. We are afraid that they will completely degenerate. If this continues, we will have to do all the hard work ourselves.

Pharaoh took this warning into account and, after consulting with his entourage, made a new decision. Now newborn boys were ordered to be killed after a year. Of course, Pharaoh and his entourage, despite their atrocities, could not change the predestination of Allah Almighty. What had to happen happened: Musa (alayhi salam) was born, and in the year when all newborns were killed.

Allah Almighty does what he wishes: Musa (alaihi salam) was not only born in the year when newborn children were killed, and remained alive, but also grew up in the palace of the Pharaoh himself under his own protection. To many, this development of events will seem incredible, but it is they who make us realize that everything is in the power of Allah. How else could Musa (alaihi salam) gain strength and put an end to the reign of the villainous Pharaoh?

Thinking about our personal everyday problems or even global political events, we flounder in the abundance of possible assumptions and look for ways to solve them, but we almost always forget that Allah is omnipotent, and if he does not wish, then it is impossible to change something. How impossible it is to escape His mercy and help.

Musa's mother (alayhi salam) became pregnant with his brother Harun and gave birth in the year when children were left alive. She gave birth to Musa (alayhi salam) the next unhappy year. That year, Pharaoh's men scoured everywhere, and if they met a pregnant woman, they immediately wrote down her name. When the time came for childbirth, Coptic midwives came to this woman. If a girl was born, then she was left alive, and if a boy was born, then he was given to special child killers who mercilessly killed the child with sharp knives.

The pregnancy of Musa's mother (alaihi salam) proceeded unnoticed by others. Even the women who were looking for pregnant women could not see the obvious signs. However, Musa's mother (alayhi salam) was in constant fear and worry. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَاتَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي ۖ إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

“We inspired Musa’s mother: “Breastfeed him. When you begin to fear for him, then throw him into the river. Do not be afraid and do not be sad, We will certainly return him to you and make him one of(Our) messengers"" (al-Qasas 28:7).

This revelation, which was revealed to the mother of Musa (alayhi salam), is not a prophetic revelation. It overtook her through ilham (intuition) or dreams. In another verse, Allah Almighty says:

...أَنِ اقْذِفِيهِ فِي التَّابُوتِ فَاقْذِفِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ فَلْيُلْقِهِ الْيَمُّ بِالسَّاحِلِ يَأْخُذْهُ عَدُوٌّ ۚلِّي وَعَدُوٌّ لَّهُ

"Put it in a chest and float it down the river(to Neil) , and the river will throw him ashore. He will be picked up by My enemy and his enemy."(Ta-Ha 20:39).

Musa's mother (alayhi salam) breastfed him for three months, being in constant fear, because if Pharaoh's people broke into her house, they would certainly find the child and kill him.

Every day Musa (alaihi salam) became stronger and more beautiful, the mother’s affection and love for her son became greater and stronger, as did the fear for his life. Relying on revelation and her intuition, she decides to do as she was inspired to do: let Musa go along the Nile River.

Musa (alayhi salam) in the palace of Pharaoh

Musa's mother (alayhi salam) ordered a wooden box from a carpenter. She lined the inside of the box with cotton and coated the outside with resin so that it would not let water through. Having fed her son properly, she put him in a box, and entrusting him to Allah Almighty, she lowered the box into the water.

By the will of Allah Almighty, the current of the river carried Musa to the palace of Pharaoh and threw him ashore there. When the slaves of Pharaoh's wife came to the river bank for water, they found a box there, and taking it with them, they gave it to Pharaoh's wife. Opening the chest, the Pharaoh's wife saw in it a child emitting light.

At that very moment she was filled with love for the baby. However, he himself did not yet know that this would always be the case throughout his entire life: everyone who saw him had good feelings towards him. This did not escape even Pharaoh himself, who became just as strongly attached to the child. This is what Allah Almighty said about this in the Quran:

...وَأَلْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ مَحَبَّةً مِّنِّي وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي

"I have given you My love(and that's why people loved you, even Pharaoh) and you grew up before my eyes(under My control and protection)” (Ta-Ha 20:39).

Allah Almighty planted the seed of love for Musa (alaihi salam) in the hearts of all the inhabitants of the palace of Pharaoh. However, after some time, the inhabitants of the Pharaoh's palace were overcome with excitement, and they began to wonder: “Who is this child, where did he come from? What if he is the child who will put an end to the power of Pharaoh?

Fearing that he was born to an Israeli woman, Pharaoh's entourage held a meeting and decided to kill the child. However, Pharaoh's wife Asiya binti Muzahim objected to them and managed to convince Pharaoh to spare his life. She put a lot of effort into protecting Musa (alaihi salam) and making him the favorite son of Pharaoh. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:

وَقَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ فِرْعَوْنَ قُرَّتُ عَيْنٍ لِّي وَلَكَ ۖ لَا تَقْتُلُوهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَاأَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

“And Pharaoh’s wife said: “This is the joy of the eyes for me and you! Don't kill him! Perhaps he will be useful to us, or we will adopt him.” And they didn’t suspect anything.”(al-Qasas 28:9).

So, thanks to the efforts of Asiya binti Muzahim, Pharaoh and his entourage abandoned the idea of killing Musa (alaihi salam). They had no idea how close they were to the truth. One of the narrations reports that when Asiya said to Pharaoh: “This is the delight of the eyes for me and for you,” he answered her: “For you, yes, but I do not need it.”

This is what happened later. Allah Almighty granted the wife of Pharaoh the true path, and Pharaoh himself was destroyed by the hands of Musa (alaihi salam). Asiya binti Muzahim, seeing how the staff of Musa (alayhi salam) turned into a huge snake, believed in him. Pharaoh, not forgiving his wife for believing, subjected her to cruel torture.

In the narration transmitted from Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu), it is reported that Pharaoh ordered Asia to be nailed to the ground with four nails, and then a heavy stone was placed on her. At this moment, Asia turned to Allah Almighty with the following prayer:

... إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِوَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

“Oh, Lord! Grant me a home in Paradise, next to you, and deliver me from Pharaoh and his(bad) business Deliver me from this wicked people."(at-Tahrim 66:11).

Asiya binti Muzahim made this request to Allah Almighty, asking to grant her a home and a place of eternal rest in Jannah al-Mawa. She asked to be delivered from the vile Pharaoh and his evil deeds, as well as from his wicked people. Having drunk the cup of martyrdom, she was awarded eternal rest and the high degree that she desired.

One of the narrations reports that when Pharaoh tortured Asia to return to Pharaoh's religion, she was shown her place in Paradise and she gave up her soul without experiencing any pain. The stone that was placed on her was already placed on a lifeless body. Asia, an example of steadfastness in faith, rebelled against Pharaoh, who wanted to plunge her into the fire of eternal suffering, and ascended to the highest degree of Paradise, becoming one of the most good women of Paradise.

For example, in one of the hadiths it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The best women of Paradise are: Khadija, Fatima, Maryam and Asiya binti Muzahim.”

A mother finds her child again

About the condition of Musa's mother (alaihi salam) and what happened to her later, our Lord says in the Qur'an:

وَأَصْبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَارِغًا ۖ إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ لَوْلَا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰقَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. وَقَالَتْ لِأُخْتِهِ قُصِّيهِ ۖ فَبَصُرَتْ بِهِ عَن جُنُبٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

“And the heart of Musa’s mother sank with horror. She was ready to reveal it(admit that this is her son) , and We strengthened her heart so that she remained a believer. She told his sister, “Follow him.” She watched him from afar, and they did not notice her."(al-Qasas 28:10-11).

So, the mother of Musa (alaihi salam), in order to save her son from death, put him in a chest and lowered him into the waters of the Nile. But all her thoughts were turned to her son, she did not stop thinking about him and what happened to him. When in the morning she found out that the chest had fallen into the hands of the Pharaoh, she almost lost her mind. Thinking that now Pharaoh would kill her son, she began to cry and lament. But at this time divine help came.

Through suggestion (ilham), Allah Almighty reminded her of his promise. She firmly believed in this promise and began to wait patiently and calmly for His help. And if Allah Almighty had not granted her patience and calm, then she, exhausted by grief and melancholy, could have given herself away by openly declaring that Musa (alaihi salam) was her son. Allah Almighty says in the Quran:

...إِن كَادَتْ لَتُبْدِي بِهِ لَوْلَا أَن رَّبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قَلْبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

"She was ready to reveal it(admit that this is her son) and We strengthened her heart so that she would remain a believer."(al-Qasas 28:10).

Allah Almighty filled her heart with confidence that her son would be returned to her. When her heart found peace, she sent her daughter to the Pharaoh's palace to find out what was happening to her son. Since her daughter served at the court of Pharaoh, she had this opportunity.

She began to observe Musa (alayhi salam) from the side, without giving herself away. She learned that Pharaoh did not kill Musa (alaihi salam), but adopted him. She also learned about all the events taking place in the palace and told her mother about it.

Since Pharaoh and his wife fell in love with Musa (alayhi salam) very much, they decided to raise him as their own son. The Pharaoh's wife invited nurses to the palace to choose among them the best ones to feed Musa (alaihi salam). However, Musa (alayhi salam) did not accept any of these breadwinners. The news of this event spread very quickly throughout the area. Heralds were sent throughout Egypt to announce that a nurse for the child was being sought.

Allah Almighty says the following about this in the Quran:

وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِن قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُلَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ

“And We forbade him to take the breast of a wet nurse, and she(Musa's sister) suggested: “Should I show you a family who will take care of him for you and raise him?”(al-Qasas 28:12).

Ibn Abbas (radiyallahu anhu) said: “When Musa’s sister said this, they brought her to the palace and, doubting her veracity, asked: “How do you know that the family you mentioned will treat the child well?” The sister of Musa (alayhi salam), trying not to reveal herself, said:

She wants to become a milk mother for the royal family, and does not expect any benefits from this. People were immediately sent for the nurse. And as soon as his mother took Musa in her arms, he immediately clung to her chest and began to eat, stopping crying. All the inhabitants of the palace, and first of all Asia, were very happy and presented Musa’s mother (alaihi salam) with many gifts.

However, Pharaoh, who was suspicious of everything, was overcome by some doubts, and after thinking, he said:

How are you related to this child? He refused all other nurses, but he accepted you.

Musa's mother (alayhi salam) answered him:

I smell nice and my milk tastes good. There is not a single child who does not like my milk.

These words convinced Pharaoh, and Musa was handed over to his mother to feed him. In addition, they provided her with material support and presented her with many gifts. Musa's mother (alayhi salam) was very pleased with this, and, taking her child, returned to her home.

This is how Allah Almighty delivered her from fear and endowed her with dignity, high degree and abundant provision. After any difficulties, Allah Almighty grants relief and a way out.

فَرَدَدْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ أُمِّهِ كَيْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهَا وَلَا تَحْزَنَ وَلِتَعْلَمَ أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَٰكِنَّأَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

“So We returned him to his mother so that she would rejoice and not grieve and know that Allah’s promise is true. But most(of people) doesn't know about it"(al-Qasas 28/13).

One of the hadiths reports that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Musa’s mother is an example for those who, when doing something, have good intentions and expect reward only from Allah Almighty. She fed her own child and also received compensation for it.”

Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan Kamil hazrat Samigullin

The economy and culture of Ancient Egypt arose on a narrow strip (15 - 20 km) of the fertile Nile Valley, compressed by the Libyan and Arabian deserts.

The most ancient monuments of Egyptian architecture are concentrated in the river delta.

In the fertile, very long and narrow valley of the Nile, surrounded on both sides by desert, a civilization developed that was one of the most significant and distinctive cultures ancient world. The history of Ancient Egypt spans several millennia - from the end of the 5th millennium BC. e. until the 4th century n. e. Over such a significant period of time, a huge number of magnificent buildings, sculptures, paintings, and decorative arts were created in Ancient Egypt. Many of them remain unsurpassed examples of the highest craftsmanship and creative inspiration.

At the head of the state that united the possessions of the Middle and Lower Nile and at the end of the 4th millennium BC. e., there was a king (who later received the title of pharaoh), considered the son of the sun god and the heir of the god of the underworld Osiris.

Independently of each other, the tribes of Lower and Upper Egypt create the foundations of a unique architecture. Its development is sometimes divided into several large time periods.

It is assumed that in prehistoric period(before 3200 BC) fortified settlements with residential buildings were built from non-durable materials and funerary architectural structures were erected.

IN Old Kingdom period, approximately 2700-2200. BC e., the construction of monumental temple structures begins.

IN Middle Kingdom period(2200-1500 BC), when the capital was the city of Thebes, semi-cave temples appeared.

IN New Kingdom period(1500-1100 BC) outstanding temple structures are created in Karnak and Luxor. Late

During this period, foreign elements began to penetrate into the architecture of Egypt.

Time frames of historical periods

OK. 10,000 – 5,000 BC The first villages on the banks of the Nile; formation of 2 kingdoms - Upper and Lower Egypt
OK. 2630 BC The 1st step pyramid was built
OK. 2575 BC During the era of the Old Kingdom, bronze replaced copper; the pyramids are being built at Giza; mummification of the dead begins
OK. 2134 BC Civil strife destroys the Old Kingdom
OK. 2040 BC Beginning of the Middle Kingdom; the nobles of Thebes unite the country; conquest of Nubia
OK. 1700 BC End of the Middle Kingdom
1550 BC Beginning of the New Kingdom; standing army
1400 BC Egypt reaches the pinnacle of power
1070 BC Beginning of decline
332 BC Conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great
51 BC Beginning of Cleopatra's reign
30 BC Egypt becomes a Roman province

The main building material in Egypt is stone. The Egyptians were masters of its extraction and processing. They carved tall, slender blocks of stone in the form of obelisks, which were symbols of the sun - the great Ra, as well as huge pillars and columns the height of a three- and five-story house. Individual carefully hewn stone blocks were fitted to each other perfectly, dry, without mortar.

The weight of the heavy floor beams was carried by walls, pylons and columns. The Egyptians did not use vaults, although they knew this design. Stone floor slabs were laid on the beams. The supports were very diverse; sometimes these are monolithic stone pillars of a simple square section, in other cases - columns consisting of a base, a trunk and a capital. Simple trunks had a square cross-section, more complex ones were polyhedrons and often depicted bundles of papyrus stems. The trunks sometimes had flutes (vertical grooves).

Egyptian architecture was characterized by the peculiar shape of the capitals, depicting a papyrus flower, lotus or palm leaves. In some cases, the image of the head of the fertility goddess Hathor was carved onto the capitals.

The religious views of the ancient Egyptians, which mixed the veneration of local deities, the cult of Osiris and Isis, as well as the Sun god Amun, deserve special attention - they determined the social and state life of the country: the vast majority architectural monuments Ancient Egyptian buildings for religious purposes: temples and burial complexes.

Palaces of Egypt

The palaces of the pharaohs and nobles in Ancient Egypt were built mainly from clay bricks dried in the sun. Unlike temples, which were built of stone for centuries, where the gods were worshiped constantly and at all times, each of the pharaohs built himself a new palace after ascending the throne. Abandoned buildings quickly deteriorated and collapsed, and therefore, as a rule, not even ruins remained of the palaces of the pharaohs. At best, on the site of magnificent palaces you can find the remains of walls and broken tiles.

It is believed that the appearance of the pharaoh's palace and its facade repeated the forms of architecture of the ancient royal tombs of that time. The tomb was considered the home of the deceased in his afterlife, it is logical to assume that it was similar to his home in this life. Based on this assumption, the palace wall could be divided by ledges with figured battlements on top. The few surviving images of the pharaohs' palaces indicate that the walls of the palace were decorated with bas-reliefs and ornaments.

Reconstruction of the palace

Luxury in the Pharaoh's Palace

Pharaoh's Palace

pharaoh's palace

Temples of Egypt

The Temple of Thoth in Luxor is a historical monument of Egypt.

The shrine was built between 1925 and 1895 BC. The main building material is stone.

The ancient Egyptian Thoth was the god of wisdom and education, so huge statues of him were installed at the foot of the temple.

During the excavations, 4 bronze chests were also found at the base of the temple, the height of which is 20.5 centimeters, the width is 45 centimeters, and the length is 28.5 centimeters. They contained many silver balls, mostly crumpled, gold chains and molds, lapis lazuli - unprocessed or in the form of cylinder seals.

Ruins of the Temple of Osiris

The temple is located in the legendary Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately, only ruins remain of the once great temple, but they are literally saturated with the history of Ancient Egypt. It was built quite a long time ago and is of historical value. It was built by Pharaoh Seti I, who reigned from 1294. Before 1279 BC.

The building itself is very complex in its design and has a very large number of rooms. Seti I did not complete the construction of the temple; this difficult task was completed by his son Ramesses II. The design is quite complex in its structure, but interesting. There were two halls, each of them was decorated with many columns. In the first hall there were 24 of them, and in the second - 36. The second hall was the most mysterious: passages were made from it to seven sanctuaries. Each sanctuary was dedicated to one of the seven gods (Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amon, Ra-Horakhty, Ptah and Ra). At the end, Seti I himself was deified. The chapels contained a statue of the god, a sacred boat and a false door. The spirit of the deity entered through this door.

Behind the temple itself is a building called the Osireion. On its walls you can see carved texts from the Necronomicon, the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Scientists are still studying the territory of the Temple of Osiris and conducting excavations on it.

Merenptah Temple

The mortuary temple of Merneptah is located in the Valley of the Kings and is practically destroyed. Once upon a time there was a whole complex here, thought out to the smallest detail, but now only statues remain.

Previously, a gate led into the first courtyard of the structure, opening a view of the colonnades - six columns on each side. The left side of the courtyard of the complex was the facade of the king's brick palace. And the giant Israel Stele, which once stood in front of the second pylon, was built in honor of Merenptah, indicating his military prowess.

This pylon was followed by a second courtyard, in which a bust of Merneptah from a collapsed statue was discovered. A passage led from the courtyard into the halls. The temple ended with 3 sanctuaries with rooms for sacrifices and sacred objects. Once upon a time, the entire temple complex was decorated with tiles and gold, it was surrounded by a huge brick wall, but now practically nothing remains of the former buildings.

Montu Temple

Temple of Montu - Egyptian temple dedicated to the god of war Montu.

This shrine was built during the Old Kingdom. The temple was located in the ancient city of Medamud. This city was excavated in 1925 by French archaeologist Fernando Bisson de la Roque. During the excavations, numerous structures were discovered, as well as a temple.

Only columns and fragments of walls have survived to this day. The temple was built of brick and stone. The structure of the temple is as follows: platform, stands, canal, dromos, main gate, portico, hall and sanctuary. There was also a courtyard for a live sacred bull. The god Montu was associated with the raging bull, so the bull was a revered animal. Montu himself was also depicted with the head of a bull. A similar statue and figurines of bulls were found during excavations of the temple.

Temple of Isis at Philae

The famous sanctuary of Isis, which existed until the disappearance of the ancient Egyptian civilization, is located on the island of Philae, near Aswan. Isis (Isis) is one of the greatest goddesses of antiquity, who became a model for understanding the Egyptian ideal of femininity and motherhood. She was revered as the sister and wife of Osiris, the mother of Horus, and, accordingly, the Egyptian kings, who were originally considered the earthly incarnations of Osiris. The cult of Isis and the mysteries associated with it became widespread in the Greco-Roman world, comparable to Christianity.

Now the temple of Isis is located on the island of Agilika. During the construction of the Aswan Reservoir in 1960, UNESCO took the initiative to move the temple upstream of the Nile. The temple was cut, dismantled, and then the stone blocks were transported and reassembled on the island of Agilika, located 500 meters upstream. All this was surrounded by such broad PR activities, such as: the Russians are destroying nature and monuments with their dams and reservoirs ancient culture, and we, the enlightened Western world, are saving temples from flooding. It was just kept silent that this temple suffered the main damage after the construction of the English dam at the beginning of the century, and the Aswan Dam, built with the help of the USSR, in turn, became an object of important social significance and maintaining the energy balance in the region, without which the modern Egyptian economy simply did not exist would.