Dominique Navarro's Blog, page 14
December 31, 2014
December 23, 2014
Book Review on Goodreads for “Cats of Egypt” AUC Press Nature Foldout
“Cats of Egypt” is a beautiful and informative foldout. It offers information on ancient and current wild cats of Egypt as well as some on feline gods and goddesses and more. Great for any who love wild cats or ancient Egypt. —Rachel, on Goodreads
Write your review of any of the AUC Press Nature Foldouts on Goodreads or Amazon
Filed under: AUC Press Nature Foldout Reviews
December 15, 2014
Goodreads Book Giveaway Contest Winners Announced!
Congratulations to the winners of the Goodreads Book Giveaway Contest!
The winner of Cats of Egypt Nature Foldout is Rachel of Aline, Oklahoma, competing with 692 people to win the foldout!
The winner of Wildlife of the Holy Land Nature Foldout is Tonia of Hermiston, Oregon, competing with 531 people to win the foldout!
Congratulations to you both!
Want to buy your own copies? Both are available online from booksellers including AUC Press & Amazon, or find more infomation here.
Filed under: AUC Press Nature Foldout News Updates
King Amenhotep III Colossi���Luxor Updates & Video Links
In cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities, the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, led by German Egyptologist Dr. Hourig Sourouzian, completed the re-erection of two colossi statues on the West Bank of Thebes, at the North Gate of the King’s Funerary Temple. Their broken pieces had lain buried for centuries in a nearby field after an earthquake�� toppled them around 1200 B.C.
Both colossi, hewn from red quartzite of Gebel El Ahmar, represent King Amenhotep III. Wearing the white crown of upper Egypt, broad collar, pleated Shendyt-kilt and belt, each colossi holds a roll of papyrus inscribed with his name in both hands. “Nebmaat-Re, Amenhotep Ruler of Thebes, beloved of Amon-Re” in inscribed on the rectangular clasp of the belt of the East-Colossus which is better preserved, along with a falcon headed dagger inserted in the belt.
The two colossi stand at a height of nearly 13 meters (42 feet) tall and weigh over 110 tons. “These are up to now the highest standing effigies of an Egyptian king in striding attitude,” Sourouzian said.
The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project began their work in 1998, dedicated to preserving and conserving the last remains of the once-prestigious temple. Lying in the fields of the West Bank of Luxor, it exposed and buried remnants are vulnerable to agriculture and irrigation, water and salt, vegetation and fire. The project includes lowering the water level in the temple precinct.
Among the discoveries over the years include a monumental alabaster statue of a hippopotamus, placed in the northern portico. Numerous statues of the goddess Sekhmet with the face of a lion and seated on a throne, have also been found, hewn from dark granodiorite�� measuring 2 meters high.
Filed under: Egypt News - Environment & Egyptology
King Amenhotep III Colossi—Luxor Updates & Video Links
In cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities, the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project, led by German Egyptologist Dr. Hourig Sourouzian, completed the re-erection of two colossi statues on the West Bank of Thebes, at the North Gate of the King’s Funerary Temple. Their broken pieces had lain buried for centuries in a nearby field after an earthquake toppled them around 1200 B.C.
Both colossi, hewn from red quartzite of Gebel El Ahmar, represent King Amenhotep III. Wearing the white crown of upper Egypt, broad collar, pleated Shendyt-kilt and belt, each colossi holds a roll of papyrus inscribed with his name in both hands. “Nebmaat-Re, Amenhotep Ruler of Thebes, beloved of Amon-Re” in inscribed on the rectangular clasp of the belt of the East-Colossus which is better preserved, along with a falcon headed dagger inserted in the belt.
The two colossi stand at a height of nearly 13 meters (42 feet) tall and weigh over 110 tons. “These are up to now the highest standing effigies of an Egyptian king in striding attitude,” Sourouzian said.
The Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Project began their work in 1998, dedicated to preserving and conserving the last remains of the once-prestigious temple. Lying in the fields of the West Bank of Luxor, it exposed and buried remnants are vulnerable to agriculture and irrigation, water and salt, vegetation and fire. The project includes lowering the water level in the temple precinct.
Among the discoveries over the years include a monumental alabaster statue of a hippopotamus, placed in the northern portico. Numerous statues of the goddess Sekhmet with the face of a lion and seated on a throne, have also been found, hewn from dark granodiorite measuring 2 meters high.
Filed under: Egypt News - Environment & Egyptology
December 1, 2014
Gift Ideas for the Holidays!
For those who love Egypt, nature, or just cats, the AUC Press Nature Foldouts are wonderful gifts for the holidays!
The 2015 Wall Calendar is a lovely present full of colorful images for every month of the year! Limited availability—when they’re gone they’re gone! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
Wildlife of the Holy Land: AUC Press Nature Foldout is a gorgeous introduction to the animals and some of the plants described in the Torah, Bible and Qur’an. Available from AUC Press & Amazon
For the cat lover, Cats of Egypt: AUC Press Nature Foldout is a fantastic introduction to the history of domestic cats in Egypt, alongside their wild feline relatives like caracal, leopards, and lions! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
Egypt’s prehistory includes remarkable dinosaurs, ancient whales, and fantastic crocodiles! Egypt’s Prehistoric Fauna: AUC Press Nature Foldout describes the unique natural history and evolution of such creatures! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
Ancient Egyptians had a unique relationship with the environment, described in Ancient Egypt’s Wildlife: AUC Press Nature Foldout with scientific consultant Egyptologist Salima Ikram! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
One of the most popular nature foldouts is Birds of the Nile Valley: AUC Press Nature Foldout, a colorful introduction to the beautiful birds which reside or migrate along the African-Eurasian Flyway through Egypt! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
Egypt’s Flora & Fauna: AUC Press Nature Foldout is a great introduction to the range of unique wildlife found throughout Egypt, from the deserts and mountains to the river and sea shores! Available from AUC Press & Amazon
Filed under: AUC Press Nature Foldout News Updates 
November 22, 2014
A Day with Braheem at the Temple of Kom Ombo and the Crocodile Museum
Egyptians are a wonderful people with a rich heritage they have shared with the world, and tourists, for thousands of years. During a visit to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, I was engulfed by several busloads of Egyptian students who had come all the way from the town of Armant for a field trip to see such sites. (Photos and story here: A Visit to Hatshepsute Temple)
Yet, surprisingly, there are many local Egyptians who have never visited such places, children as well as adults. I accompanied a friend who had lived and worked in Luxor all his life, yet had never visited any of the labyrinthine tombs found in the Valley of the Kings, Queens, or Deir el-Medina, where the ancient workers and artisans once lived. He was shocked at their beauty, and I was touched to be his guide to these places that were his own birthright.
Inspired, I decided to invite my little friend Braheem an a day trip to Kom Ombo, a few hours south of Luxor. Braheem had never gone on a field trip anywhere, and had never left Luxor. He’s a good student attending his classes each day and learning English shwaya shwaya. His smile is one of pure optimism and he’s been an inspiration to me and my work on the AUC Press Nature Foldouts. It is for children like him that I hope to publish the Arabic editions of the Nature Foldouts.
We got permission from Braheem’s mother and figured out when we could go without it interfering with school. A few days later, Braheem’s older friend agreed to drive us and we were on our way, very excited for our little adventure. The drive is a lovely scenic route that parallels the River Nile and vast, incredible gebel (mountains) which line the entire Nile Valley, and in which one can discern ancient tombs carved into the rock.
Kom Ombo is a an ancient town most famous for its temple which sits beside the Nile. Built during the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 BC to 30 BC), the temple honored two gods and was therefore designed with everything “double” including courts, halls, and sanctuaries: it is two temples in one.
The northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder.
But Kom Ombo is especially known as the place of worship to the crocodile god Sobek.
Here, more then anywhere else in Egypt, one encounters the image of the crocodile carved in relief throughout the temple.
Built beside the river, crocodiles once basked on the shores here, and many were kept within the temple itself where they were cared for, worshiped, and mummified upon their death as tribute to Sobek. Hundred of such mummies were buried here, a few of which are now on display in the Crocodile Museum next to the temple itself.
In ancient times, pilgrims would visit the temple to pray to Sobek and give votive offerings in the form of small mummified crocodiles, statues and stelae.
It was a beautiful day which I was so pleased to share with Braheem.
More information about Sobek and other ancient Egyptian gods and their temples throughout Egypt can be found in the Wildlife of Ancient Egypt AUC Press Nature Foldout, with scientific consultant Egyptologist Salima Ikram:
Filed under: Ventures & Vistas in Egypt
November 17, 2014
Gaddis & Co. Bookstore in Luxor – Nature Foldouts & 2015 Calendar Available
Pleased to hear from Kate who visited the Gaddis & Co. Gift and Bookstore in Luxor where she bought our 2015 Calendar:
Visit Gaddis & Co. to purchase yours, or buy online at AUC Press or Amazon.
AUC Press Nature Foldouts are also available at Gaddis & Co. located in front of the legendary Winter Palace.
Open since 1907, it has a wonderful selection of books including many publications by AUC Press.
Photos of the store from 1907 and again in 2007!
Drop by their store on Corniche Al Nil!
Filed under: AUC Press Nature Foldout News Updates
