This map shows the path of the Nile through Egypt. In ancient times the area north of Cairo (or Memphis as it was then) was referred to as Lower Egypt and the area to the south, Upper Egypt. This was in reference to the spiritual significance of the two areas. This map displays the height above sea level in shades which start with green. The areas in green do not necessarily indicate areas of fertility or cultivation! GHIZA - The plateau of Ghiza, just a few kilometres south-west of central Cairo, is on the edge of the desert but within a stones throw of 'modern' habitation. The pyramids totally dominate the surrounding area by their extraordinary size. The Pyramids of Cheops and Chephren in the haze of an early morning The Great Sphinx with Cheops the largest of the Pyramids in the background Hieroglyphs were the symbols used by the ancient Egyptian Priests and Scholars to represent, what we today would call, writing. Hieroglyphics is the word used for the art of writing with hieroglyphs. Even though the 'pictures' were visually descriptive, these were in fact phonetic symbols, just like our present alphabet, but it did take quite some time for this to be established. ROYAL MORTALS AND THE GODS A small part of the brightly coloured murals in one of the tombs in The Valley of the Kings From the Funerary Temple looking up to the imposing escarpment above. (চলবে)