Few lands carry the shroud of mystery and intrigue about its history and people as does Egypt. It’s location on the northern plateau of Africa, “the dark continent,” its mystery is escalated by centuries of human drama, the conflict of the world’s most far-reaching religions and a landscape predominantly harsh and unforgiving of human foibles.
Throw in some image tinkering by Hollywood, a few good mysteries by the world’s leading story tellers and the fact that few westerners have explored even the most populous centers of Egypt, the land is as fertile as the Nile River valley in mystery and unanswered questions.
However, the experts of Egypt, those who have studied the science of Egyptology, remind us that all of the unknowns of this land of 80 million inhabitants, can be reduced to three simple categories:
What tools were used to create the Pyramids and Temples?
What was used to create the dyes and colors that have survived so vividly throughout the millennia?
How was mummification accomplished?
“The mystery adds to the excitement of ancient history,” says Anwar Abdel Khalik, who holds a Ph.D. in Egyptology from Hetwan University. She earns her living as a guide for curious and appreciative tourists throughout her homeland.
And among the most frequent questions she and other guides receive, and that scientists continue to ask of themselves, are the three above.While these mysteries are exemplified in museums, cities, temples and monuments throughout Egypt, many consider the Temple of Efu the best place to most fully appreciate these three mysteries of Egypt. Having been covered by blowing sands for centuries, the Temple at Edfu is considered the most well-preserved temple in Egypt. Almost every surface is filled with carvings, engravings and hieroglyphics.
Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, it was not discovered until the 1820s, thus escaping much of the damage and destruction of Christian crusaders. However, crusaders were not solely responsible for the damage to Egypt’s treasurers. Many villagers were among the most destructive, taking stones for the own dwellings and crushing the bodies of mummies for use as fertilizers.
The Egyptians are considered the first builders, the first architects and designers, so their tools were the definition of primitive. Some think diamonds were used to cut stone, but there is no evidence of diamonds being found in Egypt. There is some evidence that copper and bronze chisels were used as well, copper and bronze would have lacked the potential for detail offered by the diamond theory.
The colors used to dye the stone is another unanswered question. The yolk of various eggs are among the possibilities, but does not provide the explanation for the rich intensity and variety of colors that include hibiscus, turquoise, rusty reds and more. Again, the coloration at Temple at Edfu is particularly well preserved, as is the Temple of Ramses IX in the Valley of the Kings.
Mummification is considered the third “secret” or unanswered mystery of Egypt. Some components of the process are understood, such as removal of major organs and salt as a preservative and drying agent. But many, many details are unclear and experts are not satisfied with the depth of research and knowledge accumulated in this field.
While numerous scholars and scientists from around the world have opinions and theories, the foremost authority on all that is Egypt is a man of endless energy and curiosity by the name of Dr. Zahi Hawass. Nicknamed the “Indiana Jones of Egypt,” Hawass is officially the general secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Most countries don’t have such a position, but in Egypt, it is a cabinet level position, not unlike a secretary of education, labor, health and human services or whatever. It’s important.
Dr. Hawass’s work is unprecedented in the study of Egypt and can be followed on his website, www.drhawass.com. Among other notables, he did a cat-scan on King Tut’s mummified body and is the individual who definitely proved that the Pyramids were not built by slaves. A particularly good book dedicated to that discovery is “Pyramids: Treasures, Mysteries, and New Discoveries in Egypt,” published by White Star.
He is currently working on another title “The Secrets of Egypt,” to be published by National Geographic is 2010.
If answers are found in modern times, it will be Dr. Hawass and his immediate colleagues who are likely to provide those answers. But until then, travel to Egypt and witnessing these major temples are fundamental steps to appreciating the mysteries of Egypt and the challenge of human scientists.
By Diana Lambdin Meyer
Photos by Bruce N. Meyer
