Al Minya City/Nile Valley/Egypt

Al Minya City/Nile Valley/Egypt. Al Minya lies approx.. 246km. from Cairo and one of the most important Governates of Upper Egypt, because of it’s location which lies in betweem Northern and Sputhern Egypt. Rich in many archiological areas it combines all ages starting from the Pharaonic Era, through to the Greek, Roman, Islamic and Christian eras. It is the third archiological Governate after Giza and Luxor, reason being because of it’s valuable treasures and many Historical Sites and Monuments. In the Modern Day Al Minya is a small City in Middle Egypt which does not really experience much attention on the Tourist Agenda, but at one time it was a powerful Regional Capital within Egypt. Throughout the first intervening Period when the power that controlled Egypt from Memphis during the Old Kingdom fell apart, Minya became a small control Centre and carried on it’s influence over the centre of Egypt during the Middle Kingdom. On most Tours a visit to Al Minya is not a regular stop. The Sites are visited much less often and the mood of the Town is not aimed toward the outside foreign visitor. However even though the Tpwn does not offer a great deal to the Tourists, there are some interesting Colonial Eara constructions which lie in the Old division of the Town close to the Central Midan, Tahrir Square. On the East side of the River Nile the Tombs of Beni Hassan, which is cut into the rocky Cliffs date from the period of Al Minya’s influence . In all there are approx.. thirty nine Tombs, but there are four which are the most impressive that are open to the Public. Although the Tombs are much earlier and less imposing than the Tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens in Luxor, they still hold captivating sight for their glowing wall paintings that exhibit a variety of everyday activities from Ancient Egyptian Life. Lying approx.. a mile and a half further on a track from the Tombs are the remains of Speos Artemidos. The Great Queen Hatshepsut ordered this rock cut Temple and like her Temple which lies close to Luxor, honours the Goddess Hathor. Al Minya houses a small Museum which is in respect of Akhenaten who was a distinctive person in the History of Pharaonic Egypt. Born Amenhotep IV, Akhenaton controlled Egypt from 1352-1336 BC, soon after taking controlhe changed his name and dismissed the age old Religion in approval of Monotheistic worship of Aten, who was the Sun God. He initiated a new Capital called Akhetaten m which in the present day is known as Tell Al Amarna and is located thirty miles South of Minya. Also the art which was produced throughout Akhenaten’s reign was remarkably different. To see just how individual Arkenaten’s art was take a visit to the Armarna Period Room which is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Following the death of Arkhenaten the Priests did their best to demolish the legacy of Akhenaten which also included the City he constructed, There are only a very few remnants of the City he constructed at Tell Al Amarna , but the legend of Akhenaten and his Wife Nefertiti, still holds command today, It would be well worth visiting if you are in Al Minya Tell Al Amarna to view what remains of the heretic legacy of the Pharaoh.