Cairo's "City of the Dead" is a site rich in history and legacy and a city as much for the living as it is for the dead, despite the name's menacing connotations of graves and spirits. The City of the Dead in Cairo, also known as El Qarafa or El Arafa in Arabic, is a stretch of necropolises and cemeteries in the original city center. Locals refer to this region as Old Cairo (Masr El Adeema in Arabic), or Historic Cairo internationally. However, as we've already mentioned, City of the Dead is more than just about the dead; residential districts with all the typical commotion of a typical neighborhood have been constructed beside and throughout the necropolises. Nestled behind the Moqattam Hills to the east, Cairo's City of the Dead is divided into two large cemeteries, one to the north and the other to the south of the Cairo Citadel.

There has never been a more significant risk associated with fast fashion. Cairo residents have thus been searching for more environmentally friendly substitutes. While some products with ethical sourcing may benefit the environment, they might not be as cost-effective. Here's where saving money comes in. But don't worry if you're not sure where to begin—this guide to thrift shopping in Cairo will help you out.

In today's world, the fashion industry plays a significant role in driving environmental and social change. As consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of their purchases, the demand for sustainable fashion is on the rise. In Egypt, a country known for its rich history and vibrant culture, there is a growing movement towards supporting ethical and eco-friendly fashion brands. With more local fashion brands than ever, there is a huge wave of sustainable options that are not only producing fabulous pieces, but also saving the planet!

As awe-inspiring as the monuments in Giza are, many more areas in Egypt are brimming with history and allure. Nubia, located in Southern Egypt, is one of these marvelous places. Starting about 2,000 years ago B.C., a succession of pharaohs constructed the Nubian monuments. Egypt established and preserved control over the gold, copper, and ivory contained in the Nubian Kingdom due to its location, which had long been a crucial strategic site. 

One of the world's oldest ethnic groups is said to be the Nubians. As a result, these people have a rich history and culture. One of the cradles of civilization, the middle Nile valley area is where the Nubians are thought to have originated. They were influential in ancient Egypt and later, in the Middle Ages, founded the kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. You may find Nubians in Egypt and Sudan. This vibrant town, which is tucked away along the banks of the Nile River, is well-known for its amazingly colored homes, vibrant culture, and kind hospitality. Having inhabited this area for thousands of years, the Nubian people have created a distinctive way of life that is closely linked to the environment.

In recent years, women's empowerment and the fight for equal rights for women in Egypt has reached an all-time high. Feminism isn’t a new concept in Egypt, since the beginning of Egyptian civilization, women have played crucial roles in making history. From iconic rulers like Pharaohs Hatchepsut, Cleopatra, and Sultana Shajaret El Dur, Egyptian history is known for its strong female rulers. In ancient Egypt, women were allowed to own and inherit property. They owned businesses and acted as their own attorneys in court. Women were also free to leave their possessions to anyone they pleased when they passed away.

Located in the heart of Cairo, the Zabbaleen City (Garbage City), is where trash is turned into gold. The Zabbaleen (Garbage People), who make their living by gathering and recycling waste, have developed their own industry and economy. These Zabbaleen are reputed to have one of the greatest recycling rates in the world. Approximately 80% of the items that arrive there are given new life. But to understand how garbage collection snowballed into such a huge industry, we have to first look at the city’s origins.

The Zar, an Egyptian cultural and ritual ceremony, is well-recorded for its wild dancing and enthralling music. Both foreigners and Egyptians find it to be a fascinating and enigmatic topic, however. Since ancient times, the zar has been a staple of Egyptian society. The ritual was all about warding off bad spirits and negative energies using dance and music.

Egyptian monasteries have become very popular tourist destinations, and not just for people on religious tours. Churches and other buildings from the same era have frequently been renovated, yet many historic monasteries remain original owing to their natural desire to stay secluded. Even though pharaonic monuments are the main attractions in Egypt, there is a goldmine of history in Coptic monuments such as monasteries, where Coptic monks dwell and practice their religious traditions.

Established in the first century under the name of Jesus, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt continues to proclaim the name of its Lord. "Coptic Church" refers to its ethnicity, while "Orthodox" refers to its beliefs. "Original Faith" is what the compound term "Orthodox" (Ortho Doxa) denotes. The Coptic Church was granted this designation as a result of its defense of the ancient dogma against several challenges throughout the ensuing centuries. Nowadays, Christians in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt adhere to the Coptic Church's doctrine.

Not only is the ancient Egyptian language one of the first human languages known to exist, but it has surpassed other languages over its longer historical record. Its use as a spoken language declined in the Middle Ages as Arabic took its place, although it is still used in the Coptic Church's liturgy. Directly derived from the language of the pharaohs, Coptic is the latest evolution of the ancient Egyptian language. Originally written in hieroglyphs, the script also existed in hieratic, a cursive form, and later on, demotic, a distinct form.

The Islamic Hijri calendar is used to determine important Islamic festivals and months, but for Muslims living in the modern world, the passing of days, months, and years is usually computed using the Western Gregorian calendar. For Muslims to properly traverse both their secular and spiritual lives, they must be aware of the names of months, days, and years in both Islamic and Gregorian scripts, as well as when they occur.

The Hijri calendar is considered one of four major calendars currently in use worldwide. These four include the Miladi, Hijri, Chinese, and Persian calendars. The Hijri calendar is the official calendar of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The term "Hijira," which describes the journey of Prophet Muhammad in 622 AD from Makkah to Al Madina El Monawara, is used to describe the Hijri Year.

Have you ever got carried away with zodiac signs and horoscopes? Well, what if we told you this was common in Egypt thousands of years ago? By the end of the fourth century, Egypt was first exposed to the zodiac system, which the Babylonians created in the Near East. The signs gained popularity among Egyptians in the Ptolemaic period when they carved their horoscopes on shattered pottery pieces called ostracons and used them to decorate their graves. Still, there are only three zodiacs in Egyptian temples, including the Esna zodiac.

In recent years, animal rights advocates have been compelled to take matters into their own hands. Their efforts have not gone ignored, whether they are forming online organizations, distributing and rescuing animals in need on their own, or advocating against dog breeding.

In Middle Eastern culture, fatteh has a long history; it seems to have originated in Egypt and then spread to the Levant. Throughout the area, there are several variations of this dish that may be made with or without tomato sauce, with sheep trotters added, or layered with little stuffed eggplant. However, the fundamental ingredient for fatteh is day-old flatbread that has been soaked in broth or yogurt.

Maadi had an Indian summer in the years before the War of 1948, but many of its foreign residents, especially the British, were leaving, and prominent figures in Maadi society were passing on, including Faris Nimr Pasha, the founder of the Al-Muqattam newspaper, who was born in Syria, and Henriette Devonshire, who led tours of Islamic Cairo well into her eighties.

Between 1907 and 1913, Delta Land Company sold 41 lots in Maadi to people with names like Angelo, de Cramer, Crawford, Whitman, MacDonald, Pilavachi, Bondi, Joanovitch, and Veloudakis. Even though the British were the majority of the early occupants of Maadi, this was not always the case. These were all "resident foreigners" in Egypt, frequently but not always Europeans, who were shielded from Egyptian law by a system of "capitulations" that brought them under the jurisdiction of the legal systems of their home nations.

Maadi has a lengthy and intriguing past—far longer than one might think. Every step you take to learn more about its beginnings takes you further into a maze of pre-dynastic history, the emergence of modern Egypt, and the remarkably affluent and eccentric people who contributed to the creation of what came to be known as "the garden suburb." Maadi is still one of Cairo's most tranquil and well-kept neighborhoods today, a refuge for the city's multicultural expat population and a way to get away from the bustle of Egypt's capital.

For thousands of years, perfume has been valued as a luxury good, and ancient Egypt was no exception. Uses for perfumes were numerous. Perfume was once considered a luxury good for the gods due to its scarcity; in order to gain the gods' favor, fragrant powders were burned. Later, perfume entered the mainstream and was used by both sexes for its holy virtues, which included its healing benefits, body-purifying properties, and enticing qualities.