#Egyptian Cultural Library

[saxafimedianetwork]

Somaliland’s Bold Move: Shutting Down Egypt’s Cultural Library as a Clear Message to Global Powers

#Somaliland sends a strong message to global powers with the permanent closure of #Egypt's Cultural Library in #Hargeisa, citing "serious security concerns". A bold move to assert #Sovereignty & defend national interests, warning external powers of unapologetic consequences.

Continue reading Somaliland’s Bold Move: Shutting Down Egypt’s Cultural Library as a Clear Message to Global Powers

[blue-eyes-never-lie]

[myrtaceaae]

Me: I should get back to doing audio

Also me: has a 90 minute conversation with my imaginary friend outlining how books about Ancient Egypt failed me

[noisyprincesswerewolf]

Egyptian natural culture-Samsung TV art

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Egyptian culture, where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with lush greenery and breathtaking scenery. Explore the heart of Egypt, where every corner tells a story, and every view is a feast for the eyes. From the timeless beauty of its landscapes to the vibrant heritage of its people, discover the soul of Egypt like never before

Egyptian natural culture-Samsung TV art

[whencyclopedia]

Ptolemaic Egypt

Ptolemaic Egypt existed between 323 and 30 BCE when Egypt was ruled by the Macedonian Ptolemaic dynasty. During the Ptolemaic period, Egyptian society changed as Greek immigrants introduced a new language, religious pantheon, and way of life to Egypt. The Ptolemaic capital Alexandria became the premier city of the Hellenistic world, known for its Great Library and the Pharos lighthouse.

From Persian Rule to Alexander

In 525 BCE, Egypt was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire, beginning a period of harsh foreign rule and cultural repression. Egypt briefly regained its independence from 404 BCE until 342 BCE before it was reconquered. Discontent with the Persian government resulted in the Egyptians welcoming Alexander the Great as a liberator when he invaded in 332 BCE. Alexander had already broken the Persian army at the Battle of Issus (333 BCE), and Mazakes, the satrap of Egypt, surrendered without a fight.

Alexander demonstrated a deep respect for Egyptian culture, choosing to be crowned pharaoh according to traditional custom. He offered sacrifices to the Egyptian gods in Heliopolis and Memphis and hosted Greek athletic games to celebrate his reign. Next, he traveled south to the Oracle of Amun, whom the Greeks equated with Zeus, in the Siwa Oasis. Alexander believed himself to be the son of Zeus, which the oracle seemingly confirmed for him. The idea had precedent in Egyptian royal ideology in which kings were considered living gods, the offspring of deities like Ra or Amun. It was an unusually grandiose claim for Greek rulers, but Alexander's reputation was great enough for the Greeks to accept him as a demigod.

Alexander's grand design will slowly have come to encompass the idea that all peoples were to be subjugated for the formation of a new world order; for this purpose, the Egyptian pharaonic system presented a very suitable ideology that was well established and has been accepted for millennia.

(Hölbl, 9)

In 331 BCE, Alexander visited the fishing village of Rhakotis where he planned the foundation of a new city, Alexandria. He intended for Alexandria to be the capital of his empire, a link between Egypt and the Mediterranean. Before leaving to continue his conquests, Alexander appointed two governors, Doloaspis and Peteisis, and named Cleomenes of Naukratis, a Greek Egyptian, as his satrap. He also left a small army to occupy and defend Egypt.

Statue of Alexander the Great as Pharaoh

Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA)

After the death of Alexander the Great in Babylon in 323 BCE, his general Ptolemy I became satrap of Egypt. He was nominally the servant of Alexander's successors Philip Arrhidaeus and Alexander IV of Macedon, but in reality, he ruled on his own initiative. Ptolemy I quickly executed Cleomenes, whose exorbitant taxation was unpopular, and began establishing royal policies to modernize the country. By 310 BCE, the last of Alexander's heirs had died, and during the Wars of the Diadochi, Alexander's generals claimed pieces of his empire. Ptolemy I was crowned king of Egypt in 306 BCE, establishing the Ptolemaic dynasty.

Continue reading...

[xanasaurusrex]

hi can u make some hcs of hecate’s cabin/childs?

�� ˗ˏˋ hecate cabin headcanons ࿐ྂ

of course i can do hecate cabin headcanons! i love hecate, she's one of my favorite of the gods. also, fun fact, there's a lot of debate on where hecate originated, like they think that maybe she was an anatolian goddess that the greeks "stole," and she also has some egyptian history? i did some research on her real quick and it was honestly fascinating! anyways, here are the hecate cabin hcs!

something to note about hecate kids is that all of them, every single one, is kind of a mystery in their own respect

there's a lot of mystery surrounding hecate, so even the most open of hecate kids is going to have something they're keeping to themselves

hecate kids, specifically before they're kind of taught to master their abilities, have a habit of accidentally spelling people

like, for example, say a hecate kid has a really annoying kid in their bio class that won't shut up

if they think really hard about how much they want that person to shut their mouth, magically, they will

it's something they were never able to explain

until they were claimed by hecate, of course

they also all have dark eyes

not necessarily a good color, per se, but there's something about their eyes that are dark

most hecate kids get her green eyes, which could only be described as "enchanting" of course

the hecate cabin often smells like burned sage and/or incense, and always has a smoky hue because of that

there are star charts and moon charts and things like that literally everywhere, practically littering the cabin floor

hecate kids are kinda messy

all of them, just find it really hard to keep themselves organized enough to make the cabin organized enough

this gets them into trouble sometimes, but they have... ways of convincing whoever's inspecting the cabin to leave them alone

hecate kids also always have crystals in their pockets

like, literally, at any given time, with an outfit that has pockets, they have crystals that are used for different things in said pockets

they have necklaces and earrings and rings with crystals on them as well, all having different purposes based on what they want their day to be like

there are a few kids at camp who are like "crystals don't even work" and blah blah blah, but the hecate kids know better

the kids that say that are usually idiots, but yknow

(obviously i'm not saying that if you don't believe in crystals irl you're an idiot, but this is camp half-blood and their mother is hecate, so obviously they're gonna work for them)

hecate kids can sometimes be known as "two-faced" when it comes to relationships

this probably comes from the fact that their mother has three faces

except this is a more literal meaning in this sense

the hecate cabin also does a lot of tarot readings

that's like, one of the first things you learn at camp if you're claimed by hecate

everyone has their own deck, and it's customized to you, it's a whole thing

it's like hecate cabin culture kinda

if you have a hecate child friend, you've probably gotten your future read by them at one point

obviously future-telling is more an apollo cabin thing, so the predictions usually aren't correct, but it's fun anyways

ooh! and ouija boards

ouija boards with the hecate kids are so fun because they get so into it, and usually it's actually working and they're actually talking to a dead person

i mean, it's camp half-blood

probably a lot of people have died there (rip)

it's especially fun if they can manage to convince a hades child to play with them, because then the hades kid can actually hear them and help translate if the ouija boards are being kinda confusing

it's not the most reliable way to talk to a dead person, as any hades kid will tell you

hecate kids are also avid readers

not as consistent as athena kids, but they have their own little library in the hecate cabin, with lots of fantasy books and historical fiction

they're also really good with recommendations, so if you ever need a book rec, honestly go to the hecate kids first

they take your personality and reading background into account when giving you a book rec, and pretty much every time, whatever they recommend, you're actually going to enjoy

hecate kids also make the worst chariots

when they do the chariot race (i'm not sure if this is actually something they do on a regular basis, but they did it in one of the books in the original series so i'm going with it), and every cabin has to make their own chariot, hecate makes the worst chariots and get out first almost every time

honestly it doesn't really bother them anymore because they just genuinely have no idea how to make a good chariot

hecate isn't exactly known for her fighting abilities

usually in battle, the hecate kids stay as far away as possible and use their magic to help the fight

hecate kids are also criminally indecisive

they’re the masters of eenie meanie miny moe

they’re also known to have coins always rattling around in their pocket because sometimes they have to flip a coin to make a decision

they also have lots of magic 8 balls even though they know they’re faulty

(faulty, not fake 😉)

moving on

hecate kids also really like tim burton movies

it might have something to do with the fact that tim burton is a hecate child, but they also just really like the movies

they give off the same vibe

(there is a rumor at hecate cabin that tim burton used some hecate baby magic to make his movies)

only occasionally though

so yeah, that’s all i have for hecate kids

they’re all super unique and interesting

they are definitely sort of strange, but that’s what makes them so cool!

sorry if that was awkward i never know how to end these things

so that’s it for hecate cabin hcs! i had so much fun writing this, and thanks so much for the request! i just wanted to say thank you to everybody liking and following and reblogging for the support, this is already so fun! i have a couple requests for different cabin headcanons and that i haven’t been able to get to because ive had to rewrite this one about three times, which is kinda frustrating, but i love how that turned out! thanks sm for reading!

[oneofstarkskids]

"plus...he's adorable"

steven grant x reader, first meeting

warnings: slight age gap?

*not my gif*

finding your passion hadn't been a straight and narrow path. you had no idea how some people just woke up knowing exactly what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives.

in high school you played sports, but they were never something you wanted to do as a career. you recently learned that you love to paint, but it just felt like a hobby. you didn't feel experienced enough to make something of it.

you'd gone to four years of university, majoring in business because it's what your parents wanted. but you were tired. you were so tired and you weren't passionate about anything.

finally, you were sure you were ready to give up. you were in the school library, turning in some text books you'd used, when you just glanced over briefly. your eyes caught the title of a large book.

"If You Are to Love, Love the Moon"

curiosity took over and you picked it up to read the synopsis. by the time you were done, you'd picked out three more books on the subject and plopped them down in front of the librarian.

it took you less than twenty-four hours to finish all of them and you had this burning desire to know more.

which led you here, studying egyptology abroad in london, standing in the national gallery, staring at a poorly constructed pyramid of giza.

"oh bullocks!" you heard a man shout just as something crashed to the ground. you searched for where the noise came from.

your eyes landed on dark brown curls peeking out just above the counter at the gift shop.

nosily, you made your way over. as you placed your hands on the counter you cleared your throat. a man with steven printed on his name tag stood up quickly and gave you a nervous chuckle, "morning."

you suppressed your laughter, "hey there. you alright?"

"me? yeah, fine!" he said unconvincingly. "did you want to make a purchase? i personally recommend the horus figurines. you know, it's believed that he was a benevolent protector in ancient egyptian culture. plus..." he held one up, "he's adorable."

this time you couldn't help but laugh, and thought the same thing of steven himself.

"i'll take one," you said and watched as he rang it up.

he glanced up at you as he put it in a small gift bag, but quickly looked back down when he noticed you'd caught him.

you reached to grab the bag, but paused as your hand brushed his. steven was stunned by the feeling of your hand against his and didn't want you to go.

"do you live nearby?" he asked slowly. you stopped yourself from grinning at the idea of him asking you out.

"uh- because we can ship items in the future," he said instead.

you frowned, "okay. well, have a good day." you took the bag and walked off. the whole thing just made you want to go home.

just as you were stepping out into the street, you were knocked to the ground.

"oh! sorry! i'm terribly sorry, i didn't mean to do that," you heard stevens voice. you got up and dusted yourself off.

"what is wrong with you?" you asked in frustration.

he rambled, "well, many things but that's a topic for another time." you had this look of concern that made steven feel guilty. "okay i'm just going to come right out and say it."

you listened intently. "i would, would you like to- do you want to grab a bite sometime?" he finally got the words out and you giggled.

"i would love to."

steven beamed and nodded, "good. very good." he started to walk away but quickly turned back around, "actually, do you have a piece of paper?"

you searched your purse for a moment before pulling out a small sticky note and a pen. steven took it gratefully and wrote his name and number down.

he handed it to you and you noticed that it read, stev̲en with a v. the v being underlined for emphasis.

you grinned, "see you soon, steven with a v."

[minothtime]

Genuinely confused at the reaction to the Pokémon folk tales. Do people not realize most of them are repurposed from many different cultures?

Apart from that, it's very clear that the Pokémon that appears does not matter at all because there are many different versions of a single tale. The infamous Thyplosion tale was originally about Slaking, then about Piloswine. The Lapras and Octillery tales are the exact same. There's at least three variants of the Ursaring tale, and one of them is a Rapidash.

Why is everyone so shocked? Have you never heard a folk tale at all? Just off the top of my head, Greek mythology has a LOT of stories about Zeus fucking around as an animal, Rome's founding myth is literally fratricide, Egyptian mythos has a human heart being put in a scale... And suddenly you forget that exists because I guess dogshit interaction bait is too good to pass up?

Anyways. Diving deep into the leaked myths many interesting things come to light. None of the myths were used most probably because the Time/Space duality made more sense than Light/Time (the most mentioned combination), I think.

On another note, some original text has been repurposed in modern games. For example, Old Verse 18 (iirc) is identical to s mantra repeated all over the different versions of the Creation Myth: "Do not anger [Palkia]. Do not sadden [Dialga]." etc. The names are censored in the Old Verse and in the Canalave Library, but it's very clearly rhe exact same composition.

anyways, I'm currently working on a big Pokemon theology worldbuilding doc for ME and ME ALONE and it goes so deep you wouldn't believe. it also is so much fun it's as if a new game just dropped.

if anyone has any questions about any myth revealed PLEASE ask me i know way too much now and I think I found a way to make it make sense

[gwydpolls]

Time Travel Question 10: Ancient History III

These Questions are the result of suggestions from the previous iteration. I'm combining some similar ones, so some are going to be a little vague. I'm going to also split into a whole lot of different polls because there were so many good and creative ideas. (Seriously, I love the people of Tumblr).

Please add new suggestions for this category below if you have them for future consideration.

You are welcome to suggest specific things from the Library of Alexandria. There will be polls for that.

[mischiefandlies]

You're a pain in my neck

Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Masterlist

Notes: yo, I'm just starting my classics course and Google said Mr. Hiddleston himself also studied it (posh bastard, of course he did). Figured I'd make a little fic, but made it super cheesy and teenagery, bc why not? It's also my first time writing for Tom btw, not sure if I'll do it again.

(Also, sorry if the Shakespeare is wrong, I was doing it from memory b/c i couldn’t be bothered to fact check it.)

Warning: none? but I've left a little note at the end too.

You hadn’t been studying classics for very long, but the gods interested you greatly. You used to read myths as a child, Theseus and the Minotaur, or Orpheus and Eurydice, or even the trials of Hercules. You and your brother grew up on Greek tragedies and tales, so you had chosen to keep learning ten years on. The course covered both Roman and Greek mythology, politics, literature. Along the way however, your studies took you to other types of myth. Egyptian and Greek culture were closely related, but the European mythology around Celtic and Norse mythology was what really took your fancy.

You were sat in the library re-reading the myth of Athena and Arachne when you heard a man’s voice speak. “Is this seat taken?”

You glanced up. In front of you was a young man, blonde unruly curls atop his head, and a shy smile on his face. You smiled back, “Take it. I’m not waiting on anyone.”

He slid his rucksack off and sat across from you. “Thanks. I’m new here, so still finding my feet.”

“Me too,” you reply. “Just trying to get through the week.”

“What are you studying?” he asks.

“Classics and Sociology. You?”

“I’m doing classics too!” he says. “What’s your name?”

“Y/N”

“I’m Tom. Nice to meet you.”

You began to meet in the library regularly. Tom and you seemed to get on really well, helping each other with essays and chatting about life. The two of you began to meet often, catching coffee and studying together, going to the cinema, trips to museums and the like. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the two of you were only friends. When he came to you about advice about girls, asking people out, or just lovelife gossip, you could feel your heart constrict painfully. In all honesty, he was probably one of the most genuine people you had ever met, and you didn’t want to ask him out for fear of ruining whatever friendship the two of you shared. And, even if you did decide to take that leap of faith, there was no way to be sure that he would feel the same. He certainly hadn’t given you any indication of liking you, he had been friendly, and on occasion flirty, but nothing ever came of it. It was like everything you wanted was dangling right in front of you, but you just couldn’t reach to grab it for fear of falling.

Tom, little did you know, was in much the same predicament. His mates had actually nicknamed you “Mrs H” because of the puppy eyes he had whenever he saw you. He admired you; the way you spoke so eloquently, your intelligence, your beauty. The way you could stand your ground confidently, backing yourself no matter what. He often found that when you and he were debating ancient politics or learning Latin phrases, he would find himself zoning out, too busy daydreaming about an imaginary future between you and him.

It was just before the summer half term that Tom and you decided to take a picnic one Saturday, so that the two of you could power through some essays and then chill and enjoy the scenery. And so, the two of you trundled up to Richmond Park, deciding that that would be the best location, sat near King Henry’s mound*, looking out onto the London skyline. Once you’d finished all your essays and eaten enough quiche and salad, you both lay, looking out onto the beautiful scene. You had lay so that your head was resting on his thigh, with his using his pullover as a pillow. He had been asking you to test him on his lines for Macbeth that he was supposed to be learning.

“… life is but a walking shadow,

A poor player that struts and frets about the stage,

And then is heard no more. It is a tale told

By and idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

He waited.

“Signifying nothing…”

…

“Y/N, it’s your line.”

You jolted at the sound of your name. “Huh? Oh sorry, I must’ve drifted of.”

“You asleep?” he chuckled.

“No, you're just really comfy. I wouldn’t mind sleeping with you.”

He froze, smiling. “What?”

“I said I wouldn’t mind sleeping on you.”

“No you didn’t,” he said teasingly.

“Yes I did.”

“You said you wouldn’t mind sleeping with me.” It was your turn to freeze. “Oh. I’m sorry, I must’ve been in dreamland.”

“Are you sure?” he joked. “Might be your subconscious trying to tell you something.”

“Doesn’t matter anyways.” you said, “You’re way out of my league.”

He frowned at you, looking slightly confused. “What makes you think that?”

“Well, you're so handsome, and your tall and pretty and have cheekbones that could cut diamonds and you’ve got all that muscle that I know you hide because I’ve seen you play rugby, and you’re-”

“A lanky beanpole, I know,” he interrupts. “My love, you’ve got it wrong. You’re out of my league.”

You snort out a laugh. “You’re a bad liar, Thomas William Hiddleston.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, because you’d rather sleep on me than with me.”

“Of course I wouldn’t.” You said before your brain caught up with what you were saying.

He looks at you, staring so intently you feel mortified. Fuck. He could feel his heart going twenty to the dozen, his brain running at the speed of sound. Did you mean it? Could you really be his? After all this wasted time pining over you, trying desperately not to fall for you? You –feeling suitably mortified- turn your head so fast to turn away from him that you pull a muscle in your neck. “OW, fuck.”

He scoots closer to you and looks to see what's wrong. “Are you alright?”

“I’ve pulled my neck. I'm fine.” you mutter back, trying to stay still so you don’t irritate it.

“Let me see,” he says, gently prying your fingers away from your neck, so he can gently press his palm to it. “Do you need heat on it? Did you want me to get you anything?”

“It’ll be fine. It'll just be tense for a little while,” you say.

He is right up against you now, gently rubbing the sore area of your neck trying to get the muscles to relax. Slowly, ever so slowly, you find yourself leaning back into his touch, letting him rub the pain away and relaxing a little more.

“Can you move your neck at all darling?”

You try, but all you do is wince. “Nope.”

“Not at all?”

“No.”

“Then I think now is probably a good time to ask; what did you mean of course you want to sleep with me?”

You can feel yourself turning red. “Tom, I… well, even I have to admit your very handsome, and, I dunno, I guess… I really like you. A lot. And I just thought, if I said anything, then I’d lose you as a friend, and I didn’t want to risk it… but now, I mean, if you don’t want, y’know, we can just pretend I never said anything, it doesn’t have to-”

“Pretend you never said anything?” he repeats. “Pretend you never said anything? Not a chance darling, not when I have been dreaming of you saying that to me. I’m just glad you beat me to it.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I… I like you too,” he says.

“Oh.”

There's a bit of a silence. You wait a sec to digest what he’s just said. “Tom.”

“Yes?”

“As much as I’d love to kiss you right now, my neck is really fucking sore.”

He just laughs, and presses a kiss to your cheek. “C’mon. I’ll get you a hot water bottle when we get home, then maybe your neck will fix itself.” He helps you to your feet. “And then darling, I can kiss you all I want. Deal?”

“Deal.”

notes

*I feel the need to clarify, King Henry’s mound is actually the name of a hill in Richmond Park, and unfortunately, is not an old sex joke (like most things in history). There’s an old piece of legislation from the 1500s that states that you must always be able to see a certain part of London from that particular hill, because Henry wasn’t there when Anne Bolyn was beheaded, so told then to send up a smoke signal when she was dead. He saw it on that hill, hence the name “King Henry’s mound”. It's still illegal to build a skyscraper blocking it. Anyways, fun facts, go back to your fanfics now.

[saxafimedianetwork]

Somaliland Orders Closure of Egyptian Cultural Library and Gives Staff 72 Hours to Leave

BREAKING: #Somaliland orders closure of #EgyptianCulturalLibrary in #Hargeisa due to #NationalSecurity concerns, giving staff 72 hrs to leave. The move comes amid rising tensions in the region & #Egypt's recent defense deal with #Somalia.

Continue reading Somaliland Orders Closure of Egyptian Cultural Library and Gives Staff 72 Hours to Leave

[mpregstory]

THE EGYPT BABY

Lukas and Daniel had been looking forward to their vacation in Egypt for a long time. After months of hard work and hectic city life, they longed for peace and adventure at the same time. When they landed in Cairo, the air was warm and spicy, filled with the smells of the street markets and the distant sound of Arabic music.

Lukas, the pregnant man, had become accustomed to the curious glances over the past few months. His belly was round and firm, and he often stroked it as if to comfort the unborn child. Daniel, his boyfriend, was always by his side and supported him lovingly.

Their first stop was the Egyptian Museum, where they marveled at the treasures of the pharaohs. Lukas felt a special connection to the ancient statues and reliefs, which often depicted fertile goddesses. "It's amazing how old these cultures are and how much they worshipped fertility," he said thoughtfully to Daniel as they stood in front of a statue of the goddess Isis.

The next day they decided to go on a desert safari. They rented a jeep and drove out into the endless sand dunes that glittered under the sun. Daniel had planned everything carefully and made sure they had enough water and provisions. Lukas, although a little exhausted from the heat, enjoyed the vastness of the desert and the silence that was only interrupted by the wind.

When they stopped at an oasis, Lukas sat down under a date palm and put his hands on his belly. "The little one is kicking," he said to Daniel with a smile. "He seems to like the warmth." Daniel knelt down next to him and also put his hand on Lukas' belly. "Maybe one day he will hear this story and be proud that he was in Egypt before he was born," he said with a loving look.

In the following days, they visited the Pyramids of Giza and took a cruise on the Nile. During the boat ride, they enjoyed the gentle breeze and the passing scenery. One evening, as the sun was setting over the Nile and the sky was bathed in a deep orange, Lukas felt a strong movement in his stomach. "It feels like it's dancing," he laughed. Daniel held him close and whispered, "We're going to be a wonderful family."

Their trip ended in Alexandria, where they visited the ancient library and strolled through the city's busy streets. The street markets were packed with people, and the sounds of vendors touting their wares filled the air. Suddenly, Lukas stopped and clutched his stomach. His face twisted in pain. "Daniel... I think it's starting," he groaned.

Passersby looked on, curious and worried, as Daniel frantically called for help. A kind woman in a colorful dress came over and led them to a nearby cafe, where they sat Lukas on a bench. "Breathe deeply, honey," Daniel said, holding Lukas' hand. The woman called an ambulance, but the contractions became more intense and regular.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the street, surrounded by curious and helpful strangers, the dramatic birth began. Lukas' screams mixed with the sounds of the market. Daniel remained calm and tried to calm Lukas, even though he himself was shaking with fear. Finally, after what seemed like endless minutes, the cry of a newborn was heard.

The crowd erupted in cheers when they saw the baby. The ambulance finally arrived, and the paramedics helped to care for Lukas and the baby. Daniel held the small, screaming bundle in his arms, tears of relief and joy streaming down his cheeks. "We did it," he whispered to Lukas, who was smiling exhausted but happy.

The journey that began as an adventure ended in an unforgettable event that Luke and Daniel would remember forever. They returned home not only with memories of the majestic monuments and enchanting culture of Egypt, but also with the birth of their child - a new chapter in their life together.

[athenawasamerf]

What's life in Egypt like?

This is a very vague question so I’m not sure how to answer, really. It’s kind of tense these days, anyway.

Ig the day to day is pretty typical. I’m not exactly the average citizen, most of my time is taken up with med school so I don’t explore or go out as much as I should. I live in Alexandria, and I love it here. Coastal, the old section of the city is beautiful, lots of greenery. It’s pouring down rain all through winter, driving is near impossible because everyone is fucking insane (which is typical for Egyptian cities lol), it’s pretty densely populated, the food is phenomenal. We have a ton of museums and historical sites, and the library of Alexandria is pretty rad. The economy is shit and getting shittier, we’re under a military dictatorship (again but worse than last time), inflation is insane and the country is in a ton of debt to the point that the central bank of Egypt has stopped all foreign currency transactions on debit cards, and credit cards have a foreign currency limit of the equivalent of $250/month.

From a feminist perspective, it’s not the best place to be. Alexandria is better than most of the country, but I still get harassed regularly. Egyptian men are paternalistic and have a weirdly entitled attitude towards all women, we have in-jokes in feminist circles about the fruit vendor from down the street being mad at you for coming home late. Tbf I’m fairly open about my feminist opinions and that hasn’t caused me any trouble, and basically all my friends and acquaintances know that I wear a hijab in front of my family and take it off at school/when I’m out with friends, and 4 of my cousins know about the hijab thing as well. Dating culture is fairly normalised in Alexandria, so everyone in my circles including two of my cousins know about my love life (but not my sexuality). In some places of Egypt, I’d be honour killed for any one of these things, so I’m grateful to be where I am. There’s still a line of chauvinism running in the country, though that’s the least of our worries as feminists. I have a post about marriage and divorce in Egypt under my Egyptian feminism tag if you’re interested in learning more about that aspect.

From an LGB perspective, unfortunately the little progress we’d made in the late 00’s and early 10’s has been receding quickly. We’d gotten to a point of live and let live in some areas, but the introduction of trans ideology in the west caused a massive recoil in perception of LGB people here, and there’s been a crackdown on LGB-sympathetic ideas. Every time it’s brought up, you get a look of disgust and ‘they’re teaching kids to change their sex’. It’s going to take massive amounts of time and effort to repair this damage.

And finally, from a religious perspective, well. Not much has improved re acceptance of atheism or non-abrahamic religious beliefs. Egyptian law technically protects your right to freedom of belief, but, crucially, not your right to freedom of expression of religious belief. National ID cards must have your religion listed on them, and the only options are Muslim/Christian/Jew. Contempt of religion and ‘violating Egyptian family values’ laws are pretty strict and are used to prosecute everything from girls dancing on TikTok to blasphemy. I don’t see this improving any time soon, though foreigners (non-Arabs) are given some leeway.

I hope I’ve covered the most important points, but please feel free to reach out if you have more specific questions!

[angel-of-the-moons]

Nothing Is Lost

Khonshu x Fem!Reader

TW/CW: None, allusions to past assaults but nothing graphic

A/N: Badr makes another appearance! (I plan on checking this over in the morning when I have more energy to check for mistakes)

Taglist: @drinkingwithkhonshu

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Chapter 6:

Trust Issues

You felt like you were going insane. Clinically, literally, justifiably insane. Your freaky dreams where you were sure you were dying? Cakewalk. The dreams where you were actually seeing whoever it was you were in the point of view as? Yeah, no. This was all too weird for you. Far too weird.

So… After one too many nights of reliving the dream as the woman named “Merit” you poured yourself into hours and hours of research. You first did a search of the name, plus some contextual keywords to assist with the search. How you instinctively knew how to spell it is beyond you, but you did it.

Apparently, “Merit” in ancient Egyptian meant “beloved, beautiful” or “loved/treasured one”. And the first thing to pop up beneath the translation was the results of a discovered tomb in Egypt.

You’d hoped that somehow, this was tied to that. Maybe you were dreaming up something you’d read in a passing article while scrolling through Facebook, or even MySpace back in the day, and merely forgot about it, your exhausted subconscious dreaming up these scenarios to somehow distract you from your already demanding waking life…

So, you watched all the documentaries surrounding Merit and her husband, Kha.

You read as many articles and absorbed as much information as your brain could retain, but…

It just didn’t feel right. The Merit of your dreams was not this Merit. They had a wonderful life, Kha being a royal tomb builder, Merit being the dutiful and loving wife and mother.

The Merit of your dreams was young, knowledgeable. You haven’t seen many details of her life, but somehow you knew this woman and the one in your dreams were not one in the same.

It provided illuminating information on ancient Egyptian culture, burial practices, as well as insight into people who weren’t “all powerful” pharaohs or priests. They seemed so… normal. Even by modern standards.

The way their stories were told in the motifs and reliefs in their tomb, even to someone untrained in the field of Egyptology, anybody with a brain between their ears could see just how much love they held for one another.

It made you oddly nostalgic.

You yourself gave dating a try, but it never worked out for you. That and the dating pool was full of horny pricks who merely wanted to pump and dump you, anyways. And you weren’t one for casual flings.

You made that decision when the first and last one night stand was horrendously disappointing and lasted all of half an hour.

Ah, but the love between Kha and Merit was one most strived for, no?

Maybe you’d get lucky and find that, but not any time soon. Not with all the crazy bullshit you’ve got going on in your life, right now. Not while you were so convinced you were losing your proverbial marbles because of your crazy dreams.

All you could do right now is focus on your dreams, what Jezebel told you…

And why the flying hell you were dreaming about being a lovesick noblewoman in ancient Egypt.

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You’d been free of work for three days. You were absolutely going mad, with nothing to do to occupy your nights than binge-watching shows on streaming platforms, reading more useless articles that didn’t pertain to your dreams, or sit on the roof of your building in abject, confused silence.

As well, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were being watched, either. Everywhere you went, you felt eyes on you. It made you shudder with uneasiness.

But the world doesn’t stop for you just because you’re uncomfortable, and you knew that. Your dreams certainly didn’t stop for it.

You sighed as you leaned back in the old desk chair, rubbing your eyes with the heels of your palms.

You lifted your gaze and turned to look outside the library window. The sun was hidden well beyond the tall buildings of the city, the slivers of sky you could make out dusting pink and purple hues. Looking back down at the corner of the screen, you finally take in what time it was. 6pm.

God, you pissed away seven hours doing research. Educational–yet pointless–research.

You leaned forward with a hefty groan and rested your face in the palms of your hands. You were still no closer to getting any details on this woman you’re dreaming up.

But what if she wasn’t even real? What if this woman was, as you’ve been worried, a figment of your imagination, dreamed up to give you some form of respite from your dreary, overloaded day-to-day life? It made sense, in a way, for your psyche to dream up a distraction to keep yourself from falling into a pit of perpetual exhaustion and despair.

But at the same time, the idea didn’t sit right with you. Why would this “distraction” start out with horrible, sleep-robbing nightmares or blood and abject horror? Why would it include such vividly-detailed scenarios that you can almost remember frame-by-frame?

Ugh. It was practically psychological torture brought on by your own subconcious.

You were shaken from your thoughts when you heard a deep voice come from the table across from you; “Pulling an all-nighter?”

Your eyes opened and you lifted your gaze until your eyes were locked with a man. He looked to be in his mid-thirties at his oldest, perhaps. His skin was dark, almost a shade of burnt toffee, and piercing eyes bore into you from behind small, round glasses. He wore dark gray trousers with a button-up yellow dress shirt that was rolled up to his elbows, revealing visible veins and muscular forearms.

This man, despite his calm look, exuded an unmistakable air that told you he could be a threat if crossed. Something about him seemed familiar, but you just couldn’t–

“Miss..?” He asked you, a brow raising.

“Uh–” You blinked and shook your head. “I, uh… No, I’m just… doing research.”

“Ah. A student, then?” He asked, tilting his head, his voice still so cool it may as well have been a glacier floating in Antarctica. His face was just as equally calm and placid.

Was this guy a librarian or..?

“No.” You say simply, shrugging. “It’s for… personal reasons. But I’m not getting anywhere.”

“Hm, perhaps I can help. What topic are you trying to research for? I imagine since it’s for personal reasons you can afford to make a few mistakes in researching here and there.” He offered.

You leaned back in your chair, crossing your ankles and folding your arms over your chest as you stared at him with distrust.

“No offense,” You began. “But I don’t know you. And besides, I’m kind of doing research on archaeology. Sort of. I’m not looking up sports statistics.”

Finally, his stone-like demeanor cracks and a short chuckle escapes him in a huff. “Ah, of course. I have forgotten my manners. I am Yehya Badr.”

Your eyebrow quirked up ever so slightly and you were still rather hesitant to give out too many personal details. So… you give him a false name as you lean over the table to offer him an outstretched hand. Or. Well… the name was almost false.

You think.

“Merit.”

His eyes got imperceptibly larger, but their change is just enough that it didn’t go unnoticed by you as he takes your hand and gives it a firm shake.

“Interesting.”

“Is it?” You say, releasing his hand to sit back down.

“Yes, it’s a name originating from Egypt.” He says to you, calmly speaking as he walks around the table, his hands clasped firmly behind his back, his shoulders squared and chin up as he strides over to you.

“It can mean a number of things, actually. The most settled upon is “beloved”. Your parents must have liked the name very much. It is very uncommon nowadays.”

You were instantly surprised as he sat down next to you. He takes a glance at the monitor and the research you’d accumulated in the different tabs. “Ah, so you’re trying to… research the historical significance of your name?” He hummed.

“Sort of.” Your mouth twisted as you chose your next words very carefully. “I’m also just a bit of an archaeology nerd. If I could afford it, I’d go to school… But research is as close to it as I can get, at the moment. How do you know what my name means?”

He flashed a smile, his teeth standing out in stark contrast to his darkened lips. “I grew up in Luxor. It’s hard not to grow up in a place like that and not know about ancient Egypt, and the archaeological knowledge gathered there. I also spent many years during school in the museum. It was a quiet place, and history can be a very quiet and enamoring companion when you’re smothered by the hustle and bustle of people every day.”

“Oh. Well that’s… convenient.” You admitted to him, shifting your eyes back to the computer.

“Mhmm.” He hummed.

“So… like, what made you want to stop to talk to me?” You tilted your head at him, scrutinizing him curiously.

He seemed to take no mind to your suspicious looks, merely offering a polite smile to you in return.

“You looked distressed, and in my medical opinion–just on a pure glance alone–you are exhausted.” He replied.

“That doesn’t explain it, though.” You pointed out.

He chuckled again and his dark, obsidian eyes locked with yours. “It doesn’t, does it?”

“Nope.” You looked around, noticing you two were alone in this part of the library. “And it’s kind of creepy, if I’m being honest.”

He laughed, his voice tight but full of humor at your jibe. “Ah. Yes, it is, isn’t it? Perhaps a better explanation is in order. I made an oath to aid those who need it. And you looked like you needed help. So, therefore…”

“Uh-huh.” You said, still skeptical.

He shook his head, still smiling. “You are a very suspicious young woman.”

“Some guy tried to assault me not too long ago, and I’ve been mugged several times in the last few years alone, so yeah.” You said, leaning in with a squint. “I’m suspicious.”

Yehya seemed shocked by your admission, and you didn’t know why. It’s as if what happened to you seemed to personally offend him, judging by the flame of revulsion and anger that flickered in the dark pools of his eyes.

“An no-one did anything?” He asked you slowly. “You fought them off yourself?”

“Considering every time it happened in the dead of night–er, well, more like at like 2am–no. Because nobody was around to do anything. As for fighting them off? No again. I bargained with a few of em, stopped carrying valuables on me, and…” You chewed the inside of your cheek. You didn't know this guy, so there was no way for him to call all the bluffs you were making. “The most recent time, I did fight him off. I was… violent and he died. I didn’t get in trouble, thankfully. Because it was in self-defense, you understand.”

You leaned back in your chair and waved your hand with a dismissive huff. “Where’s a caped crusader when you need one, huh?” You added sardonically.

He took a deep breath and leaned away from you, closing his eyes for a moment. “Of course. I’m sorry those things have happened to you.”

You shrugged your shoulders and laughed. “Hey, man. You aren’t a cop. Don’t take offense to it or anything. It’s not like it’s your job to walk the beat. You’re a doctor.”

“Right…” He cleared his throat and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his palms flat against one another in front of him. “Ah, back to the earlier subject. Would you like some help in your research? It might help you to have someone who is from Egypt giving their personal experiences, there…”

You had a nagging feeling this guy just wasn’t going to leave you alone unless you said yes.

“Fine, I guess. Couldn’t hurt.”

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Yehya watched as the young woman left the library. It was well past sunset and she had stayed even after he left.

Her distrustful nature didn’t offend him, hell, if anything it was perfectly sensible to be that way after she had been robbed and assaulted so many times at night, when she should have been protected…

He clenched his fist, trembling in anger as he shadowed her, out of sight at the edges of rooftops.

How could he have failed so spectacularly in his task as Khonshu’s Fist? If this woman truly was Merit, if she died, he would never forgive himself. To fail in the protection of one soul–one specific, special soul–was a stain upon his oath. One he intended to cleanse from the pale, holy trappings he was enshrouded in. Yes, it was impossible for him to be everywhere at once, but while Marc–and his alters–traipsed about in London and Cairo with the woman they were besotted with, Taweret’s new Avatar, Layla el Faouly (whom he’d had the pleasure to meet once when they were here in New York, before Marc let Steven wrench control of the body and lead the course of their lives; and later battle Ammit herself alongside Khonshu and Layla), Yehya vowed to do better.

He would not fail Khonshu again. This woman, she needed his protection. He would not neglect his duties, he would split his attentions evenly. He would continue to watch over this woman, follow her from the shadows and the rooftops when she ventured out into the night, when she would leave and come home from work.

He lifted his gaze to the sky, the stars hardly visible to the eye due to the light pollution of the city. The moon was gone from the sky, having disappeared to be shrouded in darkness to begin the cycle anew.

Yes. He would keep his oath. This woman would never fall unprotected during the night ever again.

Not while there was a possibility that he could bring his God–his Father–the closure he needed.

Not while there was a chance to help heal his pain, the pain that has lasted thousands of years.

Not while there was a chance that he can bring the light back into Khonshu’s existence.

Not while this young life, this ancient soul, still had the chance to possibly remember who she was.

Not while he could heal a wound that still bled.

He was a doctor, after all.

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Chapter 7: Link

[whencyclopedia]

Alexandria: The City that Changed the World

"Alexandria: The City That Changed the World" by Islam Issa is a biography of a city. It explores the history of Alexandria, Egypt, and its place in our collective memory. It is in part history book, essay, and travel guide, suitable for casual readers. Issa covers up to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution through the lens of his family history. Along the way, he describes the physical city, from the waterfront Qaitbay Citadel where the Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood to the congested downtown.

The book begins with Alexandria's founding by Alexander the Great after he conquered the Persian Empire. Like its legendary namesake, the city was destined for fame. Its strategic and symbolic value made it a coveted prize of world conquerors like Augustus, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Admiral Nelson. The city witnessed the death of Cleopatra, Christianity's triumph over paganism, the rise of the Islamic Caliphates, and the Industrial Age. Even today, Alexandria is an important center of trade, culture, and industry.

The Ptolemaic dynasty, who ruled Egypt in the interim between Alexander and the Roman Empire, transformed it into their crown jewel. Through institutions like the Library of Alexandria, the city became a capital of knowledge and scholarly collaboration. The combined civilizational heritage of East and West birthed a unique urban culture and architectural marvels. This wealth and cosmopolitanism attracted the artistic and scholarly communities that shaped the city's image.

Issa is a professor of literature and history at Birmingham City University, and his family lived in Alexandria for generations. The result of his experience is a powerful monograph on the city’s cultural significance. It is firmly rooted in historical fact, and it is easy to pick up on Alexandria's personal importance to the author. In the prologue, he recalls his father's old stories about Alexandria's former glory, and how they took on new significance for him as he confronted the legacy of Alexandria as an adult. The memory of the ancient city lives on as part of Egypt’s national mythology, inspiring modern-day monuments and legends.

Rather than repeating myths, Issa seeks to critically examine them in light of factual evidence, allowing both the real and imaginary Alexandria to exist side-by-side. At the beginning of the book, there is a series of maps depicting the city at different points in time, from its foundation to the 21st century. It also contains a collection of photographs, some capturing the city today and others portraying its historical sites and artifacts. While intended for casual readers, the book has endnotes and a bibliography to point readers in the direction of further study.

The author concludes the book with an examination of Alexandria's identity and Egyptian national identity in the present day. In contemporary Egypt, there is broad support for historical preservation, but politics determine which histories are deemed worthy of preservation and which are censored. Environmental changes and the rapid construction of an ever-growing modern metropolis on top of the ancient city threaten archaeological efforts. As has been true since the city’s foundation, what is believed about Alexandria’s past – and what it means to be Alexandrian – is constantly changing.

Continue reading...

[bogkeep]

hello captive audience i have been to the library comic section and i found something very good i would like to recommend...

Your Wish Is My Command / Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed!

do you enjoy speculative world building such as "what if wishes came true and could be literally bought and sold"? do you enjoy exploring how it impacts that world, and intersects with areas of life such as:

- class

- bureaucracy

- health and mental illness

- religious guilt

- colonialism

- And More?

this graphic novel is a triptych of stories that take place in current day cairo, egypt, all set within the framwork of a kiosk owner trying to sell three bottles of a powerful wish vintage.

other things you may expect:

- top notch visual storytelling <3

- infographics!

- helpful and witty asterisks about egyptian cultural context for english language readers

- "why are wishes measured in dragon power???" "oh."

- old people. as well as The Youth

- chekhov's donkey

- genuinely very heartfelt stories