h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Cairo, Egypt - A1913366
Author: Gnomon [Front Page Author] - U151503

This entry is based on when I stayed in Cairo for a few months a number of years back. I don't suppose it has changed much, but if anybody notices any glaring errors, let me know.

I was going through this entry and checking on one of the links, when my computer crashed. I hope it doesn't have this effect on other researchers, Gnomon!

I've never been to Cairo. This looks good and has a good feel to it too!

I know what I was doing - looking up Driving Etiquette in Egypt - A412787.

It's one of the shortest Edited Guide entries I've ever seen.

When I worked in Cairo, about 12 years ago, I was once advised that the bargain of the day at the market was butter. The brand on sale is not available in this country - it was "Gift of the EEC, not for resale". So there IS theft on a grand scale.

Oh, I meant to ask, (about) how many rivals were beheaded?

I don't know how many rivals were beheaded. I always got the impression it was about 10 or 20. I'll see if I can find out.

I wasn't going to link to that Driving Etiquette entry, because it doesn't really add anything to what I've already said.

I agree, I think you've said as much if not more that the edited entry on it!

Hello there Gnomon

This is great...

I had no idea what Coptic Christianity is, so I did a quick search and came up with www.coptic.net which is a really good site full of explanation. You could possibly link to it?

Is the sun god Re, the same as Ra or Amun Ra? I'm dredging my memory for Egyptology lessons now, so I may be wrong... Anybody else????

Oh dear, I'm sure I've seen something on telly (again, awfully vague I'm afraid) about remains of an early Egyptian town off the Nile delta, just into the Mediterranean. It was something to do with the theory that sea-levels rose dramatically around 5000 years ago and literally drowned entire cities and even civilisations throughout the world, including India, China, Turkey, Egypt. I guess the BBCi history site might have info (if the prog was on the beeb). I'll go look and get back to you on that one

Is the local beer any relation to Stella Artois ?

I love your description of the traffic tapestry


F/b

Hi Frenchbean!

Thanks for the link to Coptic Christianity. I'll check it out and consider putting it in.

Ra is the same as Re. The hieroglyphs only show the R, so they didn't know what vowels came after it. For years they called him Ra, then they changed to Re. Recent research shows that is was probably Riah, as I pointed out in the footnote. I'll add Ra to the list of possible names for this God.

While the thing about the flooded city is interesting, it's not really anything to do with Cairo, is it?

The local beer is not connected with Stella Artois, but they may have nicked the recipe from the Belgians, because it tastes similar.

I've added in the link to www.coptic.net. I've changed the footnote to mention Ra as well as Re.

Hi Gnome...

You're quite right, the drowned cities have nothing at all to do with Cairo! Forgive me drifting off into the recesses of my mind and being convinced that it's all so crucially important.

Thank you for updating me on Re/Ra/Riah. Now... (I'm off into my brain again) didn't Thor Hyadahl (sp?) build a boat out of papyrus (just to prove that he could) and call it Ra? Sometime in the 60s or 70s, after Kon Tiki. Presumably he was doing it for a reason - and presumably also in Egypt. Not relevant at all, but of mild interest perhaps.

Does Egyptian beer taste reasonable then? I don't think I've ever found a bottled beer or lager outside Europe and Canada that tasted anything less than disgusting - especially if drunk warm But it's all personal preferences I guess. I'm an girl myself - and draft (draught?) if at all possible.


F/b

Egyptian beer is OK if you like European lager.

Have a look at A1029313 "They Discovered America" for details of Thor Heyerdahl and his boat.

Hello again...
I should have known you'd written about it already!


Frenchbean

He's not just a pretty face, you know, F/b!

I never imagined that for a minute



F/b

Looking good, Gnomon. I don't know what the scouts would do without you! Good work, probably... I knew nothing about the subject

"It's one of the shortest Edited Guide entries I've ever seen."

My personal favorite small one is A142354

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done Gnomon. A well-deserved pick.


F/b

Congratulations. Done it again.

Hurray!

Thanks, everyone.