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The '''[[culture]] of [[Egypt]]''' has thousands of years of recorded history. [[Ancient Egypt]] was among the earliest [[civilizations]]. For millennia, Egypt maintained a strikingly complex and stable culture that influenced later cultures of [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]]. After the Pharaonic era, Egypt itself came under the influence of [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenism]], for a time [[Christianity]], and later, [[Islam|Islamic]] culture. Today, many aspects of Egypt's ancient culture exist in interaction with newer elements, including the influence of modern [[Western culture]].

==Language==
{{Main|Languages of Egypt}}
[[Image:Sarcophage Ankhnesneferibre.jpg|thumb|[[Egyptian hieroglyph]]s, as this example from a sarcophagus from [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] of about 530 BC, represent both [[ideogram]]s and phonograms.]]

The [[Egyptian language]], which formed a separate branch among the family of [[Afro-Asiatic languages]], was among the first written languages, and is known from [[Egyptian hieroglyph|hieroglyphic]] inscriptions preserved on monuments and sheets of [[papyrus]]. The [[Coptic language]], the last stage of Egyptian, is today the [[liturgical language]] of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]]. Hieroglyphs were written on peoples front doors, so that the news of the pharaoh would travel to everyone.

The "Koiné" dialect of the [[Greek language]] was important in Hellenistic Alexandria, and was used in the philosophy and science of that culture, and was later studied by Arabic scholars.

[[Arabic language|Arabic]] came to Egypt in the 7th century, and [[Egyptian Arabic]] has become today the modern speech of the country. Of the many varieties of Arabic, it is the most widely spoken [[second language|second dialect]], due to the influence of Egyptian cinema and media throughout the Arabic-speaking world.

In the Upper Nile Valley, around [[Kom Ombo]] and [[Aswan]], there are about 300,000 speakers of [[Nubian languages]], mainly [[Nobiin language|Nobiin]], but also Kenuzi-Dongola. The [[Berber languages]] are represented by [[Siwi language|Siwi]], spoken by about 5,000 around the [[Siwa Oasis]]. There are over a million speakers of the [[Domari language]] (an [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan language]] related to [[Romany language|Romany]]), mostly living north of [[Cairo]], and there are about 60,000 [[Greek language|Greek]] speakers in [[Alexandria]]. Approximately 77,000 speakers of Bedawi (a [[Beja language]]) live in the Eastern Desert.

==Literature==
{{Main|Literature of Egypt}}
[[Image:Egypt bookofthedead.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sample of a Book of the Dead of the [[scribe]] Nebqed, ''c''. [[1300 BC]].]]

Ancient Egyptian literature dates back to the [[Old Kingdom]], in the third millennium BC. Religious literature is best known for its [[hymns]] to and its mortuary texts. The oldest extant Egyptian literature are the [[Pyramid Texts]]: the mythology and rituals carved around the tombs of rulers. The later, secular literature of ancient Egypt includes the 'wisdom texts', forms of philosophical instruction. The ''Instruction of Ptahhotep'', for example, is a collation of moral proverbs by an Egyptian administrator. The authors of the literature of the Old and [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdoms]] (through to the middle of the second millennium BC) seem to have been drawn from an elite administrative class, and were celebrated and revered into the [[New Kingdom]] (to the end of the second millennium). In time, the Pyramid Texts became [[Coffin Texts]] (perhaps after the end of the Old Kingdom), and finally the mortuary literature produced its masterpiece, the [[Book of the Dead]], during the New Kingdom.

The [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]] was the golden age of Egyptian literature. Some notable texts include the Tale of Neferty, the Instructions of [[Amenemhat I]], the [[The Story of Sinuhe|Tale of Sinuhe]], the Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor and the Story of the Eloquent Peasant. ''Instructions'' became a popular literary genre of the [[New Kingdom]], taking the form of advice on proper behavior. The [[Story of Wenamun]] and the [[Instruction of Any]] are well-known examples from this period.

During the [[Greco-Roman|Greco-Roman period]] (332 BC − AD 639), Egyptian literature was translated into other languages, and Greco-Roman literature fused with native art into a new style of writing. From this period comes the [[Rosetta Stone]], which became the key to unlocking the mysteries of Egyptian writing to modern scholarship. The great city of [[Alexandria]] boasted its famous [[Library of Alexandria|Library]] of almost half a million handwritten books during the third century BC. Alexandria's centre of learning also produced the Greek translation of the [[Hebrew Bible]], the [[Septuagint]].

[[Image:AkhenatenDwellerInTruth.jpg|thumb|130px|left|[[Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth]], a 1985 novel by Nobel Literature Laureate [[Naguib Mahfouz]].]]

During the first few centuries of the Christian era, Egypt was the ultimate source of a great deal of ascetic literature in the [[Coptic language]]. Egyptian monasteries translated many [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] words, which are now only extant in Coptic. Under [[Islam]], Egypt continued to be a great source of literary endeavour, now in the [[Arabic language]]. In 970, [[al-Azhar University]] was founded in [[Cairo]], which to this day remains the most important centre of [[Sunni Islamic]] learning. In the 12th century Egypt, the Jewish Talmudic scholar [[Maimonides]] produced his most important work.

In contemporary times, Egyptian novelists and poets were among the first to experiment with modern styles of Arabic-language literature, and the forms they developed have been widely imitated. The first modern Egyptian novel '''''[[Zaynab (novel)|Zaynab]]''''' by [[Muhammad Husayn Haykal]] was published in 1913 in the [[Egyptian Arabic|Egyptian vernacular]]. Egyptian novelist [[Naguib Mahfouz]] was the first Arabic-language writer to win the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]. Many Egyptian books and films are available throughout the [[Middle East]]. Other prominent Egyptian writers include [[Nawal El Saadawi]], well known for her [[feminism|feminist]] works and [[activism]], and [[Alifa Rifaat]] who also writes about women and tradition. Vernacular poetry is said to be the most popular literary genre amongst [[Egyptians]], represented most significantly by [[Mahmud Bayram el-Tunsi|Bayram el-Tunsi]], [[Ahmed Fouad Negm]] (Fagumi), [[Salah Jaheen]] and [[Abdel Rahman el-Abnudi]].

{{See also|List of African writers (by country)#Egypt}}

==Religion==
{{Main|Religion in Egypt}}
[[Image:Al Azhar1.jpg|thumb|200x120px|right|[[Al-Azhar]] Mosque founded in AD 970 by the Fatimids as the first Islamic University in Egypt.]]
About 90% of Egypt's population is [[Muslim]], with a Sunni majority. About 9% of the population is [[Coptic Christian]]; other religions and other forms of [[Christianity]] comprise the remaining one percent.

==Visual art==

===Egyptian art in antiquity===
{{Main|Art of ancient Egypt|Ancient Egyptian architecture}}

The Egyptians were one of the first major civilizations to codify design elements in [[art]]. The [[wall painting]] done in the service of the [[Pharaohs]] followed a rigid code of visual rules and meanings. Early Egyptian art is characterized by absence of [[linear perspective]], which results in a seemingly flat space. These artists tended to create images based on what they knew, and not as much on what they see. Objects in these artworks generally do not decrease in size as they increase in distance and there is little shading to indicate [[Distance|depth]]. Sometimes, distance is indicated through the use of ''tiered space'', where more distant objects are drawn higher above the nearby objects, but in the same scale and with no overlapping of forms. People and objects are almost always drawn in profile. Also, you may notice the people in Egyptian art are never facing forward. Archaeologists are not yet sure of why, but they are leaning torwards the fact that artists status was low in the hierarchy so they could never be in front of a higher authority figure, and never be faced towards them.

[[Image:Sphinx Alexandria.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Antiquity and modernity stand side-by-side in Egypt's chief Mediterranean seaport of [[Alexandria]].]]

Early Egyptian artists did have a system for maintaining dimensions within artwork. They used a grid system that allowed them to create a smaller version of the artwork, and then scale up the design based upon proportional representation in a larger grid.

{{See also|African art#Egypt|Egyptian influence in architecture and visual arts}}

===Egyptian art in modern times===

[[Modern art|Modern]] and [[Contemporary art|contemporary]] Egyptian art can be as diverse as any works in the world art scene. Some well-known names include [[Mahmoud Mokhtar]], [[Abdel Hadi Al Gazzar]], [[Farouk Hosny]], [[Gazbia Sirry]], [[Kamal Amin]], [[Hussein El Gebaly]], [[Sawsan Amer]] and many others. Many artists in Egypt have taken on modern media such as digital art and this has been the theme of many exhibitions in [[Cairo]] in recent times. There has also been a tendency to use the World Wide Web as an alternative outlet for artists and there is a strong Art-focused internet community on groups that has found origin in Egypt. [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/art_and_culture *].

==Science==
{{Life in Egypt}}

Egypt's cultural contributions have included great works of [[science]], [[art]], and [[mathematics]], dating from [[Ancient history|antiquity]] to modern times.

===Ancient Egypt===

====Mathematics====
{{Main|Egyptian mathematics}}

The ancient [[Egyptians]] were one of the first civilizations to implement Mathematical numbers. The traditional view of [[Ancient Egypt]]'s 'additive' scholars reports that Egyptians confined themselves to applications of practical arithmetic with many problems addressing how a number of loaves can be divided equally between a number of men.

====Medicine====
{{Main|Ancient Egyptian medicine}}

====Technology====
{{Main|Ancient Egyptian technology}}

====Imhotep====
{{Main|Imhotep}}

Considered to be the first engineer, architect and physician in history known by name, [[Imhotep]] designed the [[Pyramid of Djoser]] (the [[Step Pyramid]]) at [[Saqqara]] in [[History of ancient Egypt|Egypt]] around [[27th century BC|2630]]-[[27th century BC|2611 BC]], and may have been responsible for the first known use of [[columns]] in [[architecture]]. The Egyptian historian [[Manetho]] credited him with inventing stone-dressed building during Djoser's reign, though he was not the first to actually build with stone. Imhotep is also believed to have founded [[Ancient Egyptian medicine|Egyptian medicine]], being the author of the world's earliest known medical document, the [[Edwin Smith Papyrus]].

===Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt ===
[[Image:Alexandria Library Inscription.jpg|thumb|200px|Inscription referring to the Alexandrian library, dated AD 56]]

The silk road led staright through ancient Alexandria. Also, the [[Library of Alexandria|Royal Library of Alexandria]] was once the largest in the world. It is usually assumed to have been founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC during the reign of [[Ptolemy II of Egypt]] after his father had set up the [[Temple of the Muses]] or [[Museum]]. The initial organization is attributed to [[Demetrius Phalereus]]. The Library is estimated to have stored at its peak 400,000 to 700,000 [[Scroll (parchment)|scrolls]].

One of the reasons so little is known about the Library is that it was lost centuries after its creation. All that is left of many of the volumes are tantalizing titles that hint at all the history lost due to the building's destruction. Few events in ancient history are as controversial as the destruction of the Library, as the historical record is both contradictory and incomplete. Its destruction has been attributed by some authors to, among others, [[Julius Caesar]], [[Augustus Caesar]], and Catholic zealots during the purge of the Arian heresy, Not surprisingly, the Great Library became a symbol of knowledge itself, and its destruction was attributed to those who were portrayed as ignorant [[barbarians]], often for purely political reasons.

A [[Bibliotheca Alexandrina|new library]] was inaugurated in 2003 near the site of the old library.

The [[Lighthouse of Alexandria]], one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]], designed by [[Sostratus of Cnidus]] and built during the reign of [[Ptolemy I Soter]] served as the city's landmark, and later, lighthouse.

====Mathematics and technology====
{{See also|Greek Mathematics}}

[[Alexandria]], being the center of the Hellenistic world, produced a number of great mathematicians, astronomers and scientists such as [[Ctesibius]], [[Pappus of Alexandria|Pappus]] and [[Diophantus]]. It also attracted scholars from all over the Mediterranean such as [[Eratosthenes]] of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]].

====Ptolemy====
{{Main|Ptolemy}}

[[Ptolemy]] is one of the most famous astronomers and geographers from Egypt, famous for his work in [[Alexandria]]. Born Claudius Ptolemaeus (Greek: Κλαύδιος Πτολεμαίος; c. 85 &ndash; c. 165) in [[Upper Egypt]], he was a [[geographer]], [[astronomer]], and [[astrologer]].<ref>Martin Bernal (1992). "Animadversions on the Origins of Western Science", ''Isis'' '''83''' (4), p. 596-607 [602, 606]</ref>
Ptolemy was the author of two important scientific treatises. One is the astronomical treatise that is now known as the ''[[Almagest]]'' (in Greek ''Η μεγάλη Σύνταξις'', "The Great Treatise"). In this work, one of the most influential books of antiquity, Ptolemy compiled the astronomical knowledge of the ancient Greek and [[Babylonian]] world. Ptolemy's other main work is his ''Geography''. This too is a compilation, of what was known about the world's [[geography]] in the Roman Empire in his time.

In his ''[[Optics]]'', a work which survives only in an Arabic translation, he writes about properties of [[light]], including [[Reflection (physics)|reflection]], [[refraction]] and [[colour]]. His other works include ''Planetary Hypothesis'', ''Planisphaerium'' and ''Analemma''. Ptolemy's treatise on astrology, the ''Tetrabiblos'', was the most popular [[astrological]] work of antiquity and also enjoyed great influence in the [[Islamic]] world and the [[medieval]] [[Latin]] [[Western world|West]].

Ptolemy also wrote influential work Harmonics on music theory. After criticizing the approaches of his predecessors, Ptolemy argued for basing musical intervals on mathematical ratios (in contrast to the followers of Aristoxenus) backed up by empirical observation (in contrast to the over-theoretical approach of the Pythagoreans). He presented his own divisions of the tetrachord and the octave, which he derived with the help of a monochord. Ptolemy's astronomical interests also appeared in a discussion of the music of the spheres.

Tributes to Ptolemy include Ptolemaeus crater on the Moon and Ptolemaeus crater on Mars.

===Medieval Egypt===
{{See also|Islamic mathematics}}

====Abu Kamil Shuja ibn Aslam====
{{Main|Abū Kāmil Shujā ibn Aslam}}

====Ibn Yunus====
{{Main|Ibn Yunus}}

===Modern Egypt===

====Ahmed Zewail====
{{Main|Ahmed Zewail}}
[[Ahmed Zewail]] ({{lang-ar|أحمد زويل}}) (born February 26, 1946) is an [[Egypt|Egyptian]] [[chemistry|chemist]], and the winner of the 1999 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] for his work on [[femtochemistry]]. Born in [[Damanhur]] (60&nbsp;km south-east of [[Alexandria]]) and raised in [[Disuq]], he moved to the [[United States]] to complete his PhD at the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. He was awarded a faculty appointment at [[Caltech]] in 1976, where he has remained since.

Zewail's key work has been as the pioneer of [[femtochemistry]]. He developed a method using a rapid [[laser]] technique (consisting of [[ultrashort pulse|ultrashort]] laser flashes), which allows the description of reactions at the [[atomic]] level. It can be viewed as a highly sophisticated form of [[Flash (photo)|flash photography]].

In 1999, Zewail became the third Egyptian to receive the [[Nobel Prize]], following [[Anwar Sadat]] (1978 in Peace) and [[Naguib Mahfouz]] (1988 in Literature). In 1999, he received Egypt's highest state honour, the [[Grand Collar of the Nile]].

====Egyptology====
{{Main|Egyptology}}

In modern times, [[archaeology]] and the study of Egypt's ancient heritage as the field of [[Egyptology]] has become a major scientific pursuit in the country itself. The field began during the [[Middle Ages]], and has been led by Europeans and Westerners in modern times. The study of Egyptology, however, has in recent decades been taken up by Egyptian archæologists such as [[Zahi Hawass]] and the [[Supreme Council of Antiquities]] he leads.

The discovery of the [[Rosetta Stone]], a tablet written in ancient Greek, Egyptian [[Demotic (Egyptian)|Demotic]] script, and Egyptian hieroglyphs, has partially been credited for the recent stir in the study of Ancient Egypt. [[Greek language|Greek]], a well known language, gave linguists the ability to decipher the mysterious Egyptian hieroglyphic language. The ability to decipher hieroglyphics facilitated the translation of hundreds of the texts and inscriptions that were previously indecipherable, giving insight into Egyptian culture that would have otherwise been lost to the ages. The stone was discovered on July 15, 1799 in the port town of Rosetta [[Rosetta]], Egypt, and has been held in the [[British Museum]] since 1802.

==Sports==
{{See also|Football in Egypt}}
[[File:Cairo International Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cairo International Stadium]]]]
[[Association Football|Football]] is the most popular sport in Egypt. Egyptian football clubs especially [[El Ahly]] and [[El Zamalek]] are known throughout the Middle East and Africa and enjoy the reputation of long-time champions of the sport regionally. They enjoy popularity even among non-Egyptians.

The [[Egypt national football team|Egyptian national football team]] won the [[African Cup of Nations]] seven times setting a new record in Africa (years: 57, 59, 86, 98, 06, 08, 10). Although it's the first African country who joined [[FIFA]], but it hasn't made it to the [[FIFA World Cup]] except only two times in 1934 and 1990. In the [[World Military Cup]], Egypt won the title 5 times, and was the runner-up another 2 times.

Other popular sports in Egypt are [[basketball]], [[Team handball|handball]], [[Squash (sport)|squash]] and [[tennis]]. The Egyptian national squash team is always known for its fierce competition in worldwide championships since the 1930s till today. Handball has become another growingly popular sport among Egyptians as well. Since the early 1990s, the [[Egypt national handball team|Egyptian national handball team]] has become a growing international force in the sport, winning regional and continental tournaments as well as reaching up to fourth place internationally in 2001. The Junior national handball team reached the first rank in 1993 under the lead of Captain Gamal Shams, and it hosted the tournament in 2010 setting a record in the audience number specially the match between Egypt and Denmark in the semifinals, the stadium was completely full.

In older times (1930s and 40s), Egypt was a power house in [[weightlifting]], [[boxing]] and [[wrestling]] with several Olympic and world championship medals.

Also [[roller hockey]] (''quad'') is availble in Egypt, but the teams that are playing this game may not exceed 10 teams and the most famous club which plays roller hockey is "Al-Zamalek sporting club", and also "Nasr-City sporting club". The Egyptian national roller hockey team has took part in many world competitions, but unlikely the team didn't win any tournament.

Local sports clubs receive financial support from the local governments, and many sporting clubs are financially and administratively supported by the government.

==Cinema==
{{Main|Cinema of Egypt}}

Egyptian cinema has flourished since the 1930s.<ref name="siscie">[http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Arts&Culture/Cinema&Drama/CinemaInEgypt/070401000000000001.htm Egyptian State Information Service (SIS) - Cinema In Egypt]</ref> As a result, the Egyptian capital has been dubbed the ''"Hollywood of the Middle East"'', where the world-renowned [[Cairo International Film Festival]] is held every year. The festival has been rated by the [[FIAPF|International Federation of Film Producers Associations]] as being among the 11 top-class film festivals worldwide.<ref>[http://www.ukhotmovies.com/film-festivals/cairo-film-festival/information.html]</ref>

Most of Arabic-language TV and [[Egyptian cinema|cinema]] has been notably affected by the [[Egyptian Arabic|Egyptian]] dialect, due to its simplicity.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

The Egyptian film industry is the largest within Arabic-speaking cinema.<ref name="siscie"/>

==Music==
{{Main|Music of Egypt}}
[[Image:Oud.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Front and rear views of an ''[[oud]]''.]]

Egyptian music is a rich mixture of indigenous Egyptian, African and Western influences.

As early as [[4th millennium BC|4000 BC]], ancient Egyptians were playing [[harps]] and [[flutes]], as well as two indigenous instruments: the [[ney]] and the [[oud]]. However, there is little notation of Egyptian music before the 7th century AD, when Egypt became part of the [[Muslim world]]. [[Percussion instrument|Percussion]] and [[vocal]] music became important at this time, and has remained an important part of Egyptian music today.

Contemporary [[Music of Egypt|Egyptian music]] traces its beginnings to the creative work of luminaries such as Abdu-l Hamuli, Almaz, Sayed Mikkawi, and Mahmud Osman, who were all patronized by [[Isma'il Pasha|Khedive Ismail]] and who influenced the later work of [[Sayed Darwish]], [[Umm Kulthum]], [[Mohammed Abdel Wahab]], [[Abdel Halim Hafez]] and other Egyptian music giants.

From the 1970s onwards, Egyptian [[pop music]] has become increasingly important in Egyptian culture, particularly among the large youth population of Egypt. Egyptian [[folk music]] is also popular, played during weddings and other festivities. In the last quarter of the 20th century, Egyptian music was a way to communicate [[social issue|social]] and [[social class|class]] issues. The most popular Egyptian pop singers are [[Amr Diab]],[[Tamer Hosny]],[[Mohamed Mounir]] and [[Ali El Haggar]].

[[Belly dance]], or ''Raqs Sharqi'' (literally: oriental dancing) may have originated in Egypt, and today the country is considered the international center of the art.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Cuisine of Egypt}}

Egyptian cuisine consists of local culinary traditions such as [[Ful medames]], [[Kushari]] and [[Molokhia]]. It also shares similarities with food found throughout the eastern Mediterranean like [[kebab]] and [[falafel]].

==See also==

* [[Bibliotheca Alexandrina]]
* [[Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage]]
* [[Egyptians]]
* [[Egyptian television]]
* [[List of museums in Egypt]]
* [[Music of Egypt]]
* [[Rosetta stone]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KZYMxJ9SoM Traditional Egyptian Wedding - Video]
* [http://www.egyptmusic.org/ Egyptian Center for Culture and Art]
* [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/Students/Ellen/Museum.html "The Library of Alexandria"] by Ellen N. Brundige
* [http://www.bibalex.org/ Bibliotheca Alexandrina]
* [http://www.its.caltech.edu/~femto/ Ahmed H. Zewail's website at CalTech]
* [http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/newegypt/htm/a_index.htm The Art of Ancient Egypt]
* [http://www.ndoylefineart.com/design2.html Egyptian contributions to art]
* [http://www.operahouse.gov.eg/ Cairo Opera House]
* [http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/egypt/index.html Egypt a cultural profile]
*[http://revistaorientalia.blogspot.com/2007/07/317-piezas-seran-exhibidas-en-japon.html Display of Egyptian art in Japan]

{{Egypt topics}}
{{Africa in topic|Culture of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Egypt}}
[[Category:Egyptian culture| ]]

[[ar:ثقافة مصر]]
[[fr:Culture de l'Égypte]]
[[kk:Мысыр өнері]]
[[pt:Cultura do Egito]]
[[ru:Культура Египта]]

Revision as of 18:11, 29 February 2012

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