When is an hour not an hour?

Carole TowrissAncient Egypt, In the Shadow of Sinai, Research Leave a Comment

Keeping track of the passage of time was crucial to the ancient Egyptians, especially to the astronomers and priests who were responsible for determining the exact hour for the daily rituals and sacrifices. They divided the day into two equal periods of twelve hours each. However, due to the revolution of the earth around the sun, the length of the hours …

What’s a “naja haje”?

Carole TowrissAncient Egypt, In the Shadow of Sinai, Research Leave a Comment

The Egyptian cobra, also called a “naja haje,” is most likely the snake the magicians in Pharaoh’s court used in their duel with Moses. It is the most dangerous and one of the largest cobras of the African continent. When disturbed, cobras have the ability to raise the front quarter of their bodies off the ground and spread their necks …