The ABC’s
of Egypt
B
Babaghanuuj
A dish made with roasted and pureed eggplant.
Bahariya Oasis
In 1996 a skeleton of a workman was found at this oasis,
which lies 230 miles southwest of Giza. It is believed the workman had
helped build Khufu’s pyramid. The capital of Bahareya was Bawiti. Many
mummies from the Roman times were found here also. These excavations
suggested the ancient inhabitants had been prosperous. During this time
around 30,000 people may have lived in this area. This was a fertile area
where dates and grapes were abundant. Today there are about 450,000 people
who live in this area.
Bamya
A meat and okra stew, made with garlic, onions, cumin,
coriander, tomatoes, lemon, and fresh mint. It is best served with rice.
Barque
Barque is the name of a boat, believed to convey the sun (Re) across the
sky. The design, with in-curved prow and stern was the same design as the
funerary barques, made of bundles of papyrus stems, which were used to
convey the dead on their funerary voyages to the sanctuary of Osiris at
Abydos before burial.
Basalt
If you picture in your mind what the Rosetta Stone looks
like, you will also be visualizing basalt. Basalt is a heavy volcanic
rock. As the lava cools and solidifies, steam begins to expand, causing
bubbles, which are preserved, giving the basalt its unique texture. Basalt
is rich in iron and magnesium.
Basbusa
A dish made with sugar, cream of wheat, butter, sugar,
lemon juice and cinnamon.
Batates
A hearty, savory dish made with potatoes, beef, lamb, or
turkey, onions, tomatoes and a cardamom pod, known as Habahan. It is
layered with slices of onion, potatoes, broth, beef and tomatoes. Garlic
can be added too.
Bhuto
An ancient Lower Egyptian city. The serpent, which was used
as one of the royal insignias came from here. It was called the "Bhuto-Wadjet",
symbolizing the serpent goddess. Osiris is supposed to have journeyed
here.
Biram Ruz
This is a rice dish, made with long grain rice, milk and
cream.
Black-bellied Sand Grouse
These small grouse walk quickly along the ground, searching
for grain. They are swift flyers, about nine to sixteen inches long, with
gray or brown plumage. Their wings are pointed, they have short legs, and
mate for life. Black-bellied grouse lay two to three dark colored eggs in
a depression in the ground.
Black Color
The color black was associated with ‘regeneration’ as
well as the dark precints of the underworld, in which the dead were
required to traverse before arriving at ‘heaven’. In many instances
the dead were represented with black skin, as well as white, in tomb art
and on funerary equipment.
Blue Tit
Blue tits have been referred to looking like small blue bullets. Their
bodies are covered with greenish blue feathers on the upper side of their
bodies, and have yellow feathers on their bellies. Their heads are white,
with a blue crown. Blue tits live in trees and bushes in gardens. They
dangle from branches and feed upside down. They are about four and a half
inches in size. Blue tits stay in the same vicinity all year long and are
nectar feeders, engorging themselves on blossoms. They also eat spiders,
insects, nuts and berries.
Breccia
Breccia covers hundreds of kilometers in Egypt’s eastern desert. The
word "Breccia" is Italian, meaning ‘conglomerate’ in
English. Breccia are natural gathering of natural stones collected
together millions of years ago, by nature actions, such as floods, then
when the mixture was moved underground by earth’s movements, it was ‘cooked’
together by underground heat and pressure to form the solid material we
call Breccia now. During other movements of the earth, the Breccia was
moved upwards to the earth’s surface. The best breccias are a mixture of
granite and marble, being harder than all other marbles. Ancient Egyptians
used green Breccia for making their sculptures, vases and buildings such
as temples. Nowadays the Breccia is used for flooring, counter tops, wall
claddings, etc. Breccia can also be found in red and yellow colors.
Brown-necked Raven
Ravens are a common bird all over the world,
sometimes known as crows. In Egypt, they like to be n the shade of palm
fronds and play in the water. A noisy bird, their squawking easily makes
them a nuisance.
Bubastis
The famous Temple of Bast is at Bubastis. It stood in a
valley, surrounded by canals that carried water from the River Nile. Today
it is in ruins. Cats used to run free in the ancient temple, being carried
in baskets, and even had their own cemeteries. The Bubastite was the 22nd
Dynasty of ancient Egypt. It was ruled mainly by Libyan soldiers. Their
ruler had his headquarters in the Nile delta.
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