What You Need To Know About Egypt

The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, is a Republic in North Africa. ""Egypt"" came via the Latin word Aegyptus derived from ancient Greek, which means 'the name of a temple of the God Ptah at Memphis.' Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is known as the land for learning, culture and commerce.

Geographically, Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea and is located between Libya and the Gaza Strip. To the north of Sudan is the Red Sea inclusive of what is known as the Asian Sinai Peninsula. The total area occupied by Egypt is 1,020,000 km². The coastline of Egypt stretches approximately 2,450 km. The Egyptian terrain is a vast desert plateau, interrupted by the Nile valley and the delta.

The climate in Egypt is hot and dry due to its proximity to the equator. Winters are moderate. The Sahara desert is the world's largest desert and is located in Egypt, as well as the Libya desert. These deserts were referred to as the "red land" in ancient Egypt. Even today, these areas are sparsely populated. Egypt has a population of approximately 77 million people. Islam is the religion practiced by majority of the people, with a small number of people that follow Christianity. Arabic is the language used widely by the Egyptian people. The majority of Egyptians are involved in agriculture and settlements can be seen along the Nile river. About half of the population lives in the urban areas.

Egypt is famous for its ancient architecture and culture. It boasts of some of the world's most stunning ancient monuments, including the Giza Pyramids, the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Another modern attraction in Egypt is the Opera house, which is the only one in the Arab world.

Every year there are a large number of tourists who visit the country. Many of them visit during the favorable months from mid-October to May, when the weather is not as hot, to view its many beautiful sites.

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Ancient Roman Gardens and Landscaping

The origin of landscape design is impossible to determine. It didn't start with a certain person, or a particular movement: like all design, it arose to fulfill the needs of people organically through history. No one suddenly decided that we needed to scrupulously plan where we place our trees and flower beds - landscape architecture was developed to make one aspect of our lives even better, and it has fulfilled this role excellently throughout our past.

Although the first mention of the incredible combination of gardens and design was certainly the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, there is some controversy about their historical correctness. Although their Characteristics and status as one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World is attractive, we really don't know where to separate the history from the mythology. Although many experts have detailed the function, design, and creator of the Hanging Gardens, there are no Babylonian information still in existence that document them first-hand, and no archaeological evidence that unquestionably proves their existence - so we'll have to look elsewhere for a more useful place to begin.

Possibly the first appearance of what we deem modern landscaping arose during the rise of the Roman Empire. Romans lived in a more urban setting than anyone else up to that point in history, and they needed an in-city refuge from their bustling social lives. This as a goal, the Ancient Roman gardens developed a calming combination of ornamental plants, mosaics, and fountains - the gardens also were loaded with religious symbolism.

This closely designed landscaping stood in stark contrast to landscape design that would develop in the east, where Chinese and Japanese gardeners would attempt to make their landscape as unassuming and un-designed as possible. Landscape design also took a great leap foreword in Persia, where remarkable underground aqueducts were designed to keep lavish gardens alive in the arid environment. In fact, there is some evidence that Roman gardens were deeply influenced by Persian gardening techniques.

These are just a few examples of the many forms that landscaping has taken over the years, but it really seemed to enter its adolescence in the 1800s. The term "Landscape architecture" was coined by Gilbert Meason in his book "On The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy", where he wrote about Italian masterpieces of landscape painting. The term's meaning has changed somewhat since its inception, the transformation helped along by the use of the expression in the winning entry for the layout of Central Park in New York City. In the mid 1900s, people who designed landscapes were referred to as "Landscape Gardeners", but Frederick Olmsted denied this limiting name and adopted the name "Landscape Architect".

In recent times, there has been a movement towards Landscape Urbanism, which is blending an urban setting with nature. With more and more people living in urban settings, landscaping has to fit into and work alongside urban planning, causing some exceptional combinations of asphalt and mulch. This attitude shift is certainly a modern phenomenon, but it really isn't that unique. Think back to those Ancient Roman Gardens: when cutting-edge landscapers use a combination of design, landscaping, and an urban location, they're just doing like the Romans did.

Mark Charipar is a landscape designer and architect who creates beautiful landscapes in Lincoln, NE.

Learn more about him and his company here: Landmark Landscapes

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Travel Italy - Highlights of Italian Art and Architecture

Every year millions of visitors trek through Italy in search of ancient culture, great food, art, architecture, and more. The allure is immediate even to those who have never been.

There is more art and architecture to see in Italy than one person could possibly
experience in a lifetime. Rome, Florence, and Venice alone offer an unending array
of design excursions. Highlighted here are some of the must see designs of both
ancient and modern Italy. Talk a trip, bring a sketch book, and see the gorgeous art
and design that is synonymous with Italian life.

The Coliseum - An architectural marvel, the coliseum was built beginning
in 72 A.M. Originally used as a source of entertainment (usually forced barbaric
combat) the Coliseum is still an amazing site. Strangely, although it could be
considered a source of embarrassment of the past, it has been come to known as
one of the ultimate icons of ancient Roman greatness. Location: the Piazza del
Colosseo, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome

Vatican City - This tiny country is perhaps one of the most remarkable
aspects of Rome. Vatican City is the heart of Catholicism, both spiritually and
politically. St. Peter himself was crucified on this spot, and St. Peter's basilica was
built directly above the ancient hill. Both the Basilica and St. Peter's square are still
studied today in architecture and art history classes. You can wander the Vatican
Museums for days, including a visit to the Sistine Chapel, to see some of the true
masterpieces of Roman art. Location: Entry through Saint Peter's Square, Rome

Il Duomo (The Cathedral of Santa Maria Dei Fiori) - Il Duomo is considered
by many to be the grandest achievement in Renaissance architecture. The octagonal
dome, originally designed by Brunelleschi was the largest in the world when built.
Since then, Il Duomo , which took nearly six centuries to complete, has become
Florence's symbol. Climb the 414 steps of the bell tower, and Renaissance Florence
will be laid before you. Location: Piazza del Duomo, Florence.

Piazza San Marco - Piazza San Marco is still studied today by architects
and urban planners as one of the most beautiful and successful public squares. The
square is surrounded by cafes, shops, and of course the Campanile and St. Peter's
Basilica. Visitors and locals alike sip espresso in its cafes, meet to talk, and climb
the Campanile to see an amazing view of Venice. Location: Piazza San Marco, with
the Basilica at the wider end, Venice.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection - In a city world renown for its
ancient art and architecture, the Guggenheim Collection houses one of the greatest
collections of modern art. her collection includes works by Pollack, Picasso, Klee,
Rothko, Chagall, Mondrian, and more. There is also a gorgeous sculpture garden
housing even more works. Location: Calle Venice dei Leoni, Dorsoduro, Venice.

The Brion Vega Cemetery - The Brion Vega is considered one of Carlo
Scarpa's masterpieces. Scarpa was and still is often considered the premier modern
Italian architect. The memorial is a great concrete and landscaped form if rectilinear,
stepping, and sculptural concrete elements. It is an amazing pilgrimage for the
architecture buff. Location: San Vito d'Altivole.

You can wander Italy for ages and never take in all of the art and architecture. Still,
the sites listed above are some of the must sees for lovers of art, architecture, and
travel. Open your eyes and see the Italian design that has been around for centuries,
and that which continues to flourish today.

Michelle is a travel buff who has recently moved away from Hawaii, but is anxiously awaiting the day when she can return. In the meantime, she occupies her time by helping others compare and select vacation options.

Your Life Passion - Specialty Travel, Guided Tours, Vacation Rentals, Spa Resorts and More!

Also read Travel Oahu - Experience Hawaii Like a Local [http://ezinearticles.com/?Travel-Oahu---Experience-Hawaii- Like-A-Local&id=22204]

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Facts About China Architecture and Chinese Buildings Art

China's distinctive architecture makes up an important part of China's splendid civilization. Together with Western and Muslim architecture, the three styles comprise the world's major architectural systems.

In the Paleolithic Age, Chinese ancestors lived on fishery and hunting, and were sheltered in trees and caves. In the Neolithic Age, Chinese ancestors engaged in raising animals and farming, and settled down by digging caves and by building simple houses with twigs and lumber, thus commencing their architectural activities.During the 3,000 years of the feudalist society, Chinese ancient architecture formulated gradually its unique system, coupled with a considerable progress in urban planning, garden designing, and house construction technique. In 221 B.C., the First Emperor of the Qin Empire mobilized the resources of the country to do construction works on a massive scale, including A' Fang Palace, the Emperor's Mausoleum, the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan Water-Conservancy Project. In the Later dynasties, many more massive construction works of lasting fame were carried out.

China's wood frameworks are unique in the world. They reflect the values, aesthetic and ethical standard of the Chinese people. Chinese architecture is rooted in cultural tradition and features several characteristics. It highlights absolute imperial power and strict social status. The best examples of this can be found in the palaces and forbidden cities. Chinese architecture also stresses overall beauty and its axial layout pattern is widely used in buildings. The Chinese style also incorporates elements of nature and emphasizes a graceful, reserved and easy-going beauty. Apart from the Han ethnic group, architecture in the ethnic minorities is also diversified and distinct.

Chinese architecture can be categorized into imperial palaces, religious temples, ancient gardens, tombs group and ordinary ethnic residences.

The online website of the China travel agency - China Fact Tours has fruitful information regarding facts about China and China Architecture [http://www.chinafacttours.com/facts/a], as well as a great deal of practical China travel information and travel resources be of help before you plan a trip to China!

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The Tricks of Ancient Greek Architects

The centre-piece and most celebrated of the new projects was the temple to Athena the Virgin, known as the Parthenon. A deliberate attempt was made in the design of this building to achieve visual perfection, using a very sophisticated knowledge of optics. It seems to be constructed according to a plan based entirely upon straight lines, yet there is hardly a single straight line in it, although the tolerance for error is a fiftieth of an inch. Its perceived aesthetic perfection is a deliberately contrived optical illusion of a high level of sophistication only fully revealed during the mid-nineteenth century by the work of the British archaeologist Roger Penrose. It had been realised that our eyes play tricks upon us, and that in order to produce in observers the visual impression of a perfectly designed and constructed building, it would be necessary to take these distortions of perception into account by systematically compensating for them in the design.

The ancient architect realised that if the temple was constructed on a perfectly flat surface, our eyes, being deceived by the bright sunlight, would falsely perceive the floor to sag in the middle. He saw that if the columns were constructed perfectly perpendicular to the base platform on which they were erected, they would appear to lean slightly outwards. He also realised that if each of the columns were to be erected with exactly the same diameter from top to bottom, they would each appear to be narrower in the middle than they really were. Moreover, if all the columns were made with the same diameter, the outer columns would appear slightly thinner than the others due to the effect of the bright Attic sunlight; for the more well-lighted an object is, the less voluminous it appears.

The architects employed all their insight and skill to compensate for these and other distortions of visual perception in their design. Thus the surface of the platform on which the columns stand has been made slightly convex, so that it appears to be flat. The outer columns have been made to lean slightly inwards, so that if each were to be extended upwards they would meet in the centre about one thousand metres above the roof. This exactly eliminates the illusion that perfectly perpendicular columns would create, of leaning slightly outwards. The forty-six outer columns were deliberately made slightly thicker in their middle drums, where most of the light falls, so as to appear perfectly straight. The corner columns, being lighted from both sides, have been made slightly larger in diameter than the others.

These "special effects" are by no means limited to the major features of the construction. The frieze decorations were also systematically distorted to allow both for the effects of being seen from a distance and also for being viewed from the vantage point of observers below. Thus the figures on the frieze stoop slightly downwards. The lower parts of the decorations have a depth of three centimetres, while the upper have a depth of five and a half.

The ancient architects understood not merely those illusions which viewing a large building in a glaring light might generate, they knew how to compensate for them. But most surprising of all is the fact that they also knew exactly by how much to compensate for them.

One much-praised aspect of the appearance of the Parthenon, however, was not the result of ancient knowledge and skill. Travellers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries praised its beautiful golden patina. This had developed over the centuries, and could not have been foreseen by the ancient builders. It was due to the oxidisation of tiny particles of iron in the marble. Much of the building would, in any case, originally have been painted in gaudy colours, the reliefs being picked out in bright blue, red and gold. Today, with the gradual replacement of the old marble, subjected to decay from traffic fumes, by bright white newly cut blocks, the famous patina has been lost.

Learn more about Ancient Greece, Athens and Greece in general.

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