HUSSEIN BASSIR  Egypt Pharaohs, kings and presidents W hereveryougointheworlditislikelythatyouwillcomeacrosssomeelementof Egypt’s history or influence, and so it could be said that Egypt and history are synonymous.CivilizationitselfbeganinEgypt’sNilevalleyanddelta:indeed,theGreek historian Herodotus described Egyptian civilization as‘the gift of the Nile’, though it mightperhapshavebeenbetterdescribedas‘thegiftoftheNile and theEgyptianpeople’. The Nile passes through many African countries, but none has achieved the progress, continuity and prosperity of Egypt. Egyptians, the builders of this unique civilization, have always been distinguished by their skill, perseverance, patience, silence, calmness, forbearance,faithandtolerance. Egypt lies in the northeastern corner of the African continent and extends into southwestAsiathroughtheSinaipeninsula,Egypt’seasterngatewayandaccessroutefor invaders throughout history.Egypt is considered an important and influential country inboththeMiddleEastandAfrica:itisattheheartoftheArabworld,andthedefender andpreserverofIslam.ThecountryisalsoclosetosouthernEuropeandsouthwestAsia, overlooking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Its location has thus made Egypt a meetingplaceforcivilizations,acrucibleforculturalexchangeandanobjectofdesirefor invadersthroughoutitslonghistory. Thenamesgiventothelandarenumerous.ThenameEgyptcomesfromtheancient term Hutkaptah, meaning‘temple of the soul of Ptah’, who was the god of the ancient capital Memphis. The modern name for the country in Arabic, Misr, is derived from the ancient Egyptian word mejer [‘the edge’], from which comes the current name Al Misriyun [‘the Egyptians’]. Egyptians also refer to the capital city of Cairo as Misr, usingthenameofthecountryasshorthandfortheircapital.ModernEgyptiansbelong toboththeSemiticandHamiticpeoples,andinclude,amongothers,Fellahin(peopleof TheGreatSphinxwasbuiltbyKingKhafretotheeastofhispyramidcomplexattheGizaplateau.Thelargest statueintheancientworld,itrepresentsthekingasahuman-headedlioncouchantandshowsthedivinekingship ofancientEgyptianrulers.