This week we’re taking a trip to Northeast Africa, to the majestic country, Egypt. We’re specifically taking a look at the 1 pound Egyptian banknote from 2003. Let’s dive in!
What influenced this Weeks World Money Monday?
For World Money Monday, we chose Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt. Egypt is known for its strong Arabic ties and its long and rich country history. Egypt has several foreign influences including: which has endured, and often assimilated, various foreign influences, including Persian, Greek, Arab, Roman, Ottoman Turkish, and lastly Nubian. They are undoubtingly one of the most populous countries in the Middle East, as well as Africa. Egypt comes from a long history dating back from 40,000 B.C. and their beautiful rich banknotes gives us glimpses of their glorious history.
Banknote of the day Information
The 1 pound Egypt banknote from 2003 is filled with tons of details and pictures that will take you back to 1200 B.C! This banknote has beautiful muted hues of brown, yellow, pink and green. On the Obverse, we can see the Mosque and Mausoleum of Sultan Qaytbay at the Mamluks cemetery in Cairo. On the reverse, there are birds and several other shapes taken from the structure built by Ramesses II in front of the Luxor Temple of Amenophis II. There’s the name of Nefertiti in cartouche; four statues of seated Ramesses II from the Great Temple at Abu Simbel and lastly the name of Ramesses II in cartouche.
Ramesses the II
Ramesses the II was the 3rd Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt. During his time as ruler, he was often regarded as one of the greatest, most celebrated and even most powerful pharaohs of the New Kingdom; he ruled from 1279–1213 BC. Ramesses the II lived to be approximately 90 or 91 years of age, which is considerably longer than the average course of life during this time.
His body was buried in a tomb in the Valley of the Kings, however, was later moved due to looters. It was moved to a royal cache where it was discovered in 1881; it is now on display in the Egyptian Museum.
His nickname is the “Great Ancestor” till this day.
Egypt’s Abu Simbel Temples
Abu Simbel Temple took over 20 years to build! It was completed around year 24 of Ramesses II’s reign which was around 1265 B.C. This temple was dedicated to the 3 Gods Amun, Ptah, Ra-Horakhty and lastly, himself. This temple is still considered one of the most detailed temples in all of Egypt and Ramesses II’s reign.
Egypt’s Temple of Luxor
Located in the heart of the modern city of Luxor, the Luxor temple, especially with the two colossi of Ramses II situated at the entrance of the temple, has become one of the biggest land marks of the city. The Luxor Temple is one of first examples of the architecture of the historic Pharaohs. The Temple of Luxor was a very important religious structure for ancient Egyptians. The temple the house of the ancient God “Amun” or Amun in the Opet. Once a year the Opet festivals would commence with a series of religious ceremonies to celebrate the royal powers.