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Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Ancient Memphis
The Arab Republic of Egypt
Introduction to Strategic Planning
The Joint Master in HCSM
Prepared by
MOHAMED BADRY KAMEL
COTTBUS 2014
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Page 2
Actually, Mit Rahina has a great significance that representing the civil life of an ancient city
“Memphis”, by contrast, its other part which is represented in Saqqare necropolis. So, if this city
was vanished, we would loss the high magnitude of an ancient Egyptian history-related period
that the archaeological site till now has been kept on the ruins of the 18th dynasty king
Ramsses II’s palace which is considered a rare model for the palace structures during the ancient
eras and besides, the layout of Akenaten palace in Tell al –Amarna, Menia governorate.
Mit Rahina is included in the World Heritage Site “Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid
Fields from Giza to Dahshur” which has been inscribed in 1979 under the criteria (I), (III),
and (VI) (UNESCO, Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur).
An ancient town Memphis (Mit Rahina) is considered an original unit with temples, palaces,
houses and estates, industrial areas, artisan communities, army training camp and riverine port. It
had religious, political and economic significances along the history (Kamel, 1985, p. 26).
The paper has been used archaeological and Egyptological-related libraries, internet sources and
besides, oral sources that are done within a field trip interviewing the site inspector
Mr. Mohamed Fathy Mansour - Mit Rahina Inspectorate register - on Tuesday, 12th August 2014
that he is informatively supported. The visitation was evaluated the ground cover and potential
for buried archaeological materials as well as noticing any standing or obtrusive archaeological
and historical feature.
Figure 2 Survey of the original location of Mit Rahina
Figure 1 Location of Mit Rahina
Source:
(Porter & Moss, 1994)
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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The Location:
An ancient city Memphis was originally situated on the western bank of the Nile River that the
current site of Mit Rahina village where is about twenty three kilometers away south of modern
Cairo (Jeffrey, 2001, p. 373) (Malek & Baines, 2000, p. 134).
Historical Background
After the fifth century B.C, the earliest capital
Memphis was mentioned by the classical writers and
historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus. Memphis
was founded by King Hor-Aha (or probably King
Menes (Narmer) during the first dynasty (3000 –
2920 B.C) to be the 1st political unified capital for
Upper and Lower Egypt. Ancient Memphis was
distinguished through its position as trades spot that
situating near the apex of the Delta controlling all
major routes for internal trade as well as foreign
commerce. (Jeffrey, 2001, p. 373)
During the Middle kingdom, it was still kept on its
pose as a religious and commercial center while,
through the New kingdom era, it was turned for its
first position to become the principal seat of the
government, as well as a training camp of the
Egyptian military forces and a cosmopolitan river
port. (Kamel, 1985, pp. 26, 27, 30)
During the Late period, Memphis was a trade center and a refuge, especially during the reign of
King Apries and Amasis, for both Jewish exiles from Jerusalem and Ionian and Carian
mercenaries. Then, when the Ptolemies started to found their new capital Alexandria, they kept
on an earliest capital Memphis that stills as a religious capital especially the worship of Apis
bull. (Kamel, 1985, p. 27)
This greatest city neglected too much after the Arab conquest of Egypt. Also, Arabs had been
completed the destruction activities, after the Roman period, especially with the founding of the
Figure 3 The Map of the Archaeological Site
Source:
(Malek & Baines, 2000, p. 136)
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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Fatimid capital Cairo in 969 A.D.; Memphis was used as a quarry that blocks of granite, marble
and Egyptian alabaster were transferred from the remained monument. (Jeffrey, 2001, p. 373)
The Archaeological Elements of the Site:
1- The museum of the colossal Statue of King Ramses II
2- In the garden of the museum compound, there are numerous masterpieces such as the
uninscribed alabaster sphinx, the inscribed pedestal, granite sarcophagus, besides other
vessels.
Figure 4 The Colossal Statue of King Ramses II
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 5 Garden of Open Air Museum
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 6 Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenemhat II
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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5- The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Figure 9 The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Source: © Mohamed Badry
6- The Embalming House of Apis Bull lies to the southwestern corner of the enclosure
wall of the main temple of god Ptah.
Figure 10 The Embalming House of Apis
Source:
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2009/10/27/animal_mummies_001_slide-
b8cf399d72b9a286719c91c6b5144d9abfc74b98-s6-c30.jpg
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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7- The palace of King Ramses II
Assessing the Site Values
1- Religious Value
Mit Rahina had a religious role which was related to worship of all the gods, Ptah, the
god of creative force, the goddess Hathor, the mother goddess as she skulled all the
kings, and Apis, the bull god. (Bunson, 2002, p. 236)
2- Political Value
Memphis had a political entity that it was “the first sovereign of the unified Egyptian
kingdom, Menes or Narmer, ordered the construction of a new capital in the area around
the Nile Delta, the City of Menes, Mennufer” which to be considered the mark of the
boundary among Upper and Lower Egypt. (UNESCO, Memphis and its Necropolis – the
Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur) (AERAGRAM, 2012, p. 2)
3- Commercial Value
During the late period, “Memphis was as a place of refuge. It had become Egypt's most
cosmopolitan city. It combined a strong local identity based on deep-rooted traditions
with a remarkable absorptive capacity to tolerate other people' diverse beliefs and
Figure 11 the ruins of Ramses II's palace
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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practice". Mit Rahina was trades spot where was located near the apex of the Delta
controlling all major routes for internal trade as well as foreign commerce. “Memphis
was visited by merchants and traders”. (Jeffrey, 2001, p. 373) (Kamel, 1985, p. 26)
Vision
Mit Rahina becomes an actual open air museum as to be the most well-preserved ancient
Egyptian site in Egypt. Resulted in its cultural heritage significance, the site is well-known
for the local community and promoted in a worldwide range. It is a place generating
revenues from gathering creative multi-purpose uses - e.g. the archaeological actions - like
Field Schools and a museum in particular events. It is considered the most important case
study for scholars.
Mission
An archaeological site Mit Rahina has a strong leadership committee which guides site crew
towards a controlled administration that ensuring a good visitation for tourists,moreover,
raising the awareness of the local community for the site significance as able to participate -
in a voluntarily way - in either formal or informal activities.
Objectives
1. Providing the tourists with a wide range of knowledge-based experiences.
2. Promoting and conserving the archaeological components.
3. Opening more Mit Rahina-related job opportunities for the local young people.
4. Matching among an education and the heritage village of Mit Rahina.
5. Maximizing the security system to mitigate the vandalism and the encroachments.
6. Communicating between the local community and the administration staff of the site.
7. Encouraging the young ones to share in leadership initiatives and planning activities.
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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Situation Analysis (SWOT)
A- Strengths
1. Historical and Heritage Significance
2. Authenticity
3. Archaeological Function
4. In-situ
5. Large Carrying Capacity
6. Owning High Information
7. Easy to access
B- Weaknesses
1. Tourism Facilities
2. Limited financing
3. Administrative conflicts
4. Lack of co-operation
5. Circulation restrictions
6. No-formal boundaries
7. More deteriorations
8. Lack of Maintenance and conservation
C- Opportunities
1. Attractiveness
2. Place of activities and Cultural events
3. Picnic spot for the local community
Figure 12 An Inappropriate way of Conservation,
the Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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4. Museum
5. Great Open Air exhibition
D- Threats
1- Intensified Irrigation Water
2- Illegal Urban Development
Figure 13 Impact of the Intensified Irrigation Water in the Base-
level Soil, the great temple of god Ptah
Source:
http://www.ikziezegliefen.nl/index.php?option=com_joomga
llery&view=image&format=raw&id=529&type=img
Figure 14 an illegal urban development, the Embalming House of Apis
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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3- Visual Pollution
4- Illegal urban-related problem such as Rubbish and bad sewage system (see fig. 14)
Figure 15 The Visual Pollution, the current museum
Source
:
https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-
9/10369602_394398077367076_2882059055044733404_n.jpg
Figure 16 the sewage water fills the embalming bed's basin, the embalming
house of Apis`
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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5- The growth of the grasses on the archaeological components
Strategies and Action Plans
Strategic Priorities for Two Years
S. 1. Enhancing tourism sector in Mit Rahina to increase the site revenue
1. Maximizing tourism attractions as the site becomes in the priority of tourism itineraries.
Responsibility: Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Activation Association, Tourism
Companies and Mit Rahina Site Crew
2. Concerning on archaeological components and an intangible heritage – as a safe place -
as a marketing part.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Tourism Activation Association, Ministry of
Tourism, Tourism Companies, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage,
and Ministry of Interior
Figure 17 the tiny chapel of King Seti I
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 18 the ruins of King Ramses II's palace
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Page 13
3. Founding a local tourism interpretation association.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Tourism Activation Association, Ministry of
Tourism and Tourism Companies.
4. Promoting and recognizing the cultural heritage through the development of a heritage
preservation and conservation.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Tourism Activation Association, Ministry of
Tourism, Tourism Companies and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage
S. 2. Maximizing the safety environment within Mit Rahina
1. Reconstructing an enclosure wall around the remained site’s attributes specifically
surrounding Kom el-Arba’in and Kom el-Fakhry.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, the municipality of Mit Rahina village,
Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage, and Ministry of Interior.
2. Improving the mitigation plan of vandalism.
Responsibility: Ministry of Interior
3. Measuring the safety percentage annually.
Responsibility: Ministry of Interior and the municipality of Mit Rahina village
Figure 19 part of the site's enclosure wall
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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4. Implementing an annual committee to identify the official boundaries of the
archaeological site in either core zone or buffer zone regarding to new archaeological
discoveries.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage, the
municipality of Mit Rahina village, and Ministry of Interior
5. Preparing programs that are suitable for the young ones who display the alternative
options to an antisocial behavior which decreasing through more intensive
symposium and practical anthropological workshops.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Interior
S. 3. Raising the awareness of the local behavior
1. Organizing culture workshops for the local community.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of high
education, Ministry of education, and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage.
2. Receipting the under-12 ages boys and besides, other young teenagers during summer
vacations in the site implementing a special education program and other volunteered
programs.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of high
education, Ministry of education, and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage.
3. Enhancing the participation of the young people in the periodic committee of the site
rising up their awareness for the site value.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, the young people of Mit Rahina village,
Ministry of high education, and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage.
4. The site crew share with the Mit Rahina local community in the local events such as
traditional festivals, feasts and celebrations within reactivating the methods of
celebrating e.g. Sham el-Naseem.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Tourism Activation Association, Ministry of
Tourism, Ministry of Culture
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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5. Matching among the local people and the site through opening the tourism-related job
opportunities and enhancing the handicrafts-related jobs.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, The municipality of Mit Rahina village,
Tourism Activation Association, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Ministry
of Antiquities and Heritage, and Ministry of Interior
S. 4. Conserving the archaeological site
1. Using a low-flow irrigation system for the cultivated activities in Mit Rahina instead
of the flood regime
1
, and besides, establishing the mobile elements to prevent totally
the effect of irrigation water.
Responsibility: Ministry of Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture, the municipality of
Mit Rahina village, Mit Rahina Site Director, Ministry of Environment Affairs and
Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage.
2. Controlling the visitors’ number and timing of visitation inside the site, moreover,
transferring the wooden bazaars to other appropriate locations where are near to the
site that to set the site’s carrying capacity.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Antiquities
and Heritage and Ministry of Interior.
1
So, the high amount of drainage water can be lessened and consequently, the percentage of salinity and humidity
will be decreased, besides that; the erosion may be stopped.
Figure 20 The Wooden Bazaars in Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Source:
https://weepingredorger.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc09659.jpg?w=58
4&h=328
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Page 16
3. Creating the reduction measures to lessen the effects of illegal urban development.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, the municipality of Mit Rahina village,
Ministry of Housing Utilities & Urban Communities and Ministry of Interior.
4. Conserving the current damaged areas or the bad conserved architectural elements in
an appropriate way of maintenance and conservation that using a traditional plaster
instead of cement in the conservation of the archaeological elements (see fig. 12).
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage
5. Controlling the growth of the grasses on the archaeological attributes
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew, Ministry of Environment Affairs, Ministry of
Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage
6. Requesting the assistance of the advisor bodies - the conservation institutions and
organizations – such as ICCROM, ICOMOS …etc.
Responsibility: Mit Rahina Site Crew and Ministry of Antiquities and Heritage
Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
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Bibliography
- AERAGRAM. (2012). Memphis, a City Unseen: Joint AERA-ARCE-EES Beginners
Field School. AERAGRAM, 13(01).
- Bunson, M. R. (2002). Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. New York.
- Jeffrey, D. G. (2001). Memphis. In D. Redford, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient
Egypt (Vol. II). Cairo.
- Kamel, J. (1985, July/August). Archaeologists Revive Interest in a Famous Egyptian Site.
Archaeology, 38(4), pp. 25-32.
- Malek, J., & Baines, J. (2000). Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt. New York.
- Mohamed Fathy Mansor (2014, August 12). Mit Rahina, Strategic Plan for an
Archaeological Site. (Mohamed Badry Kamel, Interviewer)
- Porter, B., & Moss, R. L. (1994). Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian
Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs and Paintings (Vols. III-2.2). Oxford.