introduction of strategic planning for heritage site : ancient town memphis (mit rahina)

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


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)


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)


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


Figure 6 Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenemhat II



3- The Great Temple of God Ptah

Figure 7 Temple of God Ptah

Source: http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/77/Memphis200401.JPG

4- The Temple of Sycamore goddess Hathor

Figure 8 Temple of Goddess Hathor


http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/77/Memphis200401.JPG


5- The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I

Figure 9 The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I


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

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2009/10/27/animal_mummies_001_slide-b8cf399d72b9a286719c91c6b5144d9abfc74b98-s6-c30.jpg

http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2009/10/27/animal_mummies_001_slide-b8cf399d72b9a286719c91c6b5144d9abfc74b98-s6-c30.jpg


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



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.


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



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


http://www.ikziezegliefen.nl/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&view=image&format=raw&id=529&type=img

http://www.ikziezegliefen.nl/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&view=image&format=raw&id=529&type=img


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`


https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10369602_394398077367076_2882059055044733404_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/10369602_394398077367076_2882059055044733404_n.jpg


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


Figure 18 the ruins of King Ramses II's palace



3. Founding a local tourism interpretation association.


Tourism and Tourism Companies.

4. Promoting and recognizing the cultural heritage through the development of a heritage

preservation and conservation.


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



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.


Tourism, Ministry of Culture


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 regime1, 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

https://weepingredorger.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc09659.jpg?w=584&h=328

https://weepingredorger.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc09659.jpg?w=584&h=328


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


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.

introduction of strategic planning for heritage site : ancient town memphis (mit rahina)

Documents