By: Rowaida Mahmoud
Social media users spoke last week about circulating news about paving the Pyramid of Menkaure, Erdoğan’s visit to Egypt and Valentine’s Day.
Paving Pyramid of Menkaure rejected
After a news circulated regarding paving the Pyramid of Menkaure, a Scientific Committee headed by archaeologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawas rejected the project.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa received the report of the six-expert committee that was tasked with examining the renovation project.
All members of the committee did not agree to reinstall hundreds of granite blocks to form the outer casing of the Pyramid of Menkaure.
The structure was originally covered in 16 courses of granite blocks but only seven remain today.
The committee said it is impossible to know for sure the exact place of these granite blocks to reinstall them around the pyramid.
The pyramid was constructed as a monumental tomb of the fourth dynasty pharaoh Menkaure around 2510 BC, to an original height of 65.5 metres (215 feet). It now stands at 61m (200 feet) tall.
Experts believe the unfinished nature of the granite cladding indicates that king Menkaure died before the structure was finished, and his son completed the stonework.
Erdoğan visits Egypt
This week, President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Amina Erdoğan paid a visit to Egypt. The visit came after more than a decade of fractured relations.
President Abdel Fattah Sisi and his Turkish counterpart Erdoğan agreed on the necessity of reaching an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
A high-level Strategic Co-operation Council between Egypt and Türkiye was signed.
Sisi noted it was agreed to raise the level of trade exchange between the two countries to $15 billion over the next few years.
President El Sisi also accompanied Erdoğan on a visit to Imam Shafi’I Mosque in Cairo.
Erdoğan expressed his happiness at visiting Cairo’s historic and Islamic landmarks, stressing his great pride in the civilisation of the Egyptian people.
Valentine’s Day
Every year on February 14, lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day, so let’s know the story of this special day.
The most common tale behind this day is that during the 3rd century AD, there was a Saint called Valentine who lived in Rome and one day, a Roman emperor detained him as Valentine married Christian lovers to each other.
This was his crime as the emperor Claudius II banned marriage at that time, believing that some youth stopped performing military duty due to it.
Another tale revealed that the Saint was passing messages among imprisoned Christians.
Before his execution, he had left a message to a woman, so giving love cards became a habit in that day.
Valentine was executed on February 14 around 270 AD.
The connection between Valentine Day and the red colour is that soldiers threw flowers on St.Valentine to celebrate their marriage and to appreciate his effort. Red colour has many significances in all cultures.
In eastern communities, it symbolises progress, good luck and happiness
Lovers in that day bought gifts to each other to express their feelings.
Cote d’Ivoire claims AFCON
The host Cote D’Ivoire claimed third Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
Sebastien Haller proved the hero, scoring the winning goal from the end. Eight years after their last title, Cote d’Ivoire reign again as kings of Africa.
The hosts looked doomed after William Troost-Ekong’s first half opener goal for Nigeria made the host Elephants sweat. However, Frank Kessie levelled right after the break before Haller sparked ecstatic scenes by firing the late winner.
