A tomb inscription of the military commander Pepynakht Heqalb, who served under King Pepy II (2278-2184 BC) of the Sixth Dynasty, narrates how Heqalb was sent to "the land of the Aamu" to retrieve the body of the warden of Kekhen. (Hans Bernhard/ CC BY SA 3.0 )įourth Dynasty reliefs show a Puntite with one of Khufu’s sons, and Fifth Dynasty documents demonstrate trade between the two countries. The Mythical Land of Punt – Will ‘God’s Land’ Ever Be Found?Įgyptian expedition to Punt during the reign of Hatshepsut.Where Was the Mysterious Kingdom of Yam?.Out for War or A Shopping Trip? Why Hatshepsut Traveled to the Kingdom of Punt.2498-2345 BC) witnessed Egypt’s flourishing through trade with Punt Land. 3150-2613 BC) trade was firmly established with regions in Mesopotamia and Phoenicia. Debates started as to the origins of the pharaohs and the location of Punt Land.Įgypt grew as a nation with trade that increased in the latter part of the Pre-Dynastic Period (c. After Jean-Francois Champollion deciphered the pharaoh’s hieroglyphics in 1822 AD, western scholars began reading the texts. Punt Land is described in ancient Egyptian texts as the "Land of the Gods" and a region rich in resources. The following is a step in the direction of exploring the pharaohs’ roots and establishing a trip along history and time.Ĭarved cedar sculpture of the head of Hathor. Queen Hatshepsut's temple inscriptions at Luxor reveal that her divine mother, Hathor, was from Punt - with strong indications that the pharaohs considered the origin of their culture to be Punt Land.
However, the pharaohs’ true origins are not told and our literature is lacking adequate information.
The climb involves rock hopping, scrambling over boulders and steep drops that, in my opinion, make the views from the summit all the more rewarding.Tourists from all over the world are welcomed in Upper Egypt to admire temples and learn about the fascinating history of ancient pharaohs.
The hike to the summit is not for the fainthearted and is appropriately rated 5/5 in terms of difficulty.
The track continues northwards undulating with the plateau’s pristine streams and lakes to the base of the Cradle Mountain. Starting from Dove Lake the track climbs steeply up to Marion’s lookout which is a perfect spot to catch your breath, strip off some layers and gain a new found appreciation of the landscape from the higher vantage point. The climb to the summit offers the most scenic views and passes through the widest range of environments but should only be attempted by well-equipped, experienced walkers (allow up to 8 hours return). The walk is best completed in a clockwise direction, passing under the shadow of Cradle Mountain through stands of ancient pines, past the iconic boat shed before returning to the starting point. The Dove Lak Circuit takes 2 hours is a great introductory walk that leaves right from the Dove Lake car park. With one look at Cradle Mountain it comes as no surprise that it was listed in 1982 as an area of world significance due to its unsurpassed natural beauty and pristine wilderness. The jagged contours of the Cradle Mountain summit loom high above the surrounding alpine lakes dominating the landscape.