When were horses first introduced to ancient Egyptians? What breeds made their way into Egyptian lands? How were horses perceived by ancient Egyptians and how were they incorporated into their lives? What roles did horses play? Are the horses depicted on the walls of tombs and temples representative of the Arabian breed?
Author Archives: Rania Elsayed
Escaping the Massacre
The Mamluk who escaped the Citadel’s massacre plotted by Mohamed Ali, the then newly appointed viceroy, fueled the imagination of artists, novelists, and historians.
Omar Sharif and His Career in Horse breeding
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A year ago I started posting videos and shorts on YouTube. My aim is to present my intellectual production and other educational material in an audio-visual format that suits a wide range of interests and age groups. Subscribe and share to stay updated on all the videos I post. I will continue to post articles here as well so make sure to follow my blog. It will contain more detailed and exclusive material.
The Artistic Legacy of the Last Caliph
Play this audio file to listen to my article! It might come as a surprise to many that painting and playing music were practiced in a dynasty that claimed the Caliphate with all the religious symbolism it entailed. So much so that conservative Muslims would even frown upon this historical fact and deny it altogether.Continue reading “The Artistic Legacy of the Last Caliph”
Wegdan El Barbary: History in Photographs
Dani never ceased to teach beginners about the Arabian horse. She would talk incessantly all day long about breeding, the heritage and culture of the Arabian horse, the industrialization and monetization of what she dubbed the Pyramid of the Arabian Peninsula.
The Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
The celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II brought to my mind the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in which Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik had participated.In his book ‘Breeding of Pure Arabian Horses‘, the Prince wrote: “…and I am proud to say that at Queen Victoria’s Jubilee I made a sensational appearanceContinue reading “The Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II”
Wegdan El Barbary in Her Own Words
Wegdan El Barbary is an Egyptian legend recognised in the equestrian and the Arabian horse worlds. This is a short article featuring her life-long career.
Al-Mirmah through the Eyes of a Cairene Woman (Part I)
Being wildly passionate about horses and equestrian traditions, I decided to travel to Upper Egypt to explore and photograph its equestrian tradition, known as al-Mirmah. For more than a decade, I have been writing about horses and history of veterinary sciences and Islamic equitation in addition to photographing horses. Yet I have never attempted, notContinue reading “Al-Mirmah through the Eyes of a Cairene Woman (Part I)”
Qualities of The Arabian Horse in Arabic Manuscripts (Part I)
“Don’t let the beauty of a horse fool you, my exalted sultan… fine looks do not indicate a sound character”, he said. One day Salahuddin summoned his courtiers, dignitaries of state, and commanders of his stables. He had been on a mission of fetching the finest of horses required for his military campaigns. And forContinue reading “Qualities of The Arabian Horse in Arabic Manuscripts (Part I)”
The Horse in Word and Picture 