Cave church of Saint Paul Monastery, Egypt

Infinite space. A single point traveling through that space, forever, and its experiences along the way.

These three basic concepts were symbolized in ancient Egypt by three separate Deities.

There is Nut, a blue goddess arched for love, bending over like the night sky. At the core of Nut is found Hadit, a globe with wings, seen in later forms attached to a staff with two intertwined serpents climbing it (the caduceus wand of Mercury/ Hermes/ Thoth). Energizing the devoted ardour of Hadit is Ra Hoor Khuit, the hawk-headed Lord of Force and Fire, who symbolized every possible interaction between the point and infinite space.

These deities are primordial forces of nature as well as parts of the psychological makeup of every human being, according to their wisdom. Interesting.

Egypt's artifacts pretty much trump everybody else's in the world. You've got the heavy hitters of archaeology here -- the Great Pyramid, (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world); the Sphinx, the statue of Ramses II, and ancient temples left and right!

The Basilica of Ptolemy, Chapel of Horus (sun god) and of course, the tomb of King Tutankhamen, and don't forget the Nile river, longest in the world, running through it all.

Text by Steve Smith.