Qinā - Qinā

Mosque in Qinā
Qinā · Qena · ‏قنا‎
GovernorateQinā
Residents
201.191 (2006)
height
80 m
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location
Location map of Egypt
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Qinā

Qina or Qena (also Qene, Kena, Kina, Arabic:قنا‎, Qinā / Qunā, spoken dialectically Ginā or Inā) is the capital of the Upper Egyptian Governorates Qinā. About 207,000 inhabitants live in it (2006). The city is an important traffic junction, but hardly developed in terms of tourism.

background

location

The Nile curves in the area of ​​Qinā (English: Qena Bend) and now flows for about 60 kilometers from east to west. The city is located on the north bank of the Nile and is divided by a canal that runs about 1.5 kilometers further north. 5 kilometers southwest of the city on the other bank of the river is the temple of Dendera. It begins northeast of the city Wādī Qināin which today's road to Safāgā was created.

The city is located 25 and 61 kilometers north of Qifṭ (Koptos) resp. Luxor and 92 kilometers east of el-Balyanāto the train station Abydos.

history

Similar to the case of the city to the south Qifṭ maybe in Pharaonic times there was a starting point for desert expeditions to the gold mines. However, there is no evidence of a settlement at this point in pre-Ptolemaic (pre-Greek) times. The finds in the area of ​​the city such as steles and an alabaster lid from the time of Pepis I.[1] do not originally come from here.[2]

In Ptolemaic times, the city of Kainopolis (also Kaine, Caene, Greek Καινή πόλις, "New city"), which in Roman times, at least at the end of the 3rd century AD, was called Maximianopolis. The Copts call the city Ⲕⲱⲛⲏ, Kōnē, from which the Arabic name developed. In the third century, George of Cyprus mentioned the diocese of Qinā.[3]

For a long time the city stood in the shadow of the city Qūṣ in the south. With the death of Saint ʿAdb er-Raḥīm in 1196, it increasingly developed into a place of pilgrimage, and more and more Muslims settled there. Now the city has also become the starting point for caravan routes to the Red Sea el-Quṣeir, mainly for Mecca pilgrims, and increasingly replaced the old route from Qūṣ to ʿAidhāb. The flow of goods between Europe, Arabia and India was handled via this route. Even at the time of Muḥammad ʿAlī, namely 1831–1833, the slopes were expanded and the wells deepened.

The city has been the district capital since 1883, and the provincial capital from 1890.

In 1928 Qinā had a population of 23,357[4], 1986 119.917, 1996 155.382 and 2006 201.191[5].

The city was known for the production of ceramic items such as porous clay bottles (Qulla, Arabic:قلة ), In which the water can be kept pleasantly cool. There is a base for the Egyptian Air Force in the eastern desert.

Similar to Sōhāg, Asyūṭ and el-Minyā After the attacks in the 1990s, the city became insignificant for tourism. There have been great efforts in recent years to upgrade the cityscape.

Islamic saint

In the city will ʿAbd er-Raḥīm [el-Qināwī] (Arabic:عبد الرحيم القناوي) Venerated. ʿAdb er-Raḥīm b. Aḥmad b. Ḥaǧǧūn was at Ceuta in Morocco born and came from the family of Ǧaʿfar eṣ-Ṣadīq (around 700–737 AD). After a trip to Mecca, where he spent seven years, he settled in Qinā, where he lived on the 9th of Ṣafar 592 AH (January 13, 1196) died. His life of renunciation later made him one of the most important Muslim saints in Egypt.

Kriss and Kriss-Heinrich describe the legend of the saint: Already old and weak, ʿAdb er-Raḥīm ventured on a pilgrimage to Mecca around 1196. From Qinā he wanted to go el-Quṣeir travel on along the Red Sea. His strength left him on the way through the desert, he crawled on all fours, later on on his stomach. Finally he begged the wind to tell the prophet that he had done his best but was now stuck. The Prophet then told him to return to Qinā because the will also counted. The saint died in Qinā. Shortly before his death the prophet appeared and blessed him.

His grave is now in the mosque named after him. Again and again you see pilgrims walking around his grave in awe, just as we know it from Mecca.

orientation

The railway line runs directly in the south of the canal. The outcome of the 1 Qinā Railway Station(26 ° 9 '43 "N.32 ° 43 '39 "E.) is also located in the south and leads to the 1 Bahnhofsplatz(26 ° 9 '42 "N.32 ° 43 '36 "E.), Arabic:ميدان المحطة‎, Mīdān al-Maḥaṭṭa, which also houses the New Palace Hotel and a gas station. El-Gumhūriya St. now leads south, which after about 500 meters leads to another square, the 2 Mīdān es-Sāʿa(26 ° 9 ′ 31 ″ N.32 ° 43 '18 "E), Arabic:ميدان الساعة), Leads. The 26 July St. (Arabic:شارع 26 يوليو), A southern parallel street is El-Shahid Mustafa Kamil St. (Arabic:شارع الشهيد مصطفى كامل). There is another about 1.5 kilometers to the west 3 place. From here a road leads directly to the Nile and the 4 Nile bridge(26 ° 8 '56 "N.32 ° 42 ′ 6 ″ E), Arabic:كوبري دندرة‎, Kūbrī Dandara, „Dendera Bridge“About which one Dendera can reach. A railway bridge crosses the Nile about 2 kilometers west of the Dendera Bridge.

To the west and east of the station building, flyovers lead over the railroad tracks and the canal. The is about 400 meters northwest of the train station 5 Tomb mosque of Sheikh ʿAdb er-Raḥīm el-Qināwī(26 ° 9 '55 "N.32 ° 43 '34 "E.).

getting there

In the street

City map of Qinā

Qinā is located on Highway 2 from Cairo to Aswan. In Qinā there is a branch onto trunk road 77 Safāgā.

By bus

Qinā is a transportation hub with buses to Cairo, Luxor, Sue and to the resorts on Red sea how Hurghada, Safāgā, el-Quṣeir and Marsā ʿAlam. Bus connections to the northern cities such as Sōhāg does not exist, but service taxis can be used here.

Simple buses are through Upper Egypt Travel served. In addition, there are faster buses from SuperJet in the evening at 7 and 8 a.m. to Cairo.

The 2 Bus station(26 ° 9 '35 "N.32 ° 41 ′ 50 ″ E) including the train station for service taxis in the direction Nag 'Hammadi is to the west outside the city. Another 3 Microbus station(26 ° 10 ′ 1 ″ N.32 ° 43 '39 "E.) in the direction of Nag Hammadi is 250 meters north of the Abd-er-Rahim mosque.

By train

Qinā is on the railway line Cairo–Aswan. The 4 Qina Railway Station(26 ° 9 '43 "N.32 ° 43 '39 "E.) is located on the south side of the track system.

While you usually have no problems choosing the train when traveling from the north, in Luxor you will only issue tickets for the so-called "protected trains".

The departure times given below are only intended as a guide.

From Cairo trains run as follows (train numbers in brackets): 0:15 (1902), 1:00 (934), 7:00 (866), 8:00 (980), 12:00 (982), 13:00 (986 ), 19:00 (988), 19:15 (88, sleeping car), 20:30 (82, sleeping car), 21:00 (886), 21:15 (976), 22:00 (2000), 22: 15 (996) and 23:00 (2002). Trains from Qinā to Cairo leave at 0:10 (977), 0:45 (89, sleeping cars), 1:10 (87, sleeping cars), 1:50 (989), 5:15 (2003), 6:55 ( 987), 9:33 (981), 11:40 (983), 14:00 (935), 18:30 (867), 19:10 (887), 20:15 (1903), 21:00 (977 ), 21:25 (83, sleeping car), 22:05 (2001) and 23:30 (85, sleeping car). The travel time is around 8 to 9 hours.

The 9:33 (981) train also stops at el-Balyāna, the train station to the temple of Abydos.

From Luxor Trains run as follows (train numbers in brackets): 00:10 (87, sleeping cars), 08:30 (981), 19:20 (1903), 20:30 (83, sleeping cars) and 23:10 (997). Trains from Qinā to Luxor leave at 3:10 (988), 4:47 (88, sleeper), 5:00 (84, sleeper), 5:15 (82, sleeper), 5:30 (886), 5: 40 (976), 5:50 (86, sleeper), 6:05 (2000), 6:25 (996), 7:20 (2002), 8:30 (1902), 9:20 (934), 16 : 40 (980), 20:51 (982) and at 21:50 (986). The journey time is approx. 1 hour.

Qinā is also on the railway line el-Chārga–Qinā–Luxorwhich is only operated once a week. On Thursdays the trains from Luxor to el-Chārga leave Luxor at 8:00 a.m., on Fridays from el-Chārga to Luxor also at 8:00 a.m. The fare for the entire route is LE 12 and the journey time is approx. Seven hours.

In any case, check the day before whether the train is really moving. It may well happen that the route is silted up and therefore impassable.

mobility

In the city, a bridge over the Nile connects both banks of the river and provides access to Dendera.

There are numerous taxis in the city. A trip to Dendera costs around LE 20.

Tourist Attractions

In the north of the city, north of the canal and about 400 meters northwest of the train station, is the modern one 6 Burial mosque of Sheikh ʿAbd er-Raḥīm el-Qenāwī(26 ° 9 '55 "N.32 ° 43 '34 "E.), Arabic:ضريح الشيخ عبد الرحيم القناوي‎, Ḍarīḥ al-Sheikh ʿAbd ar-Raḥīm al-Qināwī. To the right of the entrance is a large, slim minaret. The saint's tomb is located in a side chapel and is framed with a brass grille.

500 meters west of Mīdān es-Sāʿa is the 7 Nāṣir Mosque(26 ° 9 ′ 29 ″ N.32 ° 43 ′ 0 ″ E), Arabic:مسجد ناصر‎, Masǧid Nāṣir.

In the future there will be a Archaeological Museum, which is dedicated to pre- and early dynastic history, enrich the range of sights. Finds from the Nile Valley, the Nile Delta and the Libyan Desert are to be presented. The finds from Helwan / Maadi should be a highlight.[6]

activities

The most important festival is the Mulid of the ʿAdb er-Raḥīm el-Qenāwī († 1196). The week-long festival begins on the 7th of Sha'ban and ends on the 14th of Sha'ban, about two weeks before the fasting month of Ramadan. On the first days, the pilgrims come to the saint's mosque. On the last day, starting at 9 a.m., an all-day procession moves through the city and into the desert, in front a wooden box representing the coffin of the saint on a richly decorated camel. The goal is a large cemetery on the edge of the desert, namely the tomb of the Prophet el-Yūschaʿ. Here some participants roll through the sacred sand. Then it goes back to the mosque of the saint.

Every year on March 8th the Governorate Festival commemorating the battles against the Napoleonic forces in 1799.

The biggest 1 Stadion(26 ° 9 ′ 46 ″ N.32 ° 43 '49 "E.) the city is north of the canal and the train station. Another one 2 Stadion(26 ° 9 '37 "N.32 ° 42 ′ 45 ″ E) is located north of July 26th St. approximately 600 meters east of the public hospital.

kitchen

Restaurants and cafes can mainly be found on El-Gumhoriya St., 23 of July St. and 26 of July St..

Restaurants

  • El Prince Restaurant, El Gomhouriya St.. Grill restaurant.
  • Hamdi restaurant, El Gomhouriya St. (South end of the street). Grill restaurant.
  • 2  Royal Fish (‏مطعم رويال فيش‎, Maṭʿam Rūyāl Fish), 26 of July St., ‏شارع 26 يوليو‎. Royal Fish on Facebook.Fish restaurant.Open: Daily 1pm - 11pm.(26 ° 9 ′ 27 ″ N.32 ° 42 ′ 29 ″ E)

Cafes

  • 3  Family Cafe (‏فاميلي كافية‎, Fāmīlī Kāfīya), Mostafa camel St., ‏شارع مصطفى كامل‎ (in the Family Mall). Mobile: 20 (0)100 011 6113.Family Cafe on Facebook.Cafeteria.Open: 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., daily.(26 ° 9 ′ 29 ″ N.32 ° 43 '8 "E)

Accommodations

Although Qinā is a provincial capital, there are only a few hotels here, and most of them are of the lowest standard. If you only plan a day trip, you will probably want to go to the hotels in Luxor To fall back on.

Cheap

  • 4  Grand Hotel (‏فندق جراند‎, Funduq Grānd), El Gomhoureya St., ‏شارع الجمهورية‎ (in the city center, about 200 m further the sister hotel "Dream"). Tel.: 20 (0)96 336 4868, (0)96 336 4349, Mobile: 20 (0)106 107 1888, (0)106 142 4701. By no means a grand hotel, but a somewhat noisy 2-star hotel in a shopping mall. The rooms are located around a central atrium like an arbor, some without outside exposure. Room tiny, but clean and fully furnished. Inexpensive. No credit cards. Due to the lack of foreign tourism, the staff speaks almost no English, but in the big city you can quickly find someone who likes to translate.(26 ° 9 '37 "N.32 ° 43 '27 "E.)
  • 5  El Hamd Hotel (‏فندق الحمد‎, Funduq al-Ḥamd), Masnaa El Ghazl St., El Shoaoun, Shark district, ‏شارع مصنع الغزل ، الشئون ، حي شرق‎. Tel.: 20 (0)96 521 0640. Rooms with air conditioning and refrigerator.(26 ° 10 ′ 27 ″ N.32 ° 43 '53 "E)

medium

  • 6  Basma Hotel (‏فندق بسمة‎, Funduq Basma, formerly Hathor Hotel), El Minaa El Nahry St., ‏شارع الميناء النهري‎ (on the Nile, At Taramsah). Tel.: 20 (0)96 534 8941, Mobile: 20 (0)100 075 5415, (0)100 075 5416, Fax: 20 (0)96 533 2779, Email: . Corresponds to a 3-star hotel in a good location. The most upscale hotel in town, but overpriced (about 15 times the cheap hotels). With 36 rooms with TV, air conditioning and refrigerator. Hotel has a large swimming pool.Price: EZ 94 USD, Double room 105 USD, Suite 150 USD (as of 12/2016).(26 ° 8 '52 "N.32 ° 42 '42 "E)

Learn

1  South Valley University (‏جامعة جنوب الوادي‎, Ǧāmiʿat Ǧanūb al-Wādī). South Valley University in the Wikipedia encyclopediaSouth Valley University (Q7568730) in the Wikidata database.The beginnings of the university, whose headquarters are in Qinā, go back to 1970. Today Qinā has faculties of science and engineering, education, economics, agriculture, law, humanities and social sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine. In 2007/2008 there were 42,000 students enrolled here. There are further branches of the university in Luxor (humanities and social sciences), Aswan (natural and engineering sciences, educational sciences) and Hurghada (educational sciences).(26 ° 11 '32 "N.32 ° 44 '43 "E)

health

North of the Dendera Bridge is that 2 public hospital(26 ° 9 '32 "N.32 ° 42 '25 "E), Arabic:مستشفى العام‎, Mustashfā al-ʿĀmm.

Practical advice

As usual, banks and post offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every day except Friday. On 26 July St. there is the Banque du Caire and the Bank of Alexandria.

trips

  • A few kilometers southwest of Qinā is the Hathor Temple of Dendera.
  • Well worth a visit to the old town of Qūṣ.
  • It starts in the east of the city Wadi Hammamat.

Further goals are in the article on the governorate Qinā listed.

literature

  • Wiet, Gaston: Ḳunā. In:Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (Ed.): The Encyclopaedia of Islam: Second Edition; Vol. 5: Khe - Mahi. Suffer: Brill, 1986, ISBN 978-90-04-07819-2 , P. 369.
  • Kriss, Rudolf; Kriss-Heinrich, Hubert: Popular belief in the area of ​​Islam; 1: Pilgrimage and veneration of saints. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1960, Pp. 106–109, figs. 43, 44.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑Porter, Bertha; Moss, Rosalind L. B.: Upper egypt: sites. In:Topographical bibliography of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic texts, statues, reliefs, and paintings; Vol.5. Oxford: Griffith Inst., Ashmolean Museum, 1937, ISBN 978-0-900416-83-5 , P. 122; PDF.
  2. ↑Legally, Horst: Qene. In:Helck, Wolfgang; Westendorf, Wolfhart (Ed.): Lexicon of Egyptology; Vol. 5: Building a pyramid - stone vessels. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1984, ISBN 978-3-447-02489-1 , Col. 48.
  3. ↑Steward, Randal: Qina. In:Atiya, Aziz Suryal (Ed.): The Coptic Encyclopedia; Vol. 3: Cros - Ethi. new York: Macmillan, 1991, ISBN 978-0-02-897026-4 , P. 2040.
  4. ↑Baedeker, Karl: Egypt and the Sûdan: Handbook for Travelers. Leipzig: Baedeker, 1928 (8th edition), P. 224.
  5. ↑Egypt: Governorates & Major Cities, citypopulation.de, accessed March 30, 2016
  6. ↑Kamil, Jill: A new look at prehistory (Archived version of June 23, 2010 in the Internet Archive archive.org), Article in the Al-Ahram Weekly dated June 17, 2010.
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