12/2/08
4/29/08
The "Light" on Shahrzad Alabaster Factory
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Most tourists like to visit the Alabaster factory after their visit to the sacred sites on the West Bank and we show you how the alabaster has been worked since the times of Ancient Egypt.
As you can imagine it is a long time since the ancient Egyptians began to work with alabaster, but our Egyptian artisans have not lost the knowledge of how to work with this material.
Mary Magdalene was known to be "The Lady with the Alabaster Jar", this being the jar that carried the oil that she anointed the Master Jesus with before his crucifixion. This oil was used for many ages before to this for the anointing of a King prior to his death and burial to be united with the Goddess (Mother Earth). This tradition pre-dates back to the time of Isis, the sister bride of the god Osiris. 
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I work in Al Shahrzad Alabaster Factory when I am not helping the tourists as a guide. The factory belongs to Ali Mohamed Ali and my brother Abdul Omar Mohamed. We are located in El Qurna, on the West Bank of Luxor very close to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens.
Most tourists like to visit the Alabaster factory after their visit to the sacred sites on the West Bank and we show you how the alabaster has been worked since the times of Ancient Egypt.
The Alabaster factories are the source of employment for many families and most factories are family run businesses. From the managers to the artisans and the sellers we rely heavily on tourist business.
As you can imagine it is a long time since the ancient Egyptians began to work with alabaster, but our Egyptian artisans have not lost the knowledge of how to work with this material. .
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Alabaster is still the most important factor of the economy in Egypt, it is still a characteristic of our culture and our history. There aren’t many artisans left "knowing how to handle" Alabaster, so it’s up to our craftsmen like those working here in Shahrzad Alabaster Factory in Qurna, on the West bank of Luxor to preserve this age old tradition so it is not lost to future generations.
Alabaster is still the most important factor of the economy in Egypt, it is still a characteristic of our culture and our history. There aren’t many artisans left "knowing how to handle" Alabaster, so it’s up to our craftsmen like those working here in Shahrzad Alabaster Factory in Qurna, on the West bank of Luxor to preserve this age old tradition so it is not lost to future generations.
We have two types of Alabaster, one that belongs to the family of gypsum, which is used for the handmade procucts and the much harder stone which is similar to marble and is used for machine made products. 
But it's not just alabaster that we have here in our factory. We have many other carved products of the Ancient Egyptian Pharoahs and the gods that the ancient Egyptians used to worship. The products in the factory are of the highest quality unlike some of the pieces you will find in market stalls. .
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Every piece of alabaster is different, so purchasing a piece of alabaster means you receive a unique piece that has a personality of its own.
The alabaster is mined in quarries about 30-50 kms outside Luxor.
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For those that are spiritually minded you might be interested to know that the Ascension temples were built of Alabaster, because the ancient Egyptians believed it was the stone of the sun gods. Even the sarcophagi were built with the harder variety of alabaster. The qualities of alabaster draw you very much along your spiritual path directing you upward toward God. If you light a candle inside an alabaster jar you are setting the intention of keeping the flame alight for your personal spiritual progress. This is especially so for the "white alabaster".
Mary Magdalene was known to be "The Lady with the Alabaster Jar", this being the jar that carried the oil that she anointed the Master Jesus with before his crucifixion. This oil was used for many ages before to this for the anointing of a King prior to his death and burial to be united with the Goddess (Mother Earth). This tradition pre-dates back to the time of Isis, the sister bride of the god Osiris. 
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Many of the early Christian churches were decorated with alabaster and even today you will find many altars in the Egyptian churches made of alabaster. 
With the arrival of Islam the tradition carried over and the famous Mohammed Ali’s Alabaster Mosque at the Citadel is named because the outside of the mosque is covered with the stone.
Luxor is said to be Heaven on Earth according to spiritual believers because of the Ascension Retreat that is said to be held in the etheric (invisible realms) above Luxor. If this is the case then isn't it any wonder that the alabaster is said to have such strong spiritual and healing qualities.
If you mention this site when you visit Shahrzad Alabaster Factory you are sure to get a discount, and ask for me (Ashraf) I would love to show you around.
If you mention this site when you visit Shahrzad Alabaster Factory you are sure to get a discount, and ask for me (Ashraf) I would love to show you around.
We can ship anywhere in the world.
My brother Abdul with my stepson Taylor. 
See you at the "Shahrzad Alablaster Factory".... don't forget the name !
or give Ashraf a call and he will pick you up
+20104215951
email
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