The souvenir industry, in one form or another, has been developing in Egypt for many times. The ancient Egyptians who visited various temples in the country brought certain things from their travels - animal mummies (cats, ibises, baboons, fish, crocodiles), which served as religious offerings.
Returning home from their trips, many people bought mummies at special kiosks located on the temple grounds. Production was literally put on stream. Thus, the cult of the goddess Bastet, which was represented by a cat, was especially well developed in Thebes and Beni Hassan, starting from the Ptolemaic period. There were so many mummified cats in Beni Hassan at the end of the nineteenth century that these “souvenirs from Egypt” (a total of 19 tons) had to be sent to England, where they were used as fertilizer.
After Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign and during the British protectorate, many artifacts looted from temples and tombs appeared in Europe, stimulating the birth of a market focused on selling Egyptian antiquities, and later their fakes.
Today, for many Egyptians, the production of souvenirs is the main source of income. They are proud that they are able to create something new, even innovative, for each tourist season. In recent years, craft traditions have experienced a revival. And it is worth confessing that many tourists are wondering what souvenirs to bring from Egypt, in addition to the well-known mini-pyramids, toy camels, papyri and the like.
In Cairo, it is better to visit shops located in several remote places. Khan el-Khalili, located in the Islamic (medieval) part of Cairo, is certainly the most famous and largest bazaar, but the sellers here are extremely skilled and too assertive, able to sell even those things that there is no need, and at prices (even with discount), significantly exceeding those in other places.
With the exception of some things (village dishes, perfume bottles, silk), souvenirs from Egypt are best bought in other parts of the “medieval city”, where there are excellent specialized shops selling
handicrafts. For modern trifles, you can go to the Zamalek district. There are many elegant shops, as well as several good shops of
antiques. Fair Trade in Zamalek is a shop selling high-quality traditional products at reasonable prices, created by local craftsmen. The main emphasis in the store is on ceramics. Dishes, bowls of different sizes, bright blossoms and original designs can decorate any home. In addition, in Fair Trade you can purchase leather goods, silk scarves, bedspreads.
Most of the largest historical areas are surrounded by markets. In southern Egypt, Nubian musical instruments are of particular interest, similar to those sold only in markets in East Africa. Very popular souvenirs from Egypt are accessories imitating ancient Egyptian cartouches. Sellers translate Western names in hieroglyphic writing and create beautiful pendants of silver and gold. A cartouche made of a thin silver plate will cost about $ 25, while a large gold one will cost more than $ 800. In any case, you should make some comparisons in different stores. In Egypt, the practice is widespread when the guide is associated with the store, receiving a commission for bringing potential buyers into it.
Remarkable souvenirs from Egypt - decorative sculptures and alabaster vases of pink, orange and purple colors. Family workshops, in fact, alabaster factories, are found throughout the Luxor area. Visitors to these workshops can follow the process of creating beautiful things from the material. A small alabaster vase, made by hand, costs about $ 20-30, a vase made on the machine will cost $ 5-10.
Egyptian gifts beloved by many are souvenirs made of wood and stone, carved figurines of gods, pharaohs, sacred animals. Many tourists love Bedouin jewelry. An excellent choice would be
Egyptian cotton, which is considered the best in the world. Cotton shirts, trousers, traditional gelabia, bedding, bedspreads are sold in markets, shops, large shopping centers, throughout Egypt.