Egypt was struck by a massive African sandstorm, commonly known in Egyptian history and tradition as the Khamaseen.
Today, Generation Z jokingly refers to it as a “Mexican filter.”
Khamaseen sandstorms were recorded in ancient Egypt under the name “Resut,” or “south wind,” and were associated with Set — the lord of the desert, chaos, and storms. Yes, the same Set from the myth of Isis and Osiris, where Osiris was the lord of the Nile and the fertile valley.
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| The Pyramids of Giza during the storm on Thursday Ibrahim Kandel |
They are mentioned in the Book of the Dead, where the south wind is described as “the breath that burns the lungs,” prompting the use of protective amulets or prayers to Thoth, the god of wisdom and knowledge, to temper Set’s ferocity.
But why were they called “south winds” when they often seem today to come from the west, sweeping in from the Sahara?
