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Santiago represents the dreamer in all of us

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Santiago means "Saint James." It is the Spanish word for saint mixed with Yago the Spanish word for James.

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Santiago was 18 at the start of the novel.

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Egypt has a population of 99 million people. (about 10 times the population as New Jersey)

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Population of Egypt: current, historical, and projected population, growth rate, immigration, median age, total fertility rate (TFR), population density, urbanization, urban population, country's share of world population, and global rank. Data tables, maps, charts, and live population clock

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https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwijgdunmJXdAhWqzlkKHVyzBvEQjxx6BAgBEAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.bt.com%2Flifestyle%2Ftravel%2Ftravel-advice%2Fis-it-safe-to-travel-to-egypt-travel-advice-for-sharm-el-sheikh-cairo-and-the-nile-11364162279810&psig=AOvVaw1YSBbimW25Lc_Hhn_Zdtu0&ust=1535732309870196

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Mecca is known as the most loved place of the Muslim God Allah.

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Andalusian shepherd determined to fulfill his personal legend

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in real life

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Tangier is a city located on the coast of Morocco, which is in northern Africa. The most common language spoken in Tangier is a Moroccan dialect of Arabic called Darija. Other forms of Arabic, as well as French, are spoken in Tangier.

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Andalusia is in southern Spain and borders the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean.

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This is a picture of an Sycamore tree, which was mentioned in the alchemist. Although this is an American Sycamore tree, and the one in the book is most likely Spanish. Source:Fastgrowingtrees.com

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https://youtu.be/OcchvznqAvw?t=100

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https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/05/30/410591909/mecca-becomes-a-mecca-for-skyscraper-hotels

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A traveling people who do not belong to any specific nationality, but originated in South Asia.

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The word Thummim translates to innocent.

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https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/01/the-mecca-stampede-that-made-history-hajj

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Gypsies are also called the Roma. They migrated from India to Europe 15,000 years ago. https://www.livescience.com/44512-gypsy-culture.html

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The Alchemist  | Part 1 | Life in Andalusia | Paulo Coelho

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Chooses to adventure rather than follow his parent's wishes of him becoming a priest

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The site of Palmyra was once a lush oasis in the Syrian desert, now turned into a site of ruins that speak of the rich history of a once-great city. A mix of Greek, Roman, and Persian influences, Palmyra was an important trade hub along the trade route that once linked the Roman Empire to Persia, India and China.

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Mecca is the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad.

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The Great Pyramids' stones weigh from around 2 to 50 tons, and there are over 2.3 Million of them!

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once a year people of the Muslim religion gather in Mecca to celebrate Hajj. They spend five to six days wholly dedicated to God, prayer, and medication. Those who go to Hajj are believed to come back refreshed and free of sin.

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The belief of Alchemy was formed in ancient Egypt.

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The pyramid's smooth sides were designed to symbolize sun rays and help the Pharaoh ascend to join the gods.

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Alchemy is the philosophy and science of transforming metals into gold, finding a universal cure for disease, and finding the means to prolong life.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alchemy

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Mecca is a city in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia borders Israel, Jordan, Yemen, and Oman.

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Santiago learns how to communicate with The Hand That Wrote It All, a figure synonymous with God or Allah

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Sycamore Tree's can be very large, and can easily be 3 times the size of a human. Image Source:alamy.com

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Tangier has a very unique culture because it is where Africa and Europe meet. This means it has a blend of Mediterranean and African culture.. As you walk through the streets, you can hear musicians playing instruments like the darbuka, which is a kind of drum, or the oud, which is similar to a guitar.

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Modern Day Gypsies https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/iain-mckell_n_4110136.html

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As one of Spain's most populated independent communities, it has 8.4 million people.

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The Pharaohs were buried with everything they would "need for the afterlife, " often including expensive gold vessels, and many other shiny things.

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Translates to "revelation and truth"

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Santiago's strength to pursue his personal legend even after all his obstacles came from his father. When his father supported Santiago's dream to see the world it filled him with pride and motivation.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c_8ekySU3c

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Discovery / Science Channel's "How It's Made" Crystal Wine Glasses episode

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anyway, here's wonderwall
https://youtu.be/bx1Bh8ZvH84

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The Alchemist presents vanity in the story of Narcissus as a way to reach into the Spirit of the World, as opposed to being a selfish trait. Santiago learned that by putting his interests first, he was able to understand the Spirit of the World and learn from it.  http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-alchemist/study-questions/

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The treasure is not what Santiago gained the most from his journey. The biggest gain from his journey was the new person Santiago became after the journey. Symbolized by lead into gold.

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Ancient Egypt invented many things we still uses today like paper, pens, toothpaste, and many more!

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Join us, ancient explorers, as we head back 5,000 years through history to discover fascinating facts about Ancient Egypt, from its ancient beginnings to Egypt today...
Discover facts about Ancient Egypt below or skip to our facts about modern-day Egypt.

Facts about Ancient Egypt

1) Most Ancient Egyptian pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs (rulers of Ancient Egypt) and their families. To date, over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt.

2) The afterlife was incredibly important to the Egyptians. They believed that by preserving a dead person's body - which they did through the process of mummification - their soul would live on in the afterlife forever.

(AD)

3) The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. This incredible structure weighs as much as 16 Empire State buildings!

4) Both Egyptian men and women wore make-up. The eye paint was usually green (made from copper) or black (made from lead). As well as offering protection from the sun, the Egyptians believed make-up had magical healing powers, too!

5) Unwrapped, the bandages of an Ancient Egyptian mummy could stretch for 1.6km. Yikes!

6) The Egyptian alphabet contained more than 700 hieroglyphs! Uncover the meaning behind these ancient symbols by checking out our awesome hieroglyphics feature.

7) Ancient Egyptians believed in more than 2,000 deities! They had gods for everything, from dangers to chores! Each had different responsibilities and needed to be worshipped so that life could be kept in balance.

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Ancient Egypt primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

8) Cats were considered sacred animals by the Ancient Egyptians. It's thought that most families kept a cat as a pet, which they believed would bring the household good luck!

9) Love playing board games with your pals? Well, gang, so did the Ancient Egyptians! One popular game was , which was played for over 2,000 years! The game involved throwing sticks (in the same way we throw dice) to see how many squares to move your piece forward on the board.

10) The Ancient Egyptians invented lots of things we still use today, such as paper, pens, locks and keys and - believe it or not - toothpaste!

If you enjoyed these facts about Ancient Egypt, make sure you check out our other Ancient Egypt pages! Discover the Nile River, figure out hieroglyphics and learn about Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses.

Country fact file: Egypt today

Incredible ancient monuments, scorching deserts and bustling cities - this ancient country is now a sprawling, modern landscape! Read on to learn about the Egypt of today...

Egyptian flag

OFFICIAL NAME: Arab Republic of Egypt
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Republic
CAPITAL: Cairo
POPULATION: 87, 562, 261
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Arabic
MONEY: Egyptian pound, guinay
AREA: 1,001,449 square kilometres
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Eastern Highlands
MAJOR RIVER: Nile
FLAG:

Map of Egypt

Egypt: geography and landscape

Without the Nile River, all of Egypt would be desert. Only about an 2.5cm of rain falls throughout Egypt each year. But each summer, the Nile river rises because of rains at its source, far to the south in Ethiopia. When this happens, floods cover the river's valleys, leaving sediments needed for trees, plants and crops to grow.

Egypt is often divided into two sections - Upper Egypt in the south and Lower Egypt in the north. The sections are named this way because the Nile flows from south to north. The river empties into the Mediterranean Sea, on the country's north coast.

Southern Egypt's landscape contains low mountains and desert. Northern Egypt has wide valleys near the Nile, and desert to the east and west. North of Cairo (Egypt's capital city) is the sprawling, triangular Nile River Delta. This fertile land is completely covered with farms.

Egypt's incredible nature

Egypt is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including cheetahs, hyenas, crocodiles and cobras. The best places to see Egypt's wildlife are in its 21 protected regions, which include oases, deserts, mountains, coastal areas, river islands and wetlands.

Egyptians have always been close to the natural world. The ancient Egyptians left paintings and carvings (which can still be seen today!) of large animals like elephants, hippos, leopards and cheetahs. These animals were once common in Egypt, but they are now rare or extinct because of hunting and habitat loss.

The history of Egypt

The first people to live on the banks of the Nile were hunters and fishermen, who settled there over 8,000 years ago. They learned to grow crops and raise animals, and they began to build villages and towns. They traded with their neighbours and learned to sail boats. By 3000 B.C., a civilisation was established.

Around 3100 B.C., the kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were unified under a powerful king, later called a pharaoh. These kings built huge pyramids, temples and other impressive monuments. They also conquered other lands.

By 1000 B.C., Egypt had split into smaller parts and the kingdom was in decline. Strong neighbours attacked and took over Egyptian territory - in 31 B.C., Egypt fell under Roman control and centuries later, in A.D. 640, Muslim warriors took over Egypt. These Arab forces ruled Egypt for several centuries and founded the modern capital, Cairo.

In 1882, the British invaded and occupied Egypt. The British wanted control of the Suez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and greatly shortened the sailing trip from Asia to Europe. The British stayed until Egypt declared independence in 1952.

Egyptian people and culture

About 90 percent of Egyptians are Muslim, which means they are followers of the Islam religion. About ten percent of Egyptians are Copts, one of the oldest branches of the Christian religion.

Egypt's population is growing rapidly. This puts strain on Egypt's resources, since most people live in a narrow strip of land along the Nile River. Having so many people in such a small area causes overcrowding everywhere, from schools and hospitals to apartment buildings and public transport.

Children are highly valued in Egypt, especially in rural areas where they help on family farms. Children are also expected to look after their parents in their old age.

Egyptian government and economy

Egypt's geography, population, history and military strength have made it highly influential in the region. Egypt is a democratic republic, although some critics claim that it is not truly democratic. Until 2005, there was never more than one presidential candidate to vote for.

Egypt's most valuable resources are oil and gas, which are exported to other countries. Other exports include metals, textiles, livestock and chemical products. Tourism is also an important part of Egypt's economy, with visitors flocking to see the famous ancient monuments and to enjoy the country's beautiful beaches.

Want to learn more about awesome ancient cultures? Then check out our Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece features. Plus, discover more amazing facts from around the world in National Geographic Kids magazine!

Image credits: Egypt map: National Geographic Maps. Mosque in Egypt: Rraheb, Dreamstime. Man pouring juice, Cairo, Egypt: Jackmalipan, Dreamstime. Outdoor cafe in Cairo, Egypt: Jackmalipan, Dreamstime. Sphinx and pyramid at Giza, Egypt: Javarman, Dreamstime. All other photographs and illustrations: Getty Images UK

Did you enjoy our facts about Ancient Egypt article? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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10 Facts About Ancient Egypt | National Geographic Kids

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Discover incredible facts about Ancient Egypt with Nat Geo Kids! Learn about the country's ancient & modern history, pyramids and more...

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The average temperature of the Earth (68 °F) is roughly equal to the interior temp. of the pyramids.

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Around one Million Gypsies live in  the United States
http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2025316,00.html

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https://www.cairo360.com/article/city-life/cairo-weekend-guide-live-music-film-screenings-exhibitions-more/

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Muslims consider Mecca to be a holy city in the religion because Muhammad was born there and because of that they pilgrimage there every year. This is shown in the Alchemist when the crystal merchant tells Santiago about Mecca.

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The capital of Andalusia is Seville, where the people speak Spanish.

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Most gypsy women wear gold jewelry and gold coins a=on their headdresses. Gypsy houses are decorated tokens of good fortunes, such as gold and silver, flowers, and religious icons.

https://www.livescience.com/44512-gypsy-culture.html

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bull fighting is the national sport of Spain, surprisingly only two people are injured from bull fighting each year. 

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bull fighting is the national sport of Spain, surprisingly only two people are injured from bull fighting each year. 

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Santiago is the opposite of his sheep, who symbolize everyone who ignores their personal legend and misses out on oppurtunites

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Mecca is led by major of city instead of a traditional leader like a president.

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The Pyramid of Cheops took roughly 20 years to make. This means that the greatest project of the Pharao's life was his tomb.

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Sycamore Tree's have a dense foliage with large dense trunks and many branches which for a shade from the sun, which is most likely why Santiago chose to be there.

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Egypt is located on the northeast side of Africa and is known to be one of the largest countries in the world. https://www.worldatlas.com/af/eg/where-is-egypt.html

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The mortar used in the pyramids building hasn't been able to be replicated in modern times, but it still holds to this day.

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Paulo Coelho was born on August 24, 1947 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Crystal is known to be transparent so people can see through it and is often decorated with intricate designs that, while beautiful, can obscure the view through the glass. This represents what Santiago was feeling like when he met the Crystal Merchant; Santiago knew the crystal shop could be a beautiful chance for his journey, but he couldn't see the end product clearly.
https://www.jcpenney.com/g/glassware-mugs/N-bwo3vD1noxaw

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Egypt, China, and India each came up with alchemy independently. They all believed in purifying the body and prolonging life.
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/history.html

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The story of Narcissus in the Alchemist had a slightly different ending than the traditionally told version. In this retelling, when the goddess of the forest asks why the lake weeps for Narcissus, it was only because the lake saw the reflection of ITSELF in his eyes. The lesson that the Alchemist passes to Santiago from this story is that sometimes people get too distracted with their own problems and desires and lose sight of the beauty of the world and universe around them.
https://prezi.com/aj1kodf4tpqd/alchemist-symbolism-narcissus/

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Some other popular books by Paulo Coelho besides The Alchemist are The Fifth Mountain, The Winner Stands Alone, and Warrior of the Light.

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The average temperature is 84 degrees and the coldest it gets is 51 degrees in January.

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Egypt has a desert like climate, days are normally hot and nights are cool. Egypt has only two seasons a mild winter and very hot summers. They experience around eight millimeters of rain each year.

https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Egypt

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Andulsian fashion for women mainly consists of long dresses and pantsuits.

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The word Narcissistic comes from the Greek myth about Narcissus, the most vain man to have ever lived.

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There is a brand of glasses called "The Alchemist". The glasses block blue-light, which is often given off by many of the devices used today. In blocking the light, the glasses protect our eyes from harm and the distraction of a headache. Similarly, the Alchemist in the novel The Alchemist, keeps Santiago on track to finding the treasure. He does not allow Santiago to be harmed or distracted by his love for Fatima.

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj3lOuln5XdAhXFQIYKHWpYAeAYABAEGgJ2dQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESEeD2OG2WfEe70vVSyEuVCHCW&sig=AOD64_2jcaBkJ6JBhUSg6AJljS4IhYZw5A&ctype=5&q=&ved=0ahUKEwjRruWln5XdAhVvx1kKHRG0AXEQ9aACCDE&adurl=

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Mecca percentage of religions are 85-95% are Sunni Muslims while 10-15% are shia. When Santiago goes on the caravan throughout the desert most people he meets are going to Mecca.

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typically relates to light

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Coelho was raised Catholic, and
his parents could not grasp the idea of him wanting to be a writer. Due to this, he had a rebellious childhood, causing his parents to commit him to a mental asylum three times.

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Urim and Thummin symbolize certainty and truth.

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With only 3/60 degree of error, The Great Pyramids are the most accurately facing true north compared to all other structures around the world.

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Zosimus, Geber, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus were all famous alchemists.
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/famous.html

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Egypt is known for its architecture, and urbanism. Egypt includes many villages and cities. It is very diverse, because some places are more developed than others. https://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Egypt.html

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Melchizedek gave these stones to Santiago to guide him on his journey

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Most Gypsies have a few things in common; they have the same beliefs and speak the same language. (in general the same culture) However, they follow the dominant religion of the country they live in. https://www.livescience.com/44512-gypsy-culture.html

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These stones were used to translate ancient manuscripts

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In 1974, Coelho was kidnapped by a paramilitary group to do his interests in the performing arts and journalism.

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Coelho uses Santiago to show that people should not be bound to their home culture

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Archaeologists conclude that Khufu's pyramid (The Great Pyramid) was the tallest structure in the world for about 3,600 years!

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the most popular Andalusian food is a hot, sweet, and garlicky chili.

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The main religion practiced in Andalusia is Roman Catholicism.

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Mecca is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world. The Zamzam alone is considered to be around 4,000 years old.
https://destinationksa.com/14-facts-about-makkah/

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7 Powerful Life Lessons From The Alchemist By Paulo Cohelo - Animated Book Summary

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Paulo Coelho wrote The Alchemist in a two-week time frame. At first the book did not do very well, but after it was translated into French, it started selling. The Alchemist has been translated into 80 different languages, setting a Guinness World Record.

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In order for a gypsy to be accepted in their community, one must follow the code of honor. These codes include things like what to wear, eat, and behave. https://tuirse.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/history-superstitions-beliefs-and-code/

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one of the most popular books in analuisa, ثلاثية غرناطة is about the fall of the Islamic

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https://www.everyculture.com/wc/Rwanda-to-Syria/Andalusians.html

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/the-alchemist/study-help/full-glossary-for-the-alchemist

https://countryeconomy.com/countries/spain-autonomous-communities/andalusia

https://www.holiday-weather.com/andalucia/averages/

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In the Alchemist, these stones were used as wishing stones to help him perceive the future

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Gold is a symbol for purification and perfection for all matter which includes the mind, spirit, and soul.
http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/alchemy/79/gold

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www.religionfacts.com/mecca
mecca.net/mecca-fact

www.britannica.com/place/mecca

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There is a large black box called the Kaaba is located in Mecca that is considered to be a relic of ancient times. Traditionally people of the Muslim religion walk around it as part of religious customs.

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https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/how-does-santiagos-father-react-when-his-son-tells-37257

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-alchemist/facts/

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-alchemist/section5/?quickquiz_id=1394

https://www.gradesaver.com/the-alchemist-coelho/q-and-a/how-old-is-santiago-82603

https://study.com/academy/lesson/symbols-in-the-alchemist.html

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-alchemist/symbols

https://www.shmoop.com/the-alchemist/santiago.html

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(Sputnik International)
(Flickr)
(travelandleisure.com)

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The myth of Narcissus describes that after he dies, he is turned into the flowers that are named after him today. The flowers are a symbol of irony because he was so invested in his own reflection and beauty that he did not take time to look at the woods and nature around him. As a result, he was transformed into the nature itself, almost as if the Soul of the World wanted to teach him a lesson.
https://www.ancient.eu/Narcissus/

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Mecca's population is believed to be 1.5-2.0 million but during Hajj it swells to 4.5 million.
https://destinationksa.com/14-facts-about-makkah/

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Most of the setting through out the book is in Egypt. Santiago travels through many different parts of Egypt and experiences their culture. The Great Pyramids reoccurred many times through out his dream; it was his Personal Legend to see this ancient wonder of the world.

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In the book, the alchemist is a 200 year old man with incredible insight and abilities. He has the Philosopher Stone and Elixer of Life, he understands the Soul of the World, and trusts in Personal Legends.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-alchemist/characters/