Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor, Apr.2017

 

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, also known as the Djeser-Djeseru – “Holly of Holies” is an ancient funerary shrine in Upper Egypt. Dedicated to the Pharaoh Hatshepsut, is located beneath the cliffs at Deir el Bahary, on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings. The mortuary Temple is dedicated to the sun god Amun and is situated next to the mortuary temple of Mentuhotep II, which served both as an inspiration and later, a quarry. It is considered one of the “incomparable monuments of ancient Egypt.” After long description of the Temple our guide  Mr.Rajab  Alazar took us photos in front of the staircase, and when we climbed it up. On second floor we were met by local guides who wanted to explain more and mostly take photos with us with their Muslim hats. Everybody of them took his baksheesh! Al photos are shown in this album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colossi of Memnon around Luxor, Egypt, Apr.2017

 

The Colossi of Memnon are two massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, who reigned in Egypt during Dynasty XVIII. For the past 3,400 years (since 1359 BCE) they have stood in the Theban Necropolis, located west of the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor.
    Memnon was a hero of the Trojan War, a King of Ethiopia who led his armies from Africa into Asia Minor to help defend the city of Trojan ,  but was slain by Achilles. Memnon, whose name was the “Steadfast” or “Resolute” was said to be the son   of Eos, the goddess of down. He was associated with the colossi, because of the reported city at dawn of the northern statue, which became known as the Colossus of Memnon.
  The twin statues depict Amenhotep III (14 century BCE)in a seated position, his hands resting on his knees and his gaze facing eastwards toward the river. Two shorter figures are carved into the front throne alongside his legs: these are his wife Tiu and mother Mutemwiya. The side panel panels depict the Nile god Hapy. We passed around the Colossi on the way to the Temple of Hatshepsut and back from the Valley of the Kings. This time we stopped for some time to look around and take some photos, shown in this short album.\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karnak Temple around Luxor, Egipt, Apr.2017

The history of Temple of Karnak is largely the history of Thebes. The city appears with some significance at the time of Eleventh Dynasty. Some temples building were relatively small and unimportant, with some shrines being dedicated to the early god of Thebes, Montu. The earlier artifact found in the area of the temple is a small, eight sided column from the Eleventh Dynasty, which mentions Amun-RER. The tomb of Intef II mentions a “house of Amun”. The ancient name for Karnac , Ipet-Isut, usually translated as “most select of places”only really refers to the central core structure of the Precinct of Amun-Re and was in use till Ellevent Dinasty. By the time of Eleventh Dynasty Theban Kings had become rulers of all Egypt, the area of Karnak was already considerd holy ground. The unification of Egypt brought Amun, the tribal god of the region, imcreased powwer and wealth, and he was gradually merged with the Sun god Re, to become Amun-Re. Major expansion of the Temple complex took place during the Eighteen Dynasty. Amenhotep constructed a barque shrine and a gateway. Thuitmose I erected an enclosure wall around the Middle Kingdom Temple, connecting the Fourth and Fifth pylons. They contain fourteen papyrus columns and the two obelisks of Hatshepsut, which were later hidden from the view by the walls set up by Thutmose III.

We visited the Temple of Karnak two times – in the evening light to watch the sound-lights show and in day light to see all buildings of the Temple. All photo taken there are shown in this album.