- Karnak temples
Karnak is the modern name for an ancient religious complex erected at THEBES in Upper Egypt. Called Nesut-Tawi, "the Throne of the Two Lands," or Ipet-Iset, "The Finest of Seats," it was the site of the temple of the god AMUN at Thebes. Karnak remains the most remarkable religious complex constructed on earth. Its 250 acres of temples and chapels, obelisks, columns, and statues, built during a period of 2,000 years, incorporate the finest aspects of Egyptian art and architecture and transformed the original small shrines into "a great historical monument of stone, " Karnak was originally the site of a shrine erected in the Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 B.C.E.), but many rulers of the New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E.) repaired or refurbished the structure. The plan of the temple dedicated to the god Amun,
Evident even in its ruined state, contained a series of well-coordinated structures and architectural innovations, all designed to maximize the strength of the stone and the monumental aspects of the complex. Karnak, as all other major temples of Egypt, was graced with a ramp and a canal leading to the Nile, and this shrine also boasted rows of ram-headed sphinxes at its entrance.
Karnak represents faith on a monumental scale. Each dynasty of Egypt made additions or repairs to the
Structures, giving evidence of the Egyptians' fidelity to their beliefs, Karnak remains as a mysterious enticement to the world of ancient Egypt.
The temples of Karnak and Luxor, represent together the then Upper Egyptian city of Thebes, who was a long time the capital and cultural center of the Pharaohs, and is known as the "hunderttorige" Thebes.
It is a place of great majesty and sublime beauty. Schafsk?pfigen an avenue of sphinxes leads to the entrance of the temple. Monumental pylon with a height of 40 m, colossal statues, like those of Ramses II, the huge obelisks of Hatshepsut, and especially the giant pillars of the hypostyle hall, which dissolve in the aisle to reach an altitude of 24 m, respect and deep admiration for The overwhelming benefits of a past culture that survived thousands of years.
The temple was in the 12th Dynasty (1991-1785 BC.) Commenced and continued for centuries. With an area of approximately 100 hectares of Karnak is the largest and probably most impressive temple complex in the world. The main temple in the heart of the facility is dedicated to the god Amun, and built in the 18th Dynasty (1552-1306 BC).. The gem of Karnak is the famous and well-preserved hypostyle hall (porch), which was carried by 134 columns - a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture under Setos I and Ramses II (19. Dynasty, 1306-1186 BC).. Some 80,000 people were employed in this period with the construction and the design of the temple!
The columns and walls of the temple are richly decorated with drawings and reliefs, which represent pictures and hieroglyphs in the life and deeds of Pharonen, and Egyptian mythology.

- Luxor temple

This Temple was built directly in the heart of the ancient city of Thebes. He is dedicated to the god Amun and connected via a 3-mile processional route to the temple of Karnak, Amenhotep III, lined the ram-headed sphinxes, as they are still visible today in Karnak. The human heads were given them until later. The Temple of Luxor is smaller than that of Karnak, but also a great monument of majestic beauty. How come even at Karnak, with a monumental entrance gate into a large courtyard, behind which there is a hypostyle hall with huge pillars, followed by the sanctuary, admission to which only kings and priests had. Colossal statues, reliefs with hieroglyphic inscriptions, as well as fascinating and vivid depictions bear witness to the glory and the deeds of the Pharaohs, and Egypt's history. The sight of such gigantic masterpieces of ancient Egyptian architecture always filled us with profound respect, admiration and enthusiasm. The temple is about to XVIII. Dynasty (1567-1320) or return home earlier and continued for centuries. Over time, he reached an area of almost 260m! At present the temple of Amenhotep III were essentially (1402-1364 BC - rear, internal part) and Ramses II (1279-1213 BC. - Outer front) participated, as well as Hatshepsut, Tuthmose III includes have left their mark.
Interesting to know: Of the original 2 was about 25 meters high obelisk in front of the pylon of the 1835/36 French removed and erected on the Place de la Concorde in Paris! In return, Egypt received a clock for the Alabaster Mosque in Cairo.

- Valley of the Kings

On the West banks of Luxor in desert sand and the Theban mountains is located the necropolis of ancient Thebes, with the mortuary and cult temples as well as the tombs of the New Kingdom.
In this bleak area, in the Valley of Kings, the pharaohs of the XVIIIth - XXth dyn. (1550-1070 BC) have hidden their tombs to protect them from being plundered, which finally, however, could not be prevented so that the mummies were eventually brought without their valuable funerary objects to a secret place. After thousands of years, in 1875, they were discovered by grave robbers. Some of the mummies could be saved and in 1881 be transferred into the Egyptian museum in Cairo.tombs; Up to now 62 tombs have been found, last of all in 1922 the famous tomb of Tutankhamen by Howard Carter. The first pharaoh buried in the Valley of the Kings was Tuthmose 1. In principle all these tombs consist of a long corridor with several rooms, which leads to the burial chamber, cut deep into the rock at a depth of 105 m. Walls and ceilings are decorated with marvelous colored reliefs and paintings of breathtaking beauty which, in the dimly-lit rooms, revive the myths of old Egypt, its culture and history. For the fact that the colors have survived thousands of years, we have to thank the old Egyptians, who used mineral substances. Ramses III (KV11) Ramses IV (KV2 Ramses VII (KV1)
The Valley of the Kings at Thebes West was another fascinating highlight during our stay at Luxor, and so it is for thousands of tourists. Due to the great rush of visitors, we were only allowed to visit 3 tombs and, moreover, photographing was, generally, no longer permitted - so, no pictures of the interior! We visited the tombs as shown above. The Taf-Taf trains saved us the walk in the heat and brought us here in comfort, as they had at the Temple of the Hatshepsut.

Hatshepsut

She was one of the most interesting female characters, and most capable Pharaoh of Egyptian history (1490-1468 BC). How was the visit of their 3500 years old mortuary temple in the Valley of the Kings (Thebes West) in many ways a very special experience, also the daughter of king (18 Dynasty, but was ruled out as a woman in those days from the succession. Yet it has succeeded, ultimately the most powerful and advanced civilization of their time over 22 years to reign (1490-1468 BC) - first as the Great Royal Wife of her half-brother and heir apparent, "keywords" Lang = "en" content = "II, and after his early death, as guardian of her minor stepson still" keywords "Lang =" en "content =" III). (Son of a concubine. 2 years later, she had herself crowned pharaoh. They legitimized their power by proclaiming that God Amun himself had witnessed them, and called himself "King of Upper and Lower Egypt.
During her reign, peaceful, sometimes in dual rule with "keywords" Lang = "en" content = "III. She led the New Kingdom to its highest and established structures of power, for example, announce today their fame, the greatest of all still in Egyptian obelisk (Karnak) or the terrace, the unique temple at Deir el-Bahari (Thebes West).
In perfect harmony with nature, clings to the temple of up to 280 m tall rock cliffs. The temple rises in 3 terraces, porticos and pillars, which are connected by ramps. In the southern hall of the second terrace are the famous reliefs of that report in detail, from a trading expedition, sent the Hatshepsut at the legendary land of Punt. Images of Deir el-Bahari is probably the oldest and most realistic representation of East Africa in general. Most of its buildings are the work of architect and confidant Senenmut, whom she entrusted with the highest offices of state.
About this lifeless desert was a scorching hot and we were glad that we can call on Taf-Taf trains from the bus brought to the temple.

Asasif tombs

This is a depression on the western shore of the Nile near DEIR EL-BAHRI, across from the city of THEBES. Located near the KHOKHA hills, the area was used as a necropolis. Tombs of the Saite or Twenty-sixth Dynasty (664-525 B.C.E.) were discovered in the region, as well as mortuary complexes from the Eleventh Dynasty (2134-1991 B.C.E.). RAMESSES IV (1163-1156 B.C.E.) also started a temple on the site.

Colossi of Memnon

Sandstone statues that are still standing on the western shore of the Nile at THEBES, they were once part of the mortuary complex of AMENHOTEP III (r. 1391-1353 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The statues stand 65 feet high, including their bases, and depict the ruler in a seated position, allowing his figure to dominate the landscape. The Greeks, coming upon them in later eras, decided the statues honored their hero, Memnon, who fought at Troy, and named them accordingly.

Deir El-Bahri

(Djeseru-Djeseru) A site on the western shore of THEBES, called Djeseru-Djeseru ("the Holy of Holies") by the Egyptians, the present name of the site is from the Arabic, meaning "Monastery of the North" to denote an early community of Coptic Christian monks who established a religious house there. Deir el-Bahri is located on the western shore opposite the city of Thebes. MONTUHOTEP II (r. 2061-2010 B.C.E.) of the Eleventh Dynasty built his mortuary complex at Deir el-Bahri. He was a member of the famed Inyotef clan of Thebes and returned home for his burial. His temple was pyramidal in design, with terraces, walled courts, ramps, porticos, and colonnaded walkways. The roof of the tomb was supported by 140 separate columns. Montuhotep's royal female companions were buried at the rear of the complex in elaborate tombs. The entire structure was carved out of a cliff, and a vast burial chamber was fashioned under a pyramid, called BAB EL-HOSAN in modern times. Montuhotep II was also buried on the site.
Queen-Pharaoh HATSHEPSUT temple (r. 1473-1458 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth Dynasty built a complex north of Montuhotep II's tomb, called "the Gardens of My Father Amun." Her temple structure was built with similar terraces and was hewn out of the cliffs also. SENENMUT and other architects of that time were influenced by the splendor of Montuhotep II's designs and incorporated the same architectural plans. A walled courtyard led to a ramp and a series of raised terraces. A portico on the first level had 22 pillars and a series of reliefs depicting an expedition to PUNT. A chapel dedicated to HATHOR and a shrine in honor of the god ANUBIS were graced with HYPOSTYLE HALLS. Another columned portico completed that section, while a ramp led to another court enclosed with columns
And then to another portico. The sanctuary on the highest level of the complex contained a solar chapel and a shrine to the royal cult. Gardens of flowers and myrrh trees flourished at the shrine, and terraces resembled an oasis against the red cliffs. Osiride statues of Hatshepsut, fountains, lion statues, and reliefs added a splendor to the site.

"Hanging Tomb"

Called Bab el-Muallaq is located south of DEIR EL-BAHRI on the western shore of THEBES. The site might be "the High Place of Inhapi" of legend, reportedly a safe haven used originally for the royal mummies in the Deir el-Bahri cache. It was so named because of its position in the cliffs.