Egypt Day 5 Part One---Karnak Temple

We flew from Cairo to Luxor, known in ancient times as Thebes, one of Egypt's capital cities. We were privileged to visit Karnak, which vies for Angkor Wat for the title of largest temple complex in the world. See entry of March 2, 2013.
 

Our tour of the temple of Khonsu was conducted by Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Egypt's Head of Antiquities.

                                         The colors inside the temple remain surprisingly vivid.

The detail on the walls and columns in the Great Hypostyle Hall is incredible. Napoleon supposedly had dinner atop one of the columns, and scenes from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, featuring the notorious villain Jaws, were filmed here.

                              Colossus of Ramses II, outside of the Temple of Amun, King of the Gods

                              The Avenue of Sphinxes, leading to the Luxor Temple entrance

                                                     Hand of Ramses, identified by the seal

Egypt Day 4 Part 2---Great Pyramid of Khufu

                   The Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only Seven Wonders of the World that remains. It is believed to have been constructed over a 27 year period, at least 26 centuries before Christ. Towering approximately 481 feet, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,800 years.

 

                                                Sunrise, as we prepare to enter the pyramid.

A fascinating climb to the King's Chamber. We were also able to visit the Queen's Chamber. Both are accessed by creeping through tunnels measuring about four feet by four feet.

                                                              A common site on Giza.

Egypt Day 4 Part One--The Sphinx

 I have always wanted to see the Sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a man and the body of a lion, and had a fascinating visit. We were able to stroll around the entire limestone edifice, stand between its paws, and just enjoy the moment. A very special opportunity.

                                                                     With Dr. Hawass

                                                With the Giza pyramids in the background.

Egypt Three--The Tombs of the Pyramid Builders/Bent and Red Pyramids/Memphis

 

The discovery of the tombs of the pyramid builders of Giza is considered one of the major archaeological finds of all time. For the first time, it was possible to understand how the people who built the pyramids lived and worked.

A photo of Dr. Hawass on site, and a picture of the fence which now surrounds the entire complex. Dr. Hawass was an advocate for its erection, which he believes protects the archaeological integrity of the site.

The Bent pyramid. It is believed that the builders were compelled to alter the angle to prevent the structure from collapsing.

                                                                   The Red Pyramid

The visit to the carpet school was fascinating, as we witnessed the amazing skill and hand speed of the talented weavers, which included the several children who are learning the craft.

                                          Statue of Ramses II, who lived to the age of 99 years.

The famed alabaster Sphinx,which apparently gleams white when it is cleaned every ten years. Battling the desert sands, however, is a losing battle.

Egypt--Day Two--Saqqara/Step Pyramid of Djoser/Tomb of Mereruka/Imhotep Museum

          The ancient necropolis of Saqqara is often referred to as "the birthplace of architecture."

                                                       Note the decorative cobra figurines

         The step pyramid of Djoser is the oldest in Egypt, constructed more than 4,700 years ago

Although the Southern Tomb was discovered in 1928, we were the first tour group allowed to enter the site. This is a shot from 31 meters below ground as we prepared to explore the passageways.

            The tomb of Mereruka still retains patches of vibrant color all these centuries later.

Imhotep Museum has some striking displays. Note the beautiful teal colored tiles in the background. Imhotep, who ruled 2,800 years BC, was a remarkable leader and was viewed as the Leonardo da Vinci of his day.

Egypt--Day One--Meidum and Hawara

Attempting to grasp the sprawling 5,000 years of Egyptian history is daunting. Fortunately, our trip was organized by Archaeological Paths, which provided a truly interesting itinerary and the opportunity to tour some sites with famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass and current Head of Egyptian Antiquities Mostafa Waziri. Overall, the guides were extremely knowledgeable and we had several opportunities for side excursions, such as Meidum, above.
 

The staircase, such as it is, emits a true sense of history as you carefully descend, through a blanket of heat and humidity. This is a shot up the staircase from the bottom.

A series of three ladders brings you into the burial chamber. Note the angled walls, structured to prevent collapsing under the weight of the stones above. 

We also visited the Hawara Pyramid, one of the oldest sites in the country, constructed in the 19th Century B.C. This early effort at pyramid building involved thousands upon thousands of mud bricks, many of which have collapsed over time. Even Egypt's low rainfall of two inches per year is slowly eroding the structure. 

                                  A date palm laden with fruit. Egypt has several varieties of dates. 

               A view of the Great Pyramid from the grounds of the storied Marriott Mena resort

                                                            Swimming pool at the Mena

                                                                    Moon over Mena