Egypt – The Mother of All Mummies (PART III - Luxor & Alexandria)

Valley of Kings – Located on the West Bank is the Valley of Kings where for over 500 years Egyptian emperors and nobles constructed their tombs. These tombs were primarily a web of passages built below ground level, constructed with a mission to rest the mummified body in the sarcophagus and also dissuade plunderers from robbing the kings of their treasures that were buried with their mummies. However they failed in their second mission as all tombs, with the exception of tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, were robbed and looted long before they were discovered by the archaeologists. Till date about 63 tombs or chambers have been discovered in the valley and the finding expedition is still on.

A visit to some of these tombs leaves one imagining the power and wealth at the disposal of these emperors. These tombs are not only huge; they are beautifully ornamented with paintings and hieroglyphics. The tombs are awe-inspiring and add to the mysticism associated with this place.

Note: Photography is not allowed

The Hatshepsut Temple – This exquisite temple is dedicated to the only female pharaoh with the longest and a significant reign, Queen Hatshepsut. It is interesting to note through the wall reliefs the effort that she had to put in to be accepted in the male dominated society. The walls show her adorning an artificial beard, like her male counterparts.

Entrance to the magnificent Queen Hatshepsut Temple

Everything in Ancient Egypt seems to be colossal. Statues of Queen Hatshepsut, one on each pillar

Note: The area around Valley of Kings and Queen Hatshepsut Temple has lot of Alabaster workshops from where you can pick up authentic and handmade Alabaster artefacts. 

Colossi of Memnon - These twin statues depict Amenhotep III (fl. 14th century BC) in a seated position. Two shorter figures in the front are that of his wife and mother. The statues are made from blocks of quartzite sandstone.

 

Colossi of Memnon

Karnak temple – All the temples visited so far seem to dwarf once you visit the Karnak temple on the East Bank. It is the largest and most significant temple of Ancient Egypt. It is known to be the only temple that had contributions from over thirty pharaohs and to be constructed over a time frame of 2000 years, the longest ever.

Entrance to Karnak temple

The temple in its evening glory

Pillars of the Great Hypostyle Hall from the Precinct of Amun-Re, the Sun God

The Ram statues at Karnak temple

Luxor Temple –Built by the New Kingdom Pharaoh, Amenhotep III, Luxor Temple is a beautiful sight especially when lit up in the night. It is said that during the annual Opet Festival a statue of Amun with his consort Mut was paraded down the Nile from nearby Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple.This was the last site we visited before we took an overnight train back to Cairo.

The Inner hall

Ever wondered how they managed such a feat?

Once back in Cairo you could spend a day in Alexandria, the second largest city of Egypt and also its largest seaport. The city served as the capital of the country under the reign of Alexander the Great.

Places of Interest

Pompey’s Pillar – Pompey’s pillar is a granite column built to honour Emperor Diocletian. This Roman triumphal column is the tallest ancient monuments in Alexandria.

Pompey’s Pillar

The Qaitbay Citadel – The Citadel of Qaitbay was one of the most defensive fortresses of Egypt along the Mediterranean coast. The architecture of the fort is beautiful and the fort is very well preserved. Also being next to the coast it is an ideal spot to take a break.

The Qaitbay Citadel

Take a break near the Qaitbay Citadel

Montazah Palace – Built on a high hill and overlooking the beach this palace has beautiful lawns to spend some free time.

Montazah Palace

The Royal Library – Once the largest library of the world, today too it is one of the biggest. 

The Mosque of Abu Al-Abbas Al-Mursi – One of the most beautiful mosques that I have seen. This Andalusian-style mosque is beautiful with its exquisite minarets and ornate domes.

Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa – This Roman burial site is a prominent archaeological site in Alexandria.