Friday, August 17, 2007
Avenue of Sphinx
Luxor, Egypt
This road lined with hundres of sphinxes used to lead to the temple of Karnak. I guess they built most of the temples along the Nile, since the Nile is the source of life there.
This road lined with hundres of sphinxes used to lead to the temple of Karnak. I guess they built most of the temples along the Nile, since the Nile is the source of life there.
Roman Frescoes on the Walls in Luxor Temple
Luxor, Egypt
Another interesting item in Luxor temple is the Roman Frescoes on some of the walls. Apparently, when the Romans arrived in Egypt, they plastered the walls to cover up the pharaonic carvings and painted Roman frescoes on it. They are currently working on restoring and preserving the frescoes on the temple walls, so there were some areas with scaffolding.
Another interesting item in Luxor temple is the Roman Frescoes on some of the walls. Apparently, when the Romans arrived in Egypt, they plastered the walls to cover up the pharaonic carvings and painted Roman frescoes on it. They are currently working on restoring and preserving the frescoes on the temple walls, so there were some areas with scaffolding.
Ramesses II
Luxor, Egypt
There used to be 6 gigantic statues of Ramesses II here in the temple and this is one of the survivors. Everything here is huge!!!
There used to be 6 gigantic statues of Ramesses II here in the temple and this is one of the survivors. Everything here is huge!!!
A mosque...
Luxor, Egypt
on top of the columns in Luxor temple! At the time that the mosque was built, the whole temple was covered in sand, without them realizing it is sitting right on top of the temple columns! It must have been an interesting find when they dug up the place. Can you imagine too before the archeologists started digging and exposing the temple? Everything would have been covered in sand!
on top of the columns in Luxor temple! At the time that the mosque was built, the whole temple was covered in sand, without them realizing it is sitting right on top of the temple columns! It must have been an interesting find when they dug up the place. Can you imagine too before the archeologists started digging and exposing the temple? Everything would have been covered in sand!
Luxor Temple...
Luxor, Egypt
The temple is found at the eastern bank of the Nile river. It was really hot at that time that our excursion to this temple was in the late afternoon. (It was still over 100 degrees farenheit though!) When we got to the temple, everybody forgot about the heat and it was another wow moment!
The temple is found at the eastern bank of the Nile river. It was really hot at that time that our excursion to this temple was in the late afternoon. (It was still over 100 degrees farenheit though!) When we got to the temple, everybody forgot about the heat and it was another wow moment!
From the back...
Luxor, Egypt
Here's a view of the temple of Karnak from the back. The obelisks there are gigantic! The guide said that obelisks are made from a whole block of rock, usually granite, transported from Aswan. Can you imagine how they transported those obelisks back then?
Here's a view of the temple of Karnak from the back. The obelisks there are gigantic! The guide said that obelisks are made from a whole block of rock, usually granite, transported from Aswan. Can you imagine how they transported those obelisks back then?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Columns
Luxor, Egypt
Notice the shape of the columns, it is shaped like an open papyrus. If you look closely at the carvings on the columns too, you'll notice some carvings enclosed in an oblong with a line underneath it. Those oblong enclosures are called cartouche and the one here in the picture is actually Ramses II's cartouche! Isn't that cool?
Notice the shape of the columns, it is shaped like an open papyrus. If you look closely at the carvings on the columns too, you'll notice some carvings enclosed in an oblong with a line underneath it. Those oblong enclosures are called cartouche and the one here in the picture is actually Ramses II's cartouche! Isn't that cool?
Temple of Karnak
Luxor, Egypt
We took a plane from Cairo to Luxor, and this was our first stop in Luxor, the magnificent Temple of Karnak. Everybody was in awe when we saw the columns! The columns were huge and covered with carvings telling stories about life during the times of the pharaohs. Can you imagine being the one to discover the temple? It must have been really exciting!
We took a plane from Cairo to Luxor, and this was our first stop in Luxor, the magnificent Temple of Karnak. Everybody was in awe when we saw the columns! The columns were huge and covered with carvings telling stories about life during the times of the pharaohs. Can you imagine being the one to discover the temple? It must have been really exciting!
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