Luxor Temple in the Evening

We timed an evening visit to the Luxor Temple since it's right across the street from our hotel and is lit in the evening. Construction for the temple complex dates back to 14th BCE. Various dynasties made additions through the centuries, including a shrine to Alexander the Great. The Luxor Temple is particularly remarkable for

• The many colossi
• One half of an obelisk pair is at Place de la Concorde in Paris. 
• Between the colonnade and the columns of the hypostyle hall, the temple appears to be all about columns, particularly graceful
• The Opet Relief was most enlightening. The relief is not in particularly good condition. It illustrates the Opet Festival (16th-11th century BCE) where statues, offerings, boats were processed between Karnak and Luxor Temples. One wonders where Spaniards got the idea of processions?

Luxor Temple is at one end of the Avenue of Sphinxes, the Temple of Karnak is at the other end. This photo was taken from in front of Luxor temple looking down the Avenue of Sphinxes towards Karnak.


Short Video of Luxor Temple and Avenue of Spinxes just before sunset. Link here.


Luxor Temple with obelisk and colossi in front.






Looking to the Great Hypostyle Hall


How about the look on the face of the right Colossus?


Colossus and columns.


Great Hypostyle Hall




The lights come on.




Short Video of Luxor Temple at night. Link here.














Relief of Opet Festival boat procession.

Luxor: Stunning Hatshepsut Temple

Between tombs of the Kings and the tombs of the Nobles on the west bank of the Nile sits the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, meaning she wasn't buried there. It's a place where Queen Hatshepsut can be memorialized and worshipped. Built during the 15th century BCE, with three levels of columns and terraces at the base of a cliff face, the place is breathbreaking.

The most deadly attacks against tourists in Egypt took place here in 1997. 62 people were killed. This and many other attacks were the reason we had not visited Egypt earlier. COVID changed the equation for me.

We woke up early to be on the rooftop terrace for the hotel's included breakfast at 6:00 and were amazed to see a group of hot air balloons floating over the West Bank of the Nile. Great way to start the day!


Another view of the balloons from the ferry, plus the returning ferry, and some docked feluccas.


At 7:00 am we have the top deck of the ferry all to ourselves. During Ramadan, Egypt wakes up slowly.


Our first view of Hatshepsut Temple and its three levels. Wow!


And looking back.




These birds-in-flight reliefs caught our attention.




As did this pile of offerings. The flowers in the lower right; how moderm.


Columns and colossi.


Terraces.


Flowers and Trees.


A bull on the back wall.


More amazing views of this architectural treasure on our way out.




Leaving Hatshepsut, we start our walk through the desert to the Theban Tombs.

Egypt: Absorbing The Theban Necropolis

The Valley of Nobles refers to the areas on the west bank that contain hundreds of tombs that belong to nobles and officials from the 16th to 11th centuries BCE. It is apparent that the desire to emulate those who have higher SES (social economic status) is not the sole product of modern societies.

While the decorations of these tombs are less splashy than those in the Valley of Kings, the themes related to more everyday life, ranging from farming, foreign trade, wine making, fowling, fishing.... I'm beginning to realize the sources of western civilization lgo back to Egypt.

We chose three tickets, and thought they were all worthwhile.

• Nakht & Menna
• Rekhmire & Sennefer
• Ramose, Userhet & Khaemhet

Walking across the desert from The Mortuary of Hatshepsut to the Theban Tombs in the Valley of Nobles.




Tomb of Menna (TT69). Menna was an overseer of farm production.




Measuring/counting bushels of wheat (top half). Cutting wheat with sickles (bottom).


More wheat farming/production.


Olive tree.


The sarcophagus of Menna.


Sun-Ling descends into the Tomb of Nakht (TT52)




Ploughing a field.


Offerings.


Blind harpist.


Grape harvest and wine making.


Ox slaughter and butcher.


Ploughing with a cow with visible udders.


Tomb of Khaemhat. (TT57)




Hunting gazelles from his chariot.


Hunting ducks (right) and rabbits (left).


Tomb of Userhat (TT56). Relief of new army recruits getting haircuts.




Tomb of Ramose (TT 55)






Tomb of Rekhmire (TT100)


Relief of woodworking and furniture shop/factory with Rekhmire supervising.






The very cool Tomb of Sennefer (TT6) with its psychedelic ceiling, and loving husband and wife. Notice how she touches/holds his arm.










And we climb back up to the surface. Whew!


And we walk down the hill in the 102 degrees F heat, and by the Colossi of Memmen. Done with the Nobles.