Shiney in Egypt

Hi borrowers

Admittedly we have been very lucky. We were normal tourists but managed to get friendly with the right people. This shouldn't make any difference to the photos. You aren't seeing the hundreds I took that were cr*p!

The scale of the structures is fantastic. They say that the builders weren't slaves but I'm not very certain about that.


In Luxor there is another site which is that of Luxor Temple. As with a lot of the old sites they were buried under the desert sands and people didn't know they were there. Consequently other buildings were built and it wasn't until more recent times that they found the temples underneath the buildings.

This next picture shows a building that was erected thirty foot higher than the original temple underneath. The builders thought they were building at ground level!



It was above the courtyard of Luxor Temple.

This is the entrance.








We were told that any statue that was built with the persons left leg forward was built whilst they were alive.










You can see how tall the pillars are.

 

Memphis was the early capital of Egypt and this is the open air museum at Memphis.


This carving is known as the Memphis Triad and is of the God Ptah, his consort Sekhmet and their son Nefertem. Sorry about the sign for the toilet in the background. If you do go to Memphis don't bank on wanting to use that toilet!




This is a Sphinx made of alabaster






The statues are said to represent Rameses II








Considering how old these carvings are they are in remarkably good condition.

 

The Saqqara step pyramid and temple is just down the road from Memphis.

Although the frontage of the temple is very well preserved there is not much inside.

This photo is not one of mine but was sent to me by a friend and shows the frontage very well.




Part of the remains



plus a couple of souvenir vendors




The step pyramid is said to be the earliest one and predates the famous ones at Cairo. As you can see it is a completely different style.

 

Like Abu Simbel that had to be resited because of the building of the High Aswan Dam that was going to flood the valley, Philae Temple was resited onto an island to protect it.

So to see the temple you have to take a boat.

Our driver was a little young.



And very pensive




Approaching the temple







The main entrance

 

Philae by night










The seven doorways to the inner temple







And outside

 

Queen Hatchepsut was the only female ruler and wore mens clothing and a false beard.

Her Palace was built against and into the hillside.













Mrs shiney and friend




At the top level she had a tunnel cut through the mountain so that when she died they could take her body through the tunnel to the Valley of the Queens which was the other side.

 

They are now excavating a new area a few hundred yards from the Palace which is not open to the public






Of course, you must have a sail on the Nile.









And make sure you don't hit the other boats

 

And have a bit of a song and dance




Some tombs built into the river bank




The leisurely life along the river bank.

 

A Little Egret




The sun sets on a wonderful day on the river

 

Cajary :D :D :D

 

In our friend's village





The children have just been given their pencils





Off to play




Local transport




A Hoopoe/Hoopoo




For BananaMan