Karnak, town situated in Al-Uqṣur muḥāfaẓah (governorate), Upper Egypt, which has given its name toward the northern portion of the remnants of Thebes on the east bank of the Nile Waterway, including the remains of the Incomparable Sanctuary of Amon. Karnak and different areas of old Thebes — including Luxor, the Valley of the Lords, and the Valley of the Sovereigns — were all in all assigned an UNESCO World Legacy site in 1979.

Head out down the Nile to find significant old Egyptian social destinations like the Pyramids of Giza

A conversation of probably the main locales related with old Egypt.

Unearthings in the twentieth century pushed the historical backdrop of the site back to the Gerzean time frame (c. 3400-c. 3100 BCE), when a little settlement was established on the wide eastern bank of the Nile floodplain. Karnak contains the northern gathering of the Theban city sanctuaries, brought in old times Ipet-Isut, “Picked of Spots.” The remnants cover an extensive region and are as yet great, however there is no trace of the houses, royal residences, and nurseries that probably encircled the sanctuary area in old times. The most northerly sanctuary is the Sanctuary of Mont, the conflict god, of which little currently remains yet the establishments. The southern sanctuary, which has a horseshoe-formed hallowed lake, was committed to the goddess Mut, spouse of Amon; this likewise is highly demolished. The two sanctuaries were worked during the rule of Amenhotep III (1390-53), whose draftsman was remembered by sculptures in the Sanctuary of Mut.

Between these two areas lay the biggest sanctuary complex in Egypt, and one of the biggest on the planet, the extraordinary metropolitan sanctuary of the state god, Amon-Re. The complex was added to and modified at numerous periods and, in outcome, misses the mark on deliberate arrangement. It has been known as an extraordinary verifiable record in stone: in it are mirrored the fluctuating fortunes of the Egyptian domain. There could be no less than 10 arches, isolated by courts and corridors and these days numbered for accommodation, number one being the most recent expansion. Arches one through six structure the fundamental east-west hub driving toward the Nile. The seventh and eighth arches were raised in the fifteenth century BCE by Thutmose III and Sovereign Hatshepsut, separately, and the 10th and tenth during Horemheb’s rule (1319-1292). These arches framed a progression of processional doors at right points to the primary pivot, connecting the sanctuary with that of Mut toward the south and, farther, via the road of sphinxes, with the sanctuary at Luxor 2 miles (3 km) away.

There are not many surviving hints of the first Center Realm (1938-c. 1630 BCE) sanctuary save a little celebration place of worship of Sesostris I (ruled 1908-1875), presently recreated from sections tracked down inside the third arch. Toward the start of the New Realm (c. 1539-1075 BCE), Thutmose I (ruled 1493-c. 1482) encased this twelfth administration (1938-c. 1756 BCE) sanctuary with a stone wall and fronted it with two arches (the fourth and fifth), raising two monoliths before the new sanctuary exterior. His child, Thutmose II (ruled 1482-79), added an expansive celebration court before the extended sanctuary as well as one more sets of pillars. Hatshepsut then, at that point, embedded a quartzite bark sanctum committed to Amon in the focal point of the sanctuary, as well as two extra sets of pillars, one of which actually stands. In the rule of Thutmose III (1479-26) the sanctuary was extraordinarily developed; besides the fact that he added to the current designs and add an arch (the 6th) and pillared courts containing corridors in which he engraved the chronicles of his missions, however he likewise worked toward the east of the Center Realm region a cross over sanctuary as a celebration structure. On the walls of one of the back rooms of this sanctuary is cut a sort of pictorial list of the extraordinary creatures and plants he had brought back from Asia in the 25th year of his rule. Different increments were made by his replacements. Amenhotep III chose to destroy the celebration court, working in its stead the monster third arch, filled to a great extent with blocks from the destroyed designs. His child, Akhenaton (ruled 1353-36), fabricated a few enormous outdoors sanctuaries around the fringe of Karnak to pay tribute to his inclined toward divinity, the Aton, which were all later destroyed following the reclamation of the faction of Amon; talatat (little sandstone impedes that had been utilized in the development of the Aton sanctuaries) were utilized as development fill for the second, 10th, and tenth arches, raised by Horemheb.

The most striking component of the sanctuary at Karnak is the hypostyle corridor, which consumes the space between the third and second arches. The region of this tremendous lobby, one of the miracles of ancient times, is around 54,000 square feet (5,000 square meters). It was brightened by Seti I (ruled 1290-79) and Ramses II (ruled 1279-13), to whom a significant part of the development should be expected. Twelve huge segments, almost 80 feet (24 meters) high, upheld the material pieces of the focal nave over the level of the rest so that light and air could enter through a clerestory. Seven horizontal paths on either side carried the quantity of points of support to 134. Authentic reliefs on the external walls show the triumphs of Seti in Palestine and Ramses II overcoming the Hittites at the Skirmish of Kadesh.

Ramses III (ruled 1187-56) constructed a little sanctuary to Amon outside the Ramesside arch opposite a triple sanctum raised by Seti II (ruled 1204-1198). The Bubastite Door at the southeast corner of this court recognizes the triumphs won by Sheshonk I (ruled 945-924), the scriptural Shishak, in Palestine. The Kushite (Nubian) pharaoh Taharqa (ruled 690-664) raised a tall corridor, of which one support point actually stands. The more modest landmarks were consequently encased by the expansion of a huge court, likely started during the Late Time frame (664-332 BCE), fronted by the enormous first arch, an aggressive undertaking that was rarely finished. Past it a road of sphinxes — set up generally by Amenhotep III and usurped by Ramses II — prompts the quayside.

Built north of many years by Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Tutankhamun, and different pharaohs, Luxor Temple was the biggest and most huge strict focus in old Egypt. In what was then Thebes, Luxor Temple was “the spot of the Primary Event,” where the god Amon experienced resurrection during the pharaoh’s every year reenacted crowning liturgy service. Today, stays of this huge complex incorporate the epic Incredible Corridor Lobby, very nearly 61 meters in length, with 28 21 foot-high segments, its beautification generally attempted by Tutankhamun around 1330 B.C. A considerable lot of the Temple’s sidewalls were destroyed after the hour of the pharaohs and reused for building materials.

Life-size Sovereign Nefertari sculpture recuperated
Before unearthing during the 1960s, the Temple’s sandstone sections were in direct contact with salt-loaded groundwater that filtered into the stone. After exhuming, openness to changes in mugginess assembled these salts and sped up decay. Somewhere in the range of 2001 and 2007, World Landmarks Asset coordinated an award from the Robert W. Wilson Challenge to Save Our Legacy to the protection of Luxor Temple. North of 1,000 disintegrating blocks and engraved wall sections went through combination and treatment, which captured their rot and took into consideration beginning phases of recreation.

An external segment of the eastern mass of the Corridor Lobby was settled with a block support disguised with sandstone chunks to mix into the first stone of the Temple. One more significant gathering of 48 parts, which finishes the portrayal of the heavenly flatboat and towboats of the bird of prey headed moon-god Khonsu, was embedded into the foundation of that brace where it joins the wall. A daily existence size sculpture of Ramesses II’s central spouse Sovereign Nefertari, flawless to the knees, was recuperated, cleaned, and safeguarded. Unaccounted for parts of her legs were found, painstakingly got back to the sculpture, and furthermore secured.

The a huge number of sandstone sections recovered from the area of Luxor Temple contain cut and painted subtleties of hieroglyphic texts and Temple ceremonial scenes; once recognized, reported, and merged, many have been joined and reassembled into entire wall scenes, as a component of the Wilson Challenge Old Thebes Drive. Likewise supported by this challenge drive were the patio added to the Karnak Temple by Thutmosis III in 1400 B.C. furthermore, the Funeral home Temple of Amenhotep III in the Theban Necropolis.

The cruise on the Nile started around 2:00 pm. It was slow at first, but then the speed of the cruise increased as it glided on the waters of the River Nile. I had an excellent opportunity to take pictures from the open window of my room. The day was sunny, and its reflection on the blue waters provided a great photo opportunity, which I eagerly seized. I had purchased a large white Egyptian Galabeya, which I wore all day after my afternoon shower.
The Kom Ombo Temple is a double temple located in the town of Aswan. It was constructed during the Ptolemaic Dynasty, from 180 to 47 BC. Situated in the city of Nubi, which means the City of the Gods, the Kom Ombo Temple came into being in the 2nd century BC.

The temple is a double temple and pays homage to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon-headed God. Sobek is associated with the wicked God Seth, the enemy of Horus. According to the Myth of Horus, the allies of Seth made their escape by changing themselves into crocodiles. Until recently, the Nile waters were infested with these ferocious reptiles, which would attack both man and animal. The temple also houses mummified crocodiles. It is believed that worshipping the crocodiles would prevent them from attacking.

Sobek has magical powers over the waters of the Nile. Sobek’s wife is Renenutet, the goddess of plenty. Sobek is also associated with fertility and was revered for his ferocity and quick movement.

Horus was an Egyptian sky god and a pharaoh of Egypt. He was the only child of Osiris and Isis. He avenged the death of his father and became a Pharaoh of Egypt. During his fight with Seth, Horus loses his eyes, which Hathor later restores. This restoration came to symbolize the process of healing and becoming whole.

Horus was married to Hathor, the goddess of love. The Kom Ombo Temple is full of engravings depicting Horus and Sobek, and ancient stories are carved on the many walls of this fascinating double temple.
Adjacent to the temple is the crocodile museum, which displays mummified crocodiles. Visitors can explore the museum after visiting the Kom Ombo Temple.

Until then, enjoy the pictures of the Kom Ombo Temple and the sunset cruise on the Nile.

Today was going to be a tiring day for me. I was up early as I took a flight from Cairo to Aswan. It is a one-and-a-half-hour flight to Aswan from Cairo, and as stated in my tour itinerary, I had a tour guide who picked me up from the airport. We first proceeded to the Aswan Dam, one of Egypt’s largest dams. It was made with the help of the Soviets and over 2500 Egyptian engineers. The mammoth dam is situated on the mighty Nile River. It captures the mighty Nile River and is the third largest reservoir in the world built around Lake Naseer.

The United Kingdom first paid for it, then the United States spent 56 million and 14 million to construct the dam, respectively. In total, it cost 270 million dollars to build the dam.

I then took a motor boat into the lower dam area through the Naseer Lake to see the Philae Temple complex. The Philae Temple is dedicated to ISIS, the goddess of birth, healing, and magic, as well as her husband, Osiris, and her son, Horus.

The temple is the last place where the Egyptian religion survived after Christianity swept the entire region in 550 AD. The temple complex and its walls depict scenes from the Greco-Roman Period and Egyptian Mythology. Isis brings Osiris back to life, giving birth to Horus and mummifying Osiris after his death.

The Temple Complex was a favorite spot for novelists Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill. The novelist Agatha Christie’s novel The Death on the Nile was inspired by her cruise on the Nile.

The Temple of Philae Complex has three significant temples: the Temple of Arsenophis, the Temple of Isis, and the Mandoulis.

The carvings on the temple walls depict the mythological stories of that era. The Temple of Philae is an Island-based Temple complex based on the lower Aswan Dam. The temple of Philae is purely dedicated to the Goddess of Isis.

In the evening, I boarded the ship cruise that would take me on a three-day journey across the Nile. Till then, enjoy the pictures of the Aswan Dam and the mythical temple of Philae.

Suez is a seaport city in the northeast of Egypt known for the famous Suez Canal and is the capital of the Suez Governorate. Mainly a transport port, it has petroleum refineries connected by pipelines to Cairo.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 occurred when the Egyptian Government took control of the Suez Canal from the French and the British, who were managing it. This resulted in a crisis in which the US was also involved. The Egyptians, supported by the Russians, took control of the Suez Canal because they were furious at the Americans for not honoring their promise to pay for the Aswan Dam. They then started collecting tolls from the ships passing through the Canal; they wanted to use the revenue to pay and build the Aswan Dam.

The Suez Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea and was built by Ferdinand De Lesseps.

Suez National Museum

The city is a two-hour drive from Cairo and also hosts a very famous Museum called the Suez National Museum. I ventured into the Museum for some time to see the mummies and the tools used to build the canal and much of its waterways.

I enjoyed much of the prawns and lobsters at a local eatery while enjoying the pictures of my adventures for the day.

My first stop today with my guide Abdul was to see the Museum of the Golden Pharos. This event was held in Cairo, Egypt, when twenty-two ancient kings and queens’ mummies were moved from the Egyptian Museum to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. This is Egypt’s way of showing their pride in their ancient civilization. It also has a giant sculpture of Tutankhamun, the Golden Pharaoh. Pharaohs means the great house, whereas early Egyptian rulers were called Greta kings. The name Pharos stuck as they were considered intermediaries between Gods and Kings.  

The Twenty-Two Pharos included Rameses Two. He was an Egyptian Pharaoh, the third ruler of the nineteenth dynasty. He was also considered ancient Egypt’s most successful warrior pharaoh, who won over fifteen battles.

The Craven Church and The Martyrs of Sergius and Bacchus 

Sergius and Bacchus were two Roman Soldiers who lived during the reign of King Maximum. The churches were built in the 6th century under the patronage of Byzantine Emperor Justinian 1. The awe-inspiring church has stood the test of time, survived many conquests and even shattering earthquakes. The church is situated in the old Cairo area. Both the soldiers were martyred in Syria for their Christian faith in AD 296. 

I wandered into the church, lit a candle, and prayed for the soul of my slain father. I felt really at peace as I saw the priest perform his prayer ceremony.

Mosque of Al hakim bi Amr Allah 

The mosque named Al Anwar is situated in old Cairo City and was built by the 6th Fatimid Khalif. It has a grand entrance and a large courtyard with two minarets. The courtyard also has a huge water fountain and a marble bath for Wazu, which is used for washing before prayers begin. I spent almost an hour in the courtyard and then sat inside to witness the prayer ceremony.

The Catacomb of Kom El Shoqafa is an ancient Alexandria site considered one of the seven wonders of the Middle East. The catacombs were discovered when a donkey accidentally fell into the site in 1900; they are Egypt’s largest known burial site.

There is a famous story about the missing girl, Masha. In 2005, some teens from Odessa decided to spend the New Year party in the Catacombs. One girl, Marsha, got separated and lost herself in the Catacombs; she spent her nights wandering the catacombs and, on the third night, died of Dehydration.

The walls of the Catacomb depict the bearded serpent called Agathodaemon, a Greek spirit that brings good luck. The snakes wear the pharollc double crown of upper and lower Egypt. Carved into the stone above them are shields bearing the head of Gorgon Medusas, staring down at visitors with her stern and scary gaze.

The most interesting is the central panel, which depicts Osiris, the Egyptian God of the afterlife, death, and resurrection. Anubis, the God of death mummification, and the underworld are mummifying him.

The two lateral panels show the Egyptian Bull God Apis receiving gifts from a Pharos beside him. She holds the feather of truth, determining whether one can go safely into the afterlife.

The Catacomb dates back to the second century CE, and the structure goes to depths of a hundred feet. It was built using ancient rock-cutting technology.

A rope and pulley system through a large well lowered the dead into the tombs. In its entirety, the complex could carry more than 300 corpses.

The Catacombs have two famous tombs, the tombs of Emperor Tigrane and Wardian.

I spent half a day wandering and exploring the Catacombs with my guide, Samara, a local Egyptian woman who told me about the wonders of the place. After That, we proceeded to see the Alexandria Library. But the most fun part was having the seafood of lobsters, carbs, and fish for lunch at the local restaurant.

The rest of the day was spent exploring the Alexandria Library and admiring its sculptures.

Alexandra is an Egyptian port city almost an hour’s drive from central Egypt. It lies on the Nile Delta and is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second largest city in Egypt after Cairo and is 183 km from Cairo.

Enjoy the pictures of the bustling streets of the grand city of Alexandria.

The most exciting exploration so far has been exploring the Sphinx of Giza. The Great Sphinx of Giza is a Mythical creature with a woman’s head and a lion’s body. This is a limestone structure, and the Sphinx has the wings of a bird. In mythology, she challenges people who approach her with a riddle; if they fail to give the correct answer, she kills them and eats them. The belief is that King Hermes was buried there. The Great Sphinx is home to many tunnels and passageways that treasure hunters created.

The Sphinx has a broken nose, and it is said that a dervish named Mohammad Sami Al Dhar broke and smashed its nose. There is another story that a general in the Napoleon army split it. It was also carved from one single piece of limestone.

Archeologists believe that the Sphinx was built during Egypt’s Old Kingdom circa 2575 -2150 BC by the fourth dynasty Pharo Khafre.

The famous riddle that the Sphinx asked Oedipus was what if one voice goes on four feet in the morning, two feet in midday, and three feet in the evening? Oedipus answered Man. His answer was correct: the Sphinx killed herself, and as a reward, Oedipus got the throne of Thebes and the hand of the widowed Queen Jocasta. 

There is also the second riddle of the Sphinx, which is that there are two sisters. One gives birth to the other, and she, in turn, gives birth to the first. Who are the two sisters? The answer is day and night.

I explored the Sphinx on a camel and ventured deep near the pyramids; this was a magical evening I will never forget. There was also a dance party in the evening organized by a mobile phone service provider. Still, I was so overwhelmed by the image of the Sphinx of Giza that I gave it a miss and returned to my hotel with a guide, Abdul, in tow.

My Guide, Abdul Latif, arrived sharp at nine in the morning, but today, he had come in a new car, a Black Toyota, where I would be driven around the streets of Egypt. The Driver, a young man called Ali, wore a black leather jacket and smart sunglasses as we prepared for a rip-roaring tour around Egypt.

Our first stop was the mosque of Ali Pasha, a large ancient mosque teeming with students from schools and colleges desperately trying to get in with their respective history teachers, no doubt wanting to explore the ancient history of one of the most ancient mosques in Cairo city. Built in 1830 for his son, the mosque was commissioned by Ali Pasha. The great man was buried here in the courtyard, and his tomb is from Carrara Marble. The admission tickets cost from 180 EP to 90 EP for students, and they even have golf carts and tuk-tuk to ferry visitors from one side of the mosque to the other.

The dome height is 41 meters, and the minarets are 82 meters high. The mosque is a symbol of the Military power of the Ottoman Empire. Muhammad Ali converted to Sunni Islam and was more interested in the Sufi tradition, the mystical way of approaching Islam.

Authentic Brands Group owns the rights to the Muhammad Ali Pasha mosque and manages the estate of many celebrities worldwide.

The mosque has tall minarets, large chandeliers, hanging lamps, and beautifully painted walls.

Before entering the inner sanctum of the mosque, one has to wear plastic shoes so as not to sully the mosque’s internal floor and marble flooring. I spent a few hours just taking in the breathtaking beauty of the mosque, and then Abdul Latif decided to take me to another beautiful place, a museum full of mummies and tombs.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities was where I got lost for hours. It is a large museum full of mummies and old sculptures of ancient Egyptian Kings and Gods. There is a room full of animal mummies, treasures, and gold artifacts of ancient kings and Egyptian queens.

I was fascinated by the giant sculpture of Ra, the great Egyptian sun god who flies in the sky on a chariot with the head of a Falcon. Then, there was the giant sculpture of Sekhmet, the daughter of the sun god Ra. She breathes fire, and the city winds of the desserts are linked to her; she also causes plague when angered.

The nine Egyptian Gods are Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Isis, Seth, and Nepythys. I explored the museum to my heart’s content and spent a lot of time on the first floor exploring the treasures of ancient kings.

As of now, enjoy the pictures of old Egyptian mummies and the colorful caskets they were kept in.