The temples of Luxor

 

We docked in Hurghada about 9 AM. This is a resort town of about 250,000. The drive to Luxor takes about 7 hours, so we flew.

Luxor, then known as Thebes, was the capital of the New Kingdom. Our primary visit was to the Temple of Karnak, meaning fortified village. The temple was built by numerous pharaohs from 1971 BC to 30 BC. The temple is dedicated to a 3-god family with Amun-Re as its head.

Entrance to Karnak Temple

We start with the newest structure, two gigantic walls or pylons, which are unfinished. Behind the walls, there are remnants of the brick ramp used to place the stones of the wall. These walls have no carvings. Just inside are 3 small temples to the 3 gods. Opposite these temples is a side temple built by Ramses III. We know because his cartouche has his two names, his birth name, and his coronation name. 

Cartouche of Ramses II

On the right side, we see him with the red crown of the lower Nile receiving the sword of bravery from God Amun while killing his enemy. On the left side is the same scene, but the king is wearing the white crown of the upper Nile. Inside the courtyard of this small temple, we see the king receiving the symbols of long life, stability, and power. The next room is the garden with stone plants holding up the ceiling. Returning to the main temple, we see two statues of Ramses II. One has him stepping forward, saying he was alive when it was carved. The next has the feet aligned, meaning the king had died. From here we enter the garden area, called the Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 columns each column represents a papyrus plant. The center columns have an open flower, since the windows would have these flooded with light. The inner columns on each side would hold the stone roof, here the flowers are closed. In the last few years, the soot around the temple has been removed, letting the ancient colors appear. 

Great Hypostyle Hall

Here are two of the obelisk built by Queen Hatshepsut, the tallest in the world at the time, the largest weighs 323 tons. Finally, we reached the Holy of Holies where only the chief priest and pharaoh could enter.

Later that evening, we walked to the Luxor temple, built with the same structure, but smaller built in 1400 BCE. We watched as the lights came on as darkness approached. Within the temple is the Abu Haggag mosque built in 640.  Our hotel that night was the Sonesta St. George with the Nile in it’s backyard.

Luxor Temple