No site in all of Egypt has contributed more to our understanding of everyday village life for the common Egyptian than Deir el-Medina. Often referred to as “The Valley of the Workers”, Deir el-Medina is home to the remains of an ancient Egyptian settlement which would have been simply known as Pa Demi (“The Village”) … Continue reading Explore Life as an Ancient Egyptian at Deir el-Medina
From devious assassination plots to usurp the throne, to epic battles fought on land and sea, and a face that even Hollywood couldn’t resist, the story of Ramses III really does have a little something for everyone. The 2nd Pharaoh to rule in the 20th dynasty, Ramses III’s reign lasted over 30 years and was … Continue reading History, Mystery & Murder at Medinet Habu
While many of us are familiar with the story of Cleopatra (thank you Elizabeth Taylor), and quite possibly have heard of Nefertiti, the real female super star of Egyptian history was Hatshepsut. In thousands of years of Egyptian history, she was the only woman to rule the kingdom, not as a Queen, but as a … Continue reading The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
Sometime around the start of the New Kingdom, the pharaohs realized that, maybe, just maybe, it might be a good idea to hide their tombs a bit better. I guess they finally figured out that building a giant pyramid that could be seen for miles to mark the spot where you had just buried yourself … Continue reading Adventure To The Valley Of The Kings
We had read and dreamed so much about Thebes, and it had always seemed so far away, that but for this delicate allusion to the promised sheep, we could hardly have believed we were really drawing nigh unto those famous shores. About ten, however, the mist was lifted away like a curtain, and we saw … Continue reading The Colossi Of Memnon
Located approximately 2.5 hours north of Luxor by car, and around 6 miles west of the Nile river, the temple of Seti I at Abydos is simultaneously one of the most important, yet often one of the most overlooked temples in all of Egypt due to it’s somewhat out of the way locale. I mean, … Continue reading Journey To Abydos & The Temple Of Seti I
Encompassing over 430,556 square feet, the Dendera temple complex is massive and was a site of religious importance to the Ancient Egyptians as far back as Pharaoh Pepi I (ca. 2250 BC). However, the most impressive building dominating the site today is without doubt the Temple Of Hathor, which was built primarily during the Ptolemaic … Continue reading Explore The Temple Of Hathor At Dendera
Built by New Kingdom pharaoh Amenhotep III (1390-52 BC) and situated parallel to the banks of the Nile, right smack dab in the heart of modern day Luxor (the city would have been known as Thebes to the ancient Egyptians), Luxor Temple by night is a hauntingly magical and wonderfully atmospheric experience not to be … Continue reading Luxor Temple By Night
A relative labyrinth of temples, sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons, obelisks and statuary, the Karnak Temple Complex encompasses over 200 acres of land and is the second largest religious site in the world (the Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia is the largest). To give you some perspective here, that means you could fit about 10 cathedrals the … Continue reading The Karnak Temple Complex
Almost completely buried in the desert sands when French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette stumbled across the site in 1860, the temple at Edfu had been completely consumed by the village. The roof of the sanctuary area was covered in mud-brick houses, exposed parts of the temple were filled with stables and storehouses, and the inner chambers … Continue reading Exploring Edfu Temple
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