The open air museum of Egypt is undoubtedly Luxor. Situated on the upper Nile valley we reached Luxor from the Red Sea port of Safaga.
The drive through the Eastern Desert of Egypt took about three hours, again as everywhere else in Egypt accompanied by an armed guard and police escort throughout the way.
This was my third visit to Luxor within 18 months and every time I am enchanted more about the antiquities that are all scattered around this city.
Luxor is divided into two, the Eastern Side of the Nile River is home to the Temples and the Western Side was used as the Burial Side. The believe that the sun setting in the West would mark the entrance to the Underworld hence the resting place of the Kings and Queens were separated from the places of worship and celebration.
Karnak Temple is still my favorite. Close to the river Nile this temple was used by various Kings and Queens each adding and changing their own pieces to it. Resemblance of the hate between one another can be found where signs of one and other were removed, some parts of the temple destroyed and the stones used to build another fixture. For me it is unimaginable how men build the massive rooms of columns and huge pillars as well as enormous obelisks. The work force and time utilized where machinery was still primitive is simply amazing. The art work found on walls and pillars tells us stories of war and victory, of celebration and times of disaster, of the animals and plants brought from far away places and the way of worship. Color can be still found on walls and ceilings used by artists 2000 years ago.
Luxor Temple close by was once connected to Karnak Temple. Also here the rooms of worship are lined with massive pillars remembering the times of the mighty Pharaohs. Before being unearthed Christian influence used part of the temple as Church and today a Mosque thrones above the temple above all that was unknown when it was built. One of the obelisks originally from the Luxor Temple can be found at the Place de la Concorde in Paris today.
At night one should visit the Karnak Light and Sound Show. It is a bit long with 90 minutes but gives an opportunity to explore and enjoy the temple with Aida and fascinating lights.
On the Western Side of the mighty Nile River are the burial grounds for numerous of the Kings and Queens. The valley of King is home to the tomb of Tutankhamon, which is one of the smallest but also interesting one, since it lays directly below the tomb of Ramses XI. Grave robbers at the time never realized that there was another tomb below hence Ramses grave was empty and Tutankhamons was still filled with precious gifts for the journey to the underworld, however today all of those items are gone and on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Hatshepsuts Tomb was impressively built into the rocks of the Western Desert. However the hatred of Ramses one of the predecessors was the result that it all was destroyed.
Another temple that should not be missed on the West Bank is the Habu Temple. Impressive walls and huge gates surround the area of worship here and again some very interesting scenes of the ancient time can be found on all the walls and pillars.
The only resemblance of another temple is near by at the Colossi of Memmon. However all the walls have disappeared and been used to build other temples on the West Bank.
In comparison to the bustling and somewhat chaotic city of Cairo Luxor is simply amazing. I think one needs weeks to explore all the areas and go through all the tombs, and all stands in contrast to one of the most advance civilizations at the time, to what Luxor seems today. An impoverished city that strives to survive by tourism and some agriculture that can be found in the fertile 15 km belt of the Nile valley.
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