.
|
|
|
Visit the most historical places of
Egypt and see an exhibition of photographs showing the
different historical places.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
| Much
of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi
came from quarries in the Aswan
area. Around these quarries are many inscriptions, many
of which describe successful quarrying projects. The
Unfinished Obelisk located in the Northern Quarry
still lies where a crack was discovered as it was being
hewn from the rock. Possibly intended as a companion
to the Lateran Obelisk, originally at Karnak but now
in Rome, it would have weighed over 2.3 million pounds
and would have been the worlds largest piece of stone
ever handled. However, a crack in the stone occurred,
which caused it to be abandoned. Tools left by it's
builders have given us much insight into how such work
was performed. The site has recently been renovated
and equipped with tourist facilities. Nearby is the
Fatimid Cemetery |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Tombs of the Pharaohs
|
| |
|
The Egyptian belief that "To speak the name of
the dead is to make him live again" is certainly
carried out in the building of the tombs. The king's
formal names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along
with his images and statues. Beginning with the 18th
Dynasty and ending with the 20th, the kings abandoned
the Memphis area and built their tombs in Thebes. Also
abandoned were the pyramid style tombs. Most of the
tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar
pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken
sarcophagus chamber. These catacombs were harder to
rob and were more easily concealed. Construction usually
lasted six years, beginning with the new reign. The
text in the tombs are from the Book of the Dead, the
Book of the Gates and the Book of the Underworld. |
| |
Entry to the Valley
of the Kings |
| |
Ramesses
IV
Three white corridors descend to the sarcophagus chamber.
The chambers ceilings depict the goddess Nut. The lid
of the pink granite sarcophagus is decorated with Isis
and Nephthys, which were meant to serve as guardians
over the body. Their duties fell short, however, as
the tomb was robbed in ancient times. Originally the
priests placed the sarcophagus in Amenhotep II II's
tomb in order to hide the body, which was a common practice. |
| |
Ramesses IX
Two sets of steps lead down to the tomb door that is
decorated with the Pharaoh worshipping the solar disc.
Isis and Nephthys stand behind him on either side. Three
corridors lead into an antechamber that opens into a
pillared hall. The passage beyond that leads to the
sarcophagus chamber.
0000000000000000000000000000000000 |
 |
| |
|
Merneptah
The steep descent into the tomb is typical of the
designs of the XIX Dynasty. The entrance is decorated
with Isis and Nephthys worshipping the solar disc.
Text from the Book of the Gates line the corridors.
The outer granite lid of the sarcophagus is located
in the antechamber, while the lid of the inner sarcophagus
is located down more steps in the pillared hall. Carved
on the pink granite lid is the figure of Merneptah
as Osiris.
Ramesses
VI
Originally built for Ramesses V, three chambers and
a 4th pillared chamber was added by Ramesses VI. Complete
texts of the Book of the Gates, the Book of Caverns
and the Book of Day and Night line the chambers. Portions
of the Book of the Dead are located in the pillared
chamber, along with scenes of the skygoddess, Nut
|
| |
The Burial Chamber in the Tomb of Ramesses VI |
| |
Ramesses
III
The tomb is sometimes referred to as the "Harpers
Tomb" due to the two harpers playing to the gods
in four of the chambers. Ten small chambers branch off
of the main corridors. These were for the placement
of tomb furniture |
| |
Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III at Medinet Habu |
| |
Seti I
The longest tomb in the valley, 100m, contains very
well preserved reliefs in al
l of its eleven chambers and side rooms.
One of the back chambers is decorated
with the Ritual of the Opening of the Mouth, which stated
that the mummy's eating and drinking organs were properly
functioning. Believing in the need for these functions
in
the afterlife, this was a very important ritual. The
sarcophagus is now in the Sir John
Soane Museum, London. |
 |
| |
|
Tuthmosis
III
The approach to this unusual tomb is an ascent up
wooden steps, crossing over a pit, and then a steep
descent down into the tomb. The pit was probably dug
as a deterrent to tomb robbers. Two small chambers,
decorated with stars, and a larger vestibule are in
front of the sarcophagus chamber, which is uniquely
rounded and decorated with only red and black.
Amenhotep
II
A steep flight of stairs and a long unadorned corridor
lead to the sarcophagus chamber. Three mummies, Tuthmosis
IV, Amenhotep II III and Seti II, were found in one
side room and nine mummies were found in another.
Horemheb
This tomb's construction is identical to that of Seti
I's with the exception of some of the inner decorations.
Tutankhamun
Though small and unimpressive, Tutankhamun's Tomb
is probably the most famous, due to its late discovery.
Howard Carter's description upon opening the tomb
in 1922 was, "At first I could see nothing, the
hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle
flames to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew
accustomed to the light, details of the room within
emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues
and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment
- an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing
by - I was dumb with amazement, and when Lord Carnarvon,
unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired
anxiously, 'Can you see anything?' it was all I could
do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things."'
The royal seal on the door was found intact. The first
three chambers were unadorned, with evidence of early
entrance through one of the outside walls. The next
chamber contained most of the funerary objects. The
sarcophagus was four guilded wooden shrines, one inside
the other, within which lay the stone sarcophagus,
three mummiform coffins, the inner one being solid
gold, and then the mummy. Haste can be seen in the
reliefs and the sarcophagus, due to the fact that
Tutankhamun died at only 19 years of age following
a brief reign. Though extremely impressive to the
modern world, the treasures of Tutankhamun must have
paled when compared to the tombs of the great Pharaohs
that ruled for many years during Egypt's golden age.
|
| |
From the Tomb of Tutankhamun |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Nefertari |
There are between 75 and 80 tombs in the Valley
of the Queens, or Biban al-Harim. These
belong to Queens of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties.
These include
The Tomb of Khaemwese (Tomb 44): Scenes in Khaemwese's
tomb show him being presented to the guardians of
the gates to the afterlife along with his father.
He is making an offering in the scene, and is dressed
in a robe, wearing a necklace and the sidelocks of
youth.
The Tomb of Queent Titi (Tomb 52): She is probably
the queen of a 20th Dynasty. She is depicted
with the sidelocks common to the Egyptian young of
the period and in the presence
|
|
of the gods Thoth, Atum, Isis and Nephthys.
In the next chamber the queen is shown making offerings
to Hator the cow, and in the last chamber the gods
Neith, Osiris, Selquit, Nephthys and Thoth.
The Tomb of Amenhikhopeshef (Tomb 55): Amenhikhopeshef
was a son of Ramses III and scenses show him with
his father and the gods Thoth, Ptah and others. He
was probably about nine years old when he died.
Scenes show him being presented to various gods, including
Anubis, the Jackal-headed god of the dead, by his
father, Ramses III. A premature baby was also found
in to tomb. This belonged to this mother, who aborted
upon learning of Amenhikhopeshef's death.
The Tomb of Nefertari (Tomb 66): One of five
wives of Ramses II, Nefertari was his favorite and
the tomb here has been is said to be one of the most
beautiful in Egypt. The tomb is completely painted
with scenes though out. In most of these, Nefertari,
known as 'the most beautiful of them', is accompanied
by gods. She is usually wearing a golden crown
with two feathers extended from the back of a vulture
and clothed in a white, gossamer gown. Be sure
not to miss the side room where one scene depicts
the queen worshipping the mummified body of Osiris.
Near the stairs to the burial chamber is another wonderful
scene with Nefertarti offering milk to the goddess
Hathor.
|
|
|
|
|
