Tag: architecture

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Ancient City of Thebes, Luxor

Luxor, the ancient city of Thebes, and the capital of {Upper} Egypt during the New Kingdom, may well have been an important site as early as the Middle Kingdom. During the reign of Hatshepsut the road linking Luxor to Karnak began, and under the pharaoh Amenhotep III Luxor first came into prominence. Ramses II erected a number of statues of himself in addition to enormous pylons and obelisks.

The road to Luxor from Karnak is lined with sphinxes, creatures with the body of a lion and head of a man, which represents the pharaoh Amon. Thebes was a city of importance both politically and culturally, and was ideally situated to facilitate trade between Egypt and Nubia {Sudan}. Columns with papyrus capitals line the colonnade into Luxor and are an amazing site to experience once the sun goes down, and nothing compares to seeing the columns and statues lit up at night. Your mind races, as you are transported back in time, dreaming of walking through the avenues of this ancient city.

Travel stylishly,
K

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Giza Plateau and Sphinx

Archeological records indicate that the Pyramids of Giza were built between 2589 and 2504 BC, and are relics of Egypt’s’ Old Kingdom. This plateau of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid known as the Great Pyramid’.

The first of these monumental tombs was built for the Pharaoh Khufu, and is the largest pyramid at 481 feet. Khufu’s son the Pharaoh Khafre built the second pyramid, and his necropolis included the Sphinx, which is a limestone monument with the body of a lion and a head of a human. The third of the Pyramids is the smallest and was built by Pharaoh Menkaure.

The ancient engineering feats at Giza are most impressive that scientist of today are not sure how the pyramids were built. Yet they have learned about the people who built the structures. The builders were skilled workers who lived nearby, and digs on the sites have revealed a highly organized community, rich with resources. Tomb art includes depictions of an ancient world of farmers working fields, fishing, tending livestock, and doing carpentry.

Travel stylishly,
K