Learning Family Explores Egyptian Temples

Karnak, Luxor, Jan 28, 1999

This picture was taken in the main courtyard of the great temple at Karnak.  It's a huge place that was built and added to for a period of over 1300 years. 

The original temple was built to the god Amun when he was considered the main deity.  Amenophis I built a chapel during his reign; Tuthmosis I added some pylons and obelisks.  Queen Hatchepsut added more walls and obelisks, while Tuthmosis III built more pylons and the Festival Hall.  Amenophis III started the Great Hypostyle Hall, and Amenophis IV (sometimes known as Akhenaton), who turned away from the god Amun, added on, but most of his additions were destroyed.  Tutankhamun reinstated Amun as the national god, and Seti I and his son, Rameses II, completed the Hypostyle Hall, which is the largest temple in the world.

Temple of Hatshepsut

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We walked from the Valley of the Kings, over the ridge to the temple of Hatshepsut. A young boy offered to show us the trail (for a fee, of course). He was very entertaining. The hike took us about an hour, with some hydration stops along the way.

As we came to the top of the ridge, we were able to get a spectacular view of Hatshepsut's temple. She was the only woman to rule Egypt as Pharaoh (Cleopatra hasn't been considered Pharaoh, though she was the ruling queen). The scale of her temple is incredible, almost as if she was making a statement to her people that she was every bit as good as a man.

Inside the temple are more of the typical carvings depicting the divine right of the Pharaoh to rule, and her place along side the Gods after her death.

We had heard about the massacre of tourists that happened on November 17, 1997, but didn't know much about it. We were living in Japan at the time. We did see quite a few armed guards on the grounds. We found out later that we were walking in the very place where dozens of tourists were killed. We didn't feel unsafe at all, though we did feel a bit of reverence while walking around.

Hatchepsut : The Female Pharaoh
by Joyce Tyldesley

The only woman to reign as Pharaoh, Hatchepsut left her mark on the culture and history of Egypt.

What Amanda learned about Egyptian Temples

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Make this Egyptian Temple by Usborne books.

This cut-out model is based on the great Karnak Temple in Luxor. You'll have fun getting even closer as you build the greatest temple in the world!

Harrison's notes from Karnak and Luxor

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Harrison taking notes outside the first pylon at Karnak

The Egyptian News
by Scott Steedman (Editor)

Susan's Karnak Report

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Rob's thoughts about Luxor

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Thebes was chosen as capitol of Egypt in early 1500bce by Amunhotep I, I think, because he was from this part of the Nile.  Each town had its own patron deity, and in this case it was Amun.  In the Old Kingdom people had worshiped many gods, with Ra (Re) being the most powerful, or the Sun god.  But when the people of Thebes reunited Egypt, they believed their local God Amun must be the most powerful, so they elevated him to the status of the Supreme God, and called him Amun-Re.

After spending some time in Luxor, I began to fully realize the grandeur that must have existed in ancient Egypt, especially when compared with other civilizations of the time.  Thebes was the capitol 1,000 years after the first pyramid was built in Saqarra.  Much must have changed between then and the time the Temple at Luxor was being built.  There were already two periods adding up to several hundred years when Egypt was not united or occupied by foreign powers.

Historical Deception : The Untold Story of Ancient Egypt
by Moustafa Gadalla

A controversial view of the historical influence of Ancient Egypt on modern day cultures.

Scenes of the Luxor temple at night. It is a very beautiful place in the daytime, but the lighting they've added make it take on an ageless appearance at night. I enjoyed my solo walk through just before our bus back to Cairo.

Amanda, Tanalee and Jon at the Alley of the Sphinxes of Nectanebo I. This row of statues once extended for 3 km to the Temple of Karnak.

Man trimming palms near the entrance.

Smiling Ramses II. I spent over an hour sketching this in my notepad. I don't feel like I'm an artist, but I had fun. A young woman came to sit next to me, talking with some friends, (in Arabic, of course). She looked over once in a while, making me a bit nervous. When I finally decided to call it quits, she said, "where's his smile?" in great English. I was surprised. His smile is very hard to draw, and I had struggled with it, but she was right. He has sort of a smug look to his face. She turned out to be a tour guide, and ended up showing us some interesting things inside Luxor Temple.

The Mosque of Abu el'Haggag was built during the 13th century ce. in the court of Ramesses II inside Luxor temple. It's an interesting contrast to see this Islamic church built right on top of the walls of an ancient Egyptian temple.

Cleopatra's Palace : In Search of a Legend
by Laura Foreman, Franck Goddio

We didnt' get to go to Alexandria, one of our original plans. We would have loved to learn more about the Greek influence, the Ptolomies and Cleopatra.

Questions & Answers from our visitors

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Links

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• The Queen who would be King - Duke University's excellent site about Hatsheput
• Massacre in Luxor - Yahoo! archive news about the massacre at Hatshepsut's Temple near Luxor.
• A Year after Luxor - What tourism is like a year after the massacre.

Resources

Check these out from your local library, or buy them here. When you buy books here, you get the same great Amazon.com price, and help keep these pages going.

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For Younger Readers

For Older Readers

Life in Ancient Egypt (Coloring Book) by John Green Detailed pictures of of people in daily life during the time of the Pharaohs. All are pretty realistic, and some have drawings of real places in Egypt. (Some of our Color Me pictures came from this book.)

Make this Egyptian Temple Usborne books. This cut-out model is based on the great Karnak Temple in Luxor. You'll have fun getting even closer as you build the greatest temple in the world!

Hatchepsut : The Female Pharaoh by Joyce Tyldesley Perhaps the most powerful woman in the world until Margaret Thatcher, this book describes the Queen Pharaoh and the history of her reign. Known for some spectacular temples and broad trading expeditions, Hatshepsut is an important part of the history of Egypt.

Thebes in Egypt; A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor by Nigel Strudwick, Helen M. Strudwick A thorough account of the sites and significance of Luxor, one of the world's richest archaeological sites. Includes expert analysis, along with plentiful photos, illustrations and maps. Great study for those who've always wanted to learn about Egypt, or are planning a trip to Luxor.

Historical Deception : The Untold Story of Ancient Egypt by Moustafa Gadalla A controversial view of the historical influence of Ancient Egypt on modern day cultures. Moustafa Gadalla has been honored by President Mubarak and others, as a radical new thinker in the field of Egyptology. Historical Deception is his attempt to use the archaeological evidence, not traditional stories, to explain the origins and significance of many of todays cultural mysteries.

Cleopatra's Palace : In Search of a Legend by Laura Foreman, Franck Goddio Companion book to the Discovery Channel special of the same title. Franck Goddio looks in Alexandria harbor for the remains of the legendary palace of Egypt's last ancient ruler, the Greek queen who finally succumbed to the Roman Empire. We didnt' get to go to Alexandria, one of our original plans. We would have loved to learn more about the Greek influence, the Ptolomies and Cleopatra.