Day 8 11/9/22
Egypt - Luxor
Frank's Trip
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Luxor is the modern name of the ancient city of Thebes
Valley of the Kings and more ...
The current city of Luxor is the site of the famous city of Thebes of Ancient Egypt. For a time beginning around 2000 BC it was the capital of Ancient Egypt
The West Bank of Luxor is where the funerary complexes are. The Valley Of The Queens and Valley Of The Kings and other sites.
Today I visited the tombs of the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut and a quick stop for the Colossi of Memnon
~~ 14 Videos inside Tombs on this page ~~
Want To Go With A Tour Group?
What are the benefits of taking a tour with a group? That depends on what you consider a "benefit". Obviously, your transport is all set up and you get to go where they want to take you and stay as long as the operators want.
Before going into an attraction you will get a long spiel about it from the guide. During the tour at almost every point: another long spiel. Yes, they will tell you all about it. No, you won't remember 1/4 of it by the time the tour of that particular attraction is finished. By the time you get back to your hotel: maybe 10% if you were really paying attention. ~~OR~~ You could do some research on the Internet and find out as much as you want and make some notes to take with you...
Of course, you'll also get the benefit of socializing with the other tour members. That way you'll know who is crowding in front of you to get pictures at each attraction or point in an attraction. And, of course, since you move as a group you won't be able to spend extra time or get some space for good photos ~~OR~~ instead of having the time and space to see what you want, you can wait a little bit for a group to come along and just follow along with them.
I think those are the best points. Don't even think about the parts of an attraction you'll miss because it doesn't lend itself to a group visiting it or doesn't fit within the time frame. It just goes downhill from there.
Get some really great photos while elbowing your way through the middle of the group.
Don't worry, you won't be there long because the group must move along to keep to a schedule.
The Valley of the Kings is much like the Valley of the Queens. What is there to see are the tombs carved into the hillsides. There are several tombs open to the public at a given time - to "rest" the tombs or do renovations some are closed and others are then opened. The ticket to Valley of the Kings includes entry to 3 tombs - your choice of 3 of the several open tombs. Other tombs are also available for viewing with an additional special ticket - just like Queen Nefertari's tomb in the Valley of the Queens. The pictures are of the open tombs I visited that were included in the ticket and the final one is the tomb of Rameses V and Rameses VI - which requires the special ticket. Obviously, the "freebies" don't quite measure up to the tombs that require a special ticket.
Resting spot for visitors
A group entering one of the tombs
KV2:
Tomb of Rameses IV
Newly opened tomb
The decor in Rameses IV tomb is that of a book lover! It includes: The Book of Gates, the Book of Caverns, the Litany of Ra, the Book of Nut, the Book of the Night, the Book of the Earth
Videos: Tomb of Rameses IV
5 short videos inside the tomb KV2
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KV11:
Tomb of Rameses III
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Videos: Tomb of Rameses III
3 short videos inside the tomb KV11
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KV 14:
Tausert / Setnakht
2 Burial Chambers. Tomb of Tausert usurped by Setnakht with alteration of text and figures
Videos: Tausert / Setnakht
2 short videos inside the tomb KV14
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KV 9: Rameses V and Rameses VI
This tomb was begun for Rameses V but taken over and completed by Rameses VI. There is a pit in the floor of the Sarcophagus Chamber.
This isn't a particularly large tomb but it is in excellent condition.
Videos: Rameses V and Rameses VI
4 short videos inside the tomb KV9
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Running The Gauntlet
On the West Bank of Luxor the attractions are spread apart and people are getting to the on tour busses or taxis. So, the normal conglomeration of merchants around attractions in more urban areas isn't at these places.
Never Fear! After getting your admission ticket and before the entrance to some attractions on the West Bank (Valleys of the Kings & Queens) there is a long "street" of mostly souvenir sellers along with water, snacks, and sodas. And they all have a deal for you... usually the same deal the guy 30 seconds ago had... and if you even look, they'll follow along with you.
Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut - Deir al-Bahari
Built to honor Amon-Re (ancient Egypt's sun god) and the female pharaoh Hatshepsut (who was believed to have descended from Amon-Re), the Temple of Hatshepsut stands out for its grand architecture and jaw-dropping landscape. Situated at the base of limestone cliffs in Deir el-Bahri, this funerary temple features three tiers of porticos with statues, pillars and hieroglyphs.
Although some elements of this historic structure were damaged from vandalism, overall it is well preserved on the grand scale.
The Sun Cult
Upper Anubis Shrine
in the Temple of Hatshepsut
Colossi of Memnon
They're BIG! They're UGLY. Really, they're HUGE and ugly. A couple photos show people near them - note how miniscule the people look compared to the Colossi.
The Colossi of Memnon are two monumental statues representing Amenhotep III (1386-1353 BC) of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. They are located west of the modern city of Luxor and face east looking toward the Nile River. The statues depict the seated king on a throne ornamented with imagery of his mother, his wife, the god Hapy, and other symbolic engravings. The figures rise 60 ft high and weigh 720 tons each; both carved from single blocks of sandstone.
