Egypt

"I can feel the fascination. This desert life, this probing into the heart of a vanished civilization." Agatha Christie.

The rich history of ancient Egypt covers approximately 1,000 years between 2686 and 1069 BC. It is divided into three periods: the Old Kingdom, c. 2686 - 2181 BC, the Middle Kingdom c. 2061 - 1690 BC, and the New Kingdom c. 1550 - 1069 BC. Each period had many rulers, capitals, methods of burial, architectural and artistic styles, religions, beliefs in a journey into an afterlife, an abundance of deities, and the wealth necessary to fund their quest for immortality.

The Old Fashioned Way
Traditional drilling techniques still used in rural Luxor
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic People at work Street Scenes Thebes people sacred carving
Lonely Pyramid
Dahshur necropolis, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Cairo Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Pyramid sacred carving
Making Arabic bread
In a village outside Dahshur, in rural Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Cairo Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic People at work person sacred carving
Pyramids of Giza
Giza Pyramids c. 2560 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Pyramid sacred carving
Sphinx
Giza Pyramids c. 2560 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Pyramid Sphinx sacred carving
Citadel of Saladin
12th century hilltop fortress commissioned by sultan Saladin
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic sacred carving
Coptic church
Interior of Coptic church, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic sacred carving
Coptic church interior
Interior of Coptic church, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Coptic Church Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic sacred carving
Shisha delight
Khan el-Khalili souk, Cairo. The shisha, or hookah, is a water pipe apparently even more popular among women than men.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic sacred carving
Mosque
Khan el-Khalili souk, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Mosque National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot sacred carving
Saladin Lamp
Khan el-Khalili souk, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Street Scenes sacred carving
One Souk entrance
Khan el-Khalili souk entrance , Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writing Cairo Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Souk Street Scenes sacred carving
134 Massive columns
Karnac Temple, started c. 2000 - 1700 BC. Famous for pillars and obelisks Part of 134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Obelisk Temple Thebes sacred carving
Obelisk
Karnac Temple, Luxor
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Obelisk Temple Thebes sacred carving
Light of Antiquity
Luxor Temple c. 1400 BC. at Luxor. Originally called Thebes, it is known for Egypt's oldest and most Ancient sites and popular for its night lighting.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor Monument National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Temple Thebes sacred carving
Obelisk at night
Luxor temple 1400 BC. The obelisk standing at the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris was originally located at the entrance to this temple.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor Monument National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Obelisk Temple Thebes sacred carving
Alcove
Luxor temple 1400 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor Monument National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Temple Thebes sacred carving
Story of the Night
Luxor temple 1400 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor Monument National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Temple Thebes sacred carving
Light of Luxor
Luxor temple 1400 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor Monument National Geographic Night Night Photography Night Shoot Night shot Temple Thebes sacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
c. 1342 - 1325 BC. Valley of the Kings. Paintings that adorn the walls of the tomb.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs King Tut Luxor National Geographic Thebes Tomb Tutankhamen Tutankhamun sacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
Phoraoh Seti 1 c. 1292 - 1190 BC. and father of Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Seti 1 Thebes Tomb Valley of the Kings sacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
Phoraoh Seti 1 c. 1292 - 1190 BC. and father of Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Seti 1 Thebes Tomb Valley of the Kings sacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
c. 1342 - 1325 BC. Valley of the Kings. Paintings that adorn the walls of the tomb.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs King Tut Luxor National Geographic Thebes Tomb Tutankhamen Tutankhamun sacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
c. 1342 - 1325 BC. Valley of the Kings. Paintings that adorn the walls of the tomb.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs King Tut Luxor Maria National Geographic Thebes Tomb Tutankhamen Tutankhamun sacred carving
King Tut's empty Crypt
Valley of the Kings
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs King Tut Luxor National Geographic Thebes Tomb Tutankhamen Tutankhamun sacred carving
Felucca on the Nile
Scene on the River Nile
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic River Nile sacred carving
Sun Drying Tomatoes in Salt
Luxor
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Street Scenes Thebes sacred carving
Relocated
Luxor formerly Thebes. One of many empty towns from which residents are relocated due to proximity to historically important sites.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Street Scenes Thebes sacred carving
Ra and Monto
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes in the tomb of Nefertiti c. 1370 - 1330 BC in Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Nefertiti Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Pillars
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, dieties and scenes in the tomb of Nefertiti c. 1370 - 1330 BC in Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Nefertiti Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Set and Anubis
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes in the tomb of Nefertiti c. 1370 - 1330 BC in Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Nefertiti Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Meen and Hathour
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes in the tomb of Nefertiti c. 1370 - 1330 BC in Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Nefertiti Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Stunning preserved colors
Stunning colors and fine details are preserved in the carved and painted decorations and murals that have survived in the tomb of Khaemwaset, one of the sons of Ramesses III, located in the Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Thebes Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Nefertiti's Hands
Carved, painted hieroglyphs and scenes in the tomb of Nefertiti c. 1370 - 1330 BC in Valley of the Queens.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Nefertiti Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Thebes Tomb Valley of the Queens sacred carving
One of many
One of many temples dedicated to Ramesses II. Memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II c. 1300 BC
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Thebes Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Deeply cut engravings in sandstone
Memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II c. 1300 BC
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Thebes Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Where the Light Falls
Square and Round columns with carved, painted hieroglyphs, sculptures and scenes at the Memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II c. 1300 BC
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Thebes Valley of the Queens sacred carving
Ramesseum II
The Ramesseum is the memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Luxor National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Thebes Valley of the Queens sacred carving
At Peace on the Nile
River Nile, Egypt
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic River Nile Sunset sacred carving
3 Mosques
On the bank of the River Nile
Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs Mosque National Geographic River Nile sacred carving
Cleaning time
Kom Ombo temple in Aswan c 180 - 47 BC
Ancient Egyptian writing Aswan Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic People at work Temple person sacred carving
70' tall statues of Ramesses II
Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. temple at Abu Simbel. He was known as Ramesses the Great. Originally buried in the Valley of the Kings, his mummified body is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Battle scene
Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. temple at Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Ramesses II
Carved, painted hieroglyphs and scenes in the temple of Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. at Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Temple Chambers
Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. temple at Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Temple Entrance
Many chambers in temple at Abu Simbel for Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Hathour
Carvedand painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes in the temple of Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. at Abu Simbel.
Abu Simbel Ancient Egyptian writing Deities Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Rameses Ramesses II Ramesses the Great Ramses Temple Tomb sacred carving
Advertising Pantyhose
Aswan Souk
Ancient Egyptian writing Aswan Egypt Hieroglyph Hieroglyphics Hieroglyphs National Geographic Souk Street Scenes sacred carving

Mike Watson Photos

Egypt