Egypt
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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicPeople at workStreet ScenesThebespeoplesacred carving
Lonely Pyramid
Dahshur necropolis, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingCairoEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicPyramidsacred carving
Making Arabic bread
In a village outside Dahshur, in rural Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingCairoEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicPeople at workpersonsacred carving
Pyramids of Giza
Giza Pyramids c. 2560 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicPyramidsacred carving
Sphinx
Giza Pyramids c. 2560 BC.
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicPyramidSphinxsacred carving
Citadel of Saladin
12th century hilltop fortress commissioned by sultan Saladin
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational Geographicsacred carving
Coptic church
Interior of Coptic church, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational Geographicsacred carving
Coptic church interior
Interior of Coptic church, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingCoptic ChurchEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational Geographicsacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational Geographicsacred carving
Saladin Lamp
Khan el-Khalili souk, Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicNightNight PhotographyNight ShootNight shotStreet Scenessacred carving
One Souk entrance
Khan el-Khalili souk entrance , Cairo
Ancient Egyptian writingCairoEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicNightNight PhotographyNight ShootNight shotSoukStreet Scenessacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicObeliskTempleThebessacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorMonumentNational GeographicNightNight PhotographyNight ShootNight shotTempleThebessacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorMonumentNational GeographicNightNight PhotographyNight ShootNight shotObeliskTempleThebessacred 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 writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsKing TutLuxorNational GeographicThebesTombTutankhamenTutankhamunsacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
Phoraoh Seti 1 c. 1292 - 1190 BC. and father of Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesSeti 1ThebesTombValley of the Kingssacred carving
Carved and painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes
Phoraoh Seti 1 c. 1292 - 1190 BC. and father of Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesSeti 1ThebesTombValley of the Kingssacred 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 writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsKing TutLuxorNational GeographicThebesTombTutankhamenTutankhamunsacred 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 writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsKing TutLuxorMariaNational GeographicThebesTombTutankhamenTutankhamunsacred carving
King Tut's empty Crypt
Valley of the Kings
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsKing TutLuxorNational GeographicThebesTombTutankhamenTutankhamunsacred carving
Felucca on the Nile
Scene on the River Nile
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRiver Nilesacred carving
Sun Drying Tomatoes in Salt
Luxor
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicStreet ScenesThebessacred carving
Relocated
Luxor formerly Thebes. One of many empty towns from which residents are relocated due to proximity to historically important sites.
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicStreet ScenesThebessacred 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 writingDeitiesHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNefertitiTombValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingDeitiesHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNefertitiTombValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingDeitiesHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNefertitiTombValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingDeitiesHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNefertitiTombValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicThebesTombValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicNefertitiRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleThebesTombValley of the Queenssacred carving
One of many
One of many temples dedicated to Ramesses II. Memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II c. 1300 BC
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleThebesValley of the Queenssacred carving
Deeply cut engravings in sandstone
Memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II c. 1300 BC
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleThebesValley of the Queenssacred 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 writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleThebesValley of the Queenssacred carving
Ramesseum II
The Ramesseum is the memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsLuxorNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleThebesValley of the Queenssacred carving
At Peace on the Nile
River Nile, Egypt
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRiver NileSunsetsacred carving
3 Mosques
On the bank of the River Nile
Ancient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsMosqueNational GeographicRiver Nilesacred carving
Cleaning time
Kom Ombo temple in Aswan c 180 - 47 BC
Ancient Egyptian writingAswanEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicPeople at workTemplepersonsacred 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 SimbelAncient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Battle scene
Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. temple at Abu Simbel.
Abu SimbelAncient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Ramesses II
Carved, painted hieroglyphs and scenes in the temple of Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. at Abu Simbel.
Abu SimbelAncient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Temple Chambers
Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. temple at Abu Simbel.
Abu SimbelAncient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Temple Entrance
Many chambers in temple at Abu Simbel for Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC
Abu SimbelAncient Egyptian writingEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Hathour
Carvedand painted hieroglyphs, deities and scenes in the temple of Ramesses II 1304 - 1214 BC. at Abu Simbel.
Abu SimbelAncient Egyptian writingDeitiesEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicRamesesRamesses IIRamesses the GreatRamsesTempleTombsacred carving
Advertising Pantyhose
Aswan Souk
Ancient Egyptian writingAswanEgyptHieroglyphHieroglyphicsHieroglyphsNational GeographicSoukStreet Scenessacred carving