Luxor Temple (10/18/2023)

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 (continued)

Another included excursion took us by motor coach to the Luxor Temple in the evening.

Maadi Square

Al Mesaha Square Luxor sign

Ahmed Negm Mosque with its
"control tower" minaret

Even new mosques are built with minarets, where traditionally the muezzin/prayer caller would climb up five times a day to recite the adhan/call to prayer.  However, today recordings are broadcst over loudspeakers, and Egypt has standardized the adhan to play over the radio.

First pylon of Luxor Temple (c 1400 BCE), which
is devoted to the Royal Ka rather than to a god;
three of these statues of Ramesses II are original
out of six (one is behind the obelisk)

Ka was the life source or soul of a human or god, and after death it could reside in a picture or statue of a person. Usually statues of the kings were sculpted, to be placed in or near the tomb to assure the Ka would survive.

The seated colossal figures of Ramesses II
that flank the gateway are said to be original

Both of the seated figures wear the double
crown of Upper and Lower Egypt

Chapel of Serapis, was built by Hadrian,
and is the only remaining Roman structure

The Luxor Obelisk (c 1250 BCE) is one of
a pair of obelisks; however, one was given to
France in 1830 by Muhammed Ali
(now in Paris at Place de la Concorde);
this remaining obelisk is leaning

Four baboons at the base of the obelisk represent Babi,
a deification of the hamadryas baboon, who act as guards

In the Great Court of Ramesses II,
Abu Haggag Mosque (640 CE) was built on
top of part of the temple that was converted
into a Coptic Church in 395 CE

The Triple Barque Shrine for the ceremonial boats
for the triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu

More colossal statues of Ramesses II between
columns with lotus-bud capitals

A smaller figure of Queen Nefertari
pushes the royal leg of Ramesses II
to remind him who is in charge

Our guide insisted that women were considered equals in ancient Egypt.

Two more seated figures of Ramesses II flank
the entrance to the Colonnade of Amenhotep III
with columns topped by open papyrus capitals

Geographically, there were two sets of "enemies"
for Egypt, first Asians from the east ...

... then Africans from the south

Sun Court of Amenhotep III with what here are called
papyrus-bundle columns

The First Antechamber was converted
into a chapel for a Roman imperial cult by
creating an apse flanked by Corinthian
columns and painted with figures of
Diocletian and Maximillian with
their respective Caesars

It is now believed that rather than having been a Christian church, it was instead a place where Christians were forcibly made to declare their allegiance to the Roman god-emperor.

In a corner that was plastered are
paintings of Roman officials

We were given a bit of free time, and most people ran off to see the sun set. After exploring the Barque Shrine of Amun, we returned to the Colonnade of Amenhotep III.

Reliefs depicted the Opet Festival, when a procession
carried the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu from
the Karnak Temple to the Luxor Temple;
here we see back-bending acrobats

It's getting too dark, but we get to view the temple with lights

Two Nile River gods unite Upper (represented 
by a lotus) and Lower Egypt (represented
by papyrus) by tying a knot

The Avenue of Sphinxes connects Karnak Temple with
Luxor Temple, and the 2.7 m/1.7 mile length is lined with
sphinxes with human heads

The lighted Luxor Temple

Back at the lighted Viking Aton

Each night, regional specialties were offered for dinner;
this is a starter of figs stuffed with labneh/
a yogurt based cheese with honey and pistachios

Braised perch fillet on tomato rice, with okra

Dessert was qatayef/pancake stuffed with walnut,
raisins, and cream filling, then fried

Next: Qena: Dendera Temple.