My Godson, Justin Hegyi, son of Hugh and Diana Hegyi is getting married next week in the Phoenix area. I will be attending the wedding, which means I am returning home to the States — soon.
Before I left Egypt, I took a tour of the world’s largest open-air antiquities site, which is also known as Luxor, the Upper Egyptian town that is way south and heading towards the Sudan. That’s quite a claim, the world’s largest antiquity site: How extensive are the ruins at Luxor? Well, Luxor has the following separate and distinct main temples/sites: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsup’s Temple and nearby Abydos Temple and Dendera Temple and separate ruins to Ramses II and Ramses III. In addition, there are a half a dozen smaller temples/ruins in Luxor and nearby area. Each of the main temples or site listed above is a full complex; an archeological gem in its own right. Collectively, the scope and scale of Luxor antiquities has no comparable in any other part of the world.
This blog will focus only on one small part of just one site: Nefertari’s tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Queen Nefertari was the favorite wife of Pharaoh Ramses II (19th Dynasty).
[Side Note: Nefertari is not to be confused with Queen Nefertiti, the wife of the earlier Pharaoh Akhenaten (18th Dynasty.) “Nefer” is the ancient Egyptian word for beautiful. Nefertari means “beautiful companion”; Nefertiti means “a beautiful woman has come”]
Photos of Nefertari’s Tomb that leave me speechless. The pictures speak for themselves. The first picture is at the top or entrance way, and then the pictures continues down into the internment chambers:
(At the top left – note: ancient Egyptians played chess?)
The Three Faces of Nefertari: Playing Chess, Morphed into a Bird, and Praying:
Heading Down into the Burial Chamber:
Walls on the side of the Stairs, photograph tilted to be Upright
Ah, Now We Are At the Bottom:
And Lookie I Found- Toth The Ibis Headed God w/Nefertari:
Khnum, Ram Headed God of Fertility Is On The Way To The Next Chamber:
Look Into This Next Chamber and See What Izza Saw – Incredible!:
Khepre, the Scarab Headed God (Very Hopi Kachina-like):
And Nefertari Keeps Going:
Since her death around 1250 B.C. Nefertari and her tomb is the gift that keeps on giving.
That’s all I have time for now. Later, I will send you a short history of Ancient Egypt. Just imagine how long that will be.
Zephyr
Sadly but Joyfully, Leaving the Sand Box Behind
Bonus Picture:
A picture of my tour guide, Mr. Hero (That’s the name on his business card and taxi rear window):
Mr. Hero Showing Me the Luxor NIght Life:
Preparing for Festive Atmosphere of Impending Ramadan- A Lamp Shop:
