EGYPT 98-Luxor-Karnak Temple 1

In the morning we took a flight from Cairo to Luxor. It is on the site of the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes. There are three main sights in Luxor, the ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor, and the Necropolis across the Nile on the west bank, which include the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

The Karnak temple is actually a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings. It is located three kilometres north of Luxor. It consists of four main parts (precincts), of which only the largest, the Precinct of Amun-Re, is open to the general public.

The first pylon of the temple of Karnak.

An avenue of ram-headed sphinxes leads to the first pylon. The ram-headed sphinx is a symbol of the god Amon who protects the pharoah, shown between the beast's front paws.

The second pylon of Karnak Temple

A column of the second pylon, with the statue of Ramses II.

Another row of ram-headed sphinxes inside the temple.

The pylon of the Temple of Ramses III, with the statue of the pharoah.

The court of the Temple of Ramses III where the pharoah is shown in his Jubilee vestment.