Ruins of Ancient Egypt

Few civilizations achieved the level of fame belonging to Ancient Egypt. The Pharaonic Period dates back to around 3200 BC and lasted for three millennia.Today the ruins they left behind capture the imaginations and curiosity of thousands from around the world. Here are some of Ancient Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sites.

Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt © Icon72 | Dreamstime

Luxor Temple

The sandstone temple was constructed in 1400 BC in dedication to the Theban Triad worshipped by the cult of the Royal Ka. The triad refers to the deityAmun, his consort Mut and their son Khonsu. Luxor Temple is an architectural wonder, utilizing illusionism to enhance its visually imposing qualities.

Valley of the Kings

Behind the West Bank of Luxor lies the Valley of the Kings, where the New Kingdom of Egypt built tombs for their Pharaohs and nobles from the 16^th to the 11^th century BC. It is also one of the oldest tourism destinations in the world, popular during the times of Roman conquest. There is even ancient graffiti scrawled in Phoenician, Cypriot, Lycian and Coptic on some of the walls, dating back to 279 BC. Today it is most famous as the resting place of Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922.

Precinct of Amun-Ra, Karnak Temple Complex, Egypt © Witr | Dreamstime

Karnak

Karak is the immense complex on the East Bank of Luxor. The open-air museum contains numerous temples, chapels and buildings, making the site one of the largest religious sites in the world, second only to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Senusret I of the Middle Kingdom began construction of the complex around 3200 BC, but its design and function constantly changed over time. Pharaohs made various additions over the course of three millennia until it was abandoned by the time Constantius II of the Roman Empire ordered the closing of all pagan temples.

The Felstempel in Abu Simbel, Egypt © Ginasanders | Dreamstime

Abu Simbel

Two stone temples reside in the small village of Nubia, located near the southern border of Egypt. Theywere carved out of a mountain on the command of Pharaoh Ramases II, dedicated to his wife Nefertari and his own victory in the Battle of Kamesh (allegedly the biggest chariot battle ever fought, involving 5,000–6,000 chariots). Built in 1264, it is said the temples were an expression of Ramesses II’s pride and ego, wanting to impress Egypt’s neighbors to the south. Today, thousands gather for the bi-annual sun festival.

Horus, Temple of Edfu, Egypt © Shariff Che\’ Lah | Dreamstime

Temple of Edfu

As one of the best preserved temples in Egypt, the Temple of Edfu provides a wealth of information on the Greco-Roman period of Ancient Egypt. It was built during the Ptolemaic Period, when Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemaic Dynasty. Construction began under Ptolemy III in 237 BC and was completed nine generations later by Ptolemy XII in 57 BC. The temple was dedicated to Horus, as the Hellenistic rulers at the time actively participated in Egyptian religion and culture.

Giza Necropolis

The two most iconic images of Ancient Egypt can be found here, the Great Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. It is the only Ancient Wonder that is still in existence and by far the oldest, dating back to 2584 BC, beating the rest by almost two millennia. The site was a cemetery for the elite class of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom.

Giza Necropolis, Egypt © Mikhail Dudarev | Dreamstime