Egyptian Museum Cairo Egypt

Egyptian Museum (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities) Cairo Egypt

Egyptian museum image courtesy: egyptgiftshop.com

The essence of all under one roof

The word Egypt creates a mosaic of images in a reader’s mind consisting of the gigantic pyramids guarded by fearsome Sphinx; never ending sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, the great River Nile and numerous monuments standing on its banks bathed in the desert sun; etc all grand and impressive. When all these monuments get stored beneath one roof what can that place be called? Well we can call it The Egyptian Museum! Because it contains at least even a fragment from every monument found in Egypt. There may be no Pharaoh who had not left at least a trace of his belongings to this museum; whether it is Queen Hatshepsut, Akhenaton, Thutmose, Ramesses of any number; all are represented.

A child of Ismail Pasha

Egyptian museum image courtesy: dignubia.org

The Egyptian Museum was established in 1835 by the initiative of Ismail Pasha; the architect of modern Cairo. At first it was opened with the collections received from Augusto Mariette a French archaeologist engaged by Ismail Pasha. Its first location was at Azbakia Gardens at the Center of Cairo. It was then moved to Bulaq a nearby place in 1858. Damages to the building due to flood in Nile necessitated a change and a building of its own came to being. The present museum built in 1902 was designed by a French architect Marcel Dournon. It is a huge neoclassic building built in 1902 and located in Midan el Thahrir, Cairo. It has two floors (ground floor and the upper floor).

Auguste Mariette

The idea of Egyptian Museum actually belongs to Auguste Mariette who could convince Ismail Pasha of the necessity of such a set up to protect the monuments from looting and vandalizing. Mariette was a French scholar/explorer of the 19^th century who had contributed in enriching ancient Egyptian history. It was he who excavated the Khafre’s Pyramid at Giza in 1853 – 58. Later in 1881 he brought forth the Pyramid Texts carved on the walls of the tomb in Pyramid of Pepi I at Saqqarah.

No parallel

Egyptian museum image courtesy: richard-seaman.com

Egyptian Museum is the richest display center of Egyptian antiquities in the world that houses about 16,000 artifacts of which less than half is displayed on the shelves and the rest kept in the stores. Certain items are taken out from the store and displayed as ‘the articles of the month’. In 2002 at the time of the 2^nd centenary of the new building very special items that were never exhibited were on display. Most of these materials were collected from various sites like ancient temples, royal tombs, pyramids, and various locations that lie scattered all around Egypt.

Texts of archaeologists

The museum has two floors Ground Floor of the museum has 42 rooms and the upper floor has 47. Antiquities belonged to 4^th, to the 25^th dynasties, royal and private relieves, paintings, figurines, those retrieved from Giza, remains from the Middle and New Kingdoms like large sculptures, sarcophagi, statues etc are displayed. Other artifacts of historical importance are coins, papyrus, pieces of pottery and various artifacts most of them belonging to the New Kingdom (between 1550 and 1070 BC).

Chronological settings

The artifacts are arranged in chronological order and a visitor can be a time traveler while seeing the artifacts as they are arranged. One who follows the order will finally reach the ground floor where there are items from Thutmose III, IV, Amenophis, Queen Hatshepsut, and Meherpren are stored after a travel that lasted 5000 years!

Egyptian museum image courtesy:richard-seaman.com

1 the first section and most valuable is the treasures of Tutankhamun.

2. Monuments pertaining to the Pre-dynasty Old Kingdom.

3. Fist Intermediate and Middle Kingdom.

4. Monuments pertaining to the Modern Kingdom.

5. Monuments from the Greco- Roman Period.

6. Coins and papyrus collections.

7. Sarcophagi (stone coffins generally adorned with a sculpture) of royal members).

1. The treasures of Tutankhamun; the son of King Akhenaton and his second wife Kiye; wore the crown at the age of eight/nine and dead at the age of 18. He was buried in The Valley of Kings in tomb number KV 62 along with all the materials he used while living. These remains include a mask and chest plate made of solid gold (that itself weighed 24 pounds, more over the weapons, rare ornaments, instruments, decorated chest for ivory and ornaments, four chariots for war and ride, vases, flasks, and various items altogether 3500 in number. Admission to this hall requires costly ticket.

2. The section for Monuments of Old Kingdom; The Old Kingdom spans from 3^rd to 6^th dynasties. The monuments like statues, potteries spoons etc pertain to this period as well as those belonging prehistoric times. The Old Kingdom is also known as the Kingdom of Pyramids as Pyramids were constructed at this time.

3. Section for the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom,

This period following the Old Kingdom was a time of disunity for Egypt; it is believed that most of the tomb robberies were made in this period when River Nile shrunk and agriculture was reduced. This period was marked by less construction activities. The monuments include numerous statues including one big statue of Hotep, statue of a Hippo, numerous figurines, Pillar of Senusret with bas relief, funerary masks, ornaments one beautiful female brewer engaged in making beer etc.

4. Section for the Modern Kingdom,

These are very rich times and the articles stored are too many; prominent items are, statues of Akhenaton, Amenhotep, Queen Tiye (broken), Thutmosis, a large vase with handle shaped as goat, Tomb deities retrieved from Deir el Medina, a vase used by Queen Hatshepsut, jewel chest, rare ornaments, chair of Sitamun, Bracelet belonging to Ramesses II etc

5. Section for the Greco Roman Period,

The Greeks entered Egypt to ward of the Persian Kings; later both cultures got amalgamated; even gods were shared in between! This period is dominated by the resurgence of animal worship. Sculptures Egyptian Gods. Falcon headed crocodile cat statues made of bronze, funeral mask of Amenemope etc are some of the exhibits of this time. Considerable numbers of the mummified animals stored in this museum belong to this era

Coins and papyrus

One of the world’s most ancient collections of coins, papyrus works etc are the real wealth of this museum. These coins were made of gold, silver bronze etc belong to ancient Egypt, Greek, Roman tell the trade partners of ancient Egypt and their progress in metallurgy, while minting tells much about the civilization that existed in their place of origin. These papyrus (made from a plant used as paper) with Greek, Roman, Arabic as well as hieroglyph that was used in ancient Egypt. Potsherds are real story tellers that last for ever.

From the Valley of Kings

Egyptian museum image courtesy: syjoho.nl

The real crowd pullers are the remains of Pharaohs recovered from the tombs of the Valley of Kings (new kingdom), Dahshur (middle kingdom), Deirel Bahari, Amama, Tell el, Thebes (new name Luxor), Memphis, Karnak, Abu Simbel, Giza etc include altogether 27 royal mummies of Pharaohs belonged to various dynasties, grave materials kept in the tomb, statuettes, royal jewellery (all extremely rare and very precious), etc. In this aspect the treasures retrieved from the tomb of Tutankhamun is the superstar of the show; but hefty fee is levied for a look at it.

Sarcophagi (singular sarcophagus)

Egyptian museum image courtesy:richard-seaman.com

Egyptians enclosed the mummified bodies in a box made of stone carved to make it most attractive; especially the Pharaohs had their dead members bodies enclosed in very exquisitely made sarcophagi. These sarcophagi being made of stone found worthless to the tomb robbers and let them there after emptying the valuables. For archeologists these sarcophagi were very conclusive evidences to determine the occupant of the tomb. In Egyptian Museum these stone sarcophagi with their beautiful engravings present a mysterious feeling among visitors and act as crowd pullers.

The Library

Egyptian museum image courtesy: eb.com

There is a grand library with 42,500 books magazines and periodicals attached to the museum this is managed by The Highest Council of Monuments. Here books of English, French, Latin, Dutch and Arabic etc about 20 periodicals are added every month. These collections of rare books are made with special stress on all branches of ancient civilization and culture like literature, mathematics, medicine etc. Admission to the library is restricted to research students and scholars only.

Each times some new things!

Egyptian museum image courtesy: Peter Brubacher

A visit to this museum requires a lot of time to appreciate each items; hiring the service of a guide is worth otherwise a visitor most probably may miss items of significance and bi pass it for some large and beautiful thing with less historical importance (it is said that one visitor noticed the statue of a female brewer making beer only on his third visit to the museum as he missed the beauty during his past two visits. It is facts that people who have made several visits finding new items. In 2002 the 2^nd centenary of the museum was quite significant as very so far not displayed items were on the shelves.

Valley of the Kings

Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt

The tomb of Twosret and Setnakhte showing descending corridor

(Wadi Biban el Muluk = Gate of the Kings)

This is a valley in west bank of River Nile; part of the Theban Archaeological Sites (near Luxor or Karnak Temple). The Theban (old name for Luxor) sites include the Valley of the Kings, Valley of Queens, Nobles, Temples and Shrines pertaining to the Pharaoh period. During the Pharaonic times the Kings Valley was exclusively preserved for the burial of its dead members. During the New Kingdom Period (it was at this time the Pharaohs rose to most powerful position) that lasted almost 500 years the tombs were made cutting the valleys and the cliffs of mount Al Qurn.

A second life with all paraphernalia

Tomb of Ay, Luxor - Valley of the Kings (Western Valley)

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death within the same body; hence they preserved the dead ones after mummification. This is a process done to preserve the dead body so that the dead can happily go through his life after death. The internal organs were removed and some spices where stuffed in to the hollow parts; the body was embalmed with silk cloth for protection. Along with the body four jars were also kept with the removed internal organs like liver, lungs, stomach and intestine. There was also placed a shabti or statuette often made of marble or wood as company to the dead along with images of Egyptian gods for his care. Food materials, ornaments, gold, and all required for the dead for his after life were placed in his tomb.

The majestic Al Qurn a natural pyramid

al-Qurn dominates the valley

The Valley of Kings was exclusive for the Pharaoh Kings and the tombs were made by digging the side of hill beneath the Al Qurn; building a good entrance and cutting long stairways that lead to the crypt where the body is placed. The Al Qurn Peak which oversees both of the valleys is shaped like a pyramid; reason for selecting it as the site, it isolated position offered better safety to the tombs. The location was carefully selected by checking the condition of the soil.

Tomb raiders and flash floods

valley of the kings

As these tombs contained valuable materials; it was a general practice for thieves to break in and rob the toms (they were called tomb robbers). There were royal guards posted for the protection of these sites yet most of the 64 tombs of the site remain broken. The damages were done from the part of the weather also; though the site is a part of the big Sahara Desert; two or three flash floods occurred within this long period but that was enough and more to immerse several valuable sites in mud and debris damaging the rare artifacts and paintings.

Virtual treasures!

Valley of the kings map courtesy: crystalinks.com

The status of these valleys (within the Theban Necropolis) as a Royal Burial remained intact for almost five hundred years (from the 12^th to 18^th dynasties (16^th century BC to 11^th century BC) and the number of tombs rose to that level the site got too much crowded and cutting tract for one often reached in to a previous one. There was no master plan or atlas to lead the grave diggers, yet it remains a mystery that such collisions were comparatively rare. While these tombs were virtual treasures of history and culture; in the absence of master plans they remained elusive to the explorers; about two centuries and hard labor of thousands of people were required to find them out.

Each tomb a task

Pillar in Seti I's tomb

It is from the 18the century onwards serious researches commenced by archaeologists in these sites. They have done extensive works on this site and found many clues to demystify the ancient history of Egypt. There were no charts or a plan to the numerous sites which included shrines, tombs, graffiti etc. Most of the sites were immersed in mud and silt carried by the rare flash floods occurred in the region. The earth also was unpredictable and at times hard to dig while at times collapsed setting traps.

Tricks of the trade

View of the central East Valley, showing area around KV62

The tombs discovered were numbered prefixing ‘KV’ for the Valley of Kings like KV 1, KV 2 etc, those in the western valley are with prefix like WV 22, 23 etc. The digging of a tomb had to be done horizontally; that involved more strain; men had to work in tunnels that were humid, crammed and dark (this portion belonged to the Sahara Desert). The debris dug out could not be disposed as such as there was possibility of it containing valuable pieces of archaic importance. It had to be filtered then load it in a truck to be disposed from outside the site (leaving it within the site may waste another teams efforts at next time).

The following are the sites with names and relevance

KV 1 belongs to Ramesses 7; 20^th Dynasty; discovered in 1984 by Edwin Brock,

KV 2 is of Ramesses 4; low down main valley located between KV 1 and KV 7.

KV 3 no marks of burial, might be for son of Ramesses 3, and later used a Christian chapel.

KV 4 is the last Royal Tomb; supposed to be of Ramesses 11 of the 20^th Dynasty; excavated by John Romer.

KV 5 son of Ramesses 2; was a very amazing tomb that was lying filled with mud of the flash flood, though it was noticed as early as 1825 by James Burton and later by Howard Carter; its real quality assessed only during 1987 - 1995. The Theban Mapping Project undertaken by Kent A Weeks made a real break through; potsherds, beads, ushabti (funerary figures placed in tombs with other grave goods), a big statue of Osiris the god of afterlife etc were recovered from it.

KV 6, built for Ramesses 9; unfinished as king died earlier; big gate and ramp; final chamber with exquisite graffiti made for ‘opening of mouth’ ceremony (a ritual when the mouth of the dead is opened for breathe and talk); an Old Kingdom ritual.

KV6 - valley of the kings

KV 7 the final resting place for Ramesses 2; badly damaged by floods.

KV 8 built for Merenptah; corridor 160 meters long; sarcophagus was originally built in four nested stones.

KV 8 - valley of the kings

KV 9; built for Ramesses 5 but had to be used for his uncle Ramesses 6; built in typical 20^th Dynasty simple style.

KV 10; believed to be of Pharaoh Amenmesse.

KV 11; built for Ramesses 3; opened in unknown times; also known as Harpers Tomb as there are pictures of blind harpers on its walls; as Bruce entered in to it in 1761it is also called Bruce Timb.

KV 11 - valley of the kings

KV 12; a tomb used for multiple burials; similar to KV 5; excavated by Harold James, Otto Schaden and Howard Carter.

KV 13; said to belong Bay the owner of the tomb who was executed by Pharaoh; but no remains of him found; excavated by Hartwig Attenmuller.

KV 14; one of the largest tombs; made for two persons; was opened in antiquity; recordings made by Hartwig Altenmuller between 1983 and 87.

KV 15; made for Pharaoh Seti 2; the sarcophagus removed and an unidentified mummy placed instead of it; excavated by Howard Carter.

KV 16; built for Ramesses 1 of the 19^th Dynasty; decorated with the ‘Book of Gates’ (a sacred text of ancient Egypt which states that the soul of the dead has to pass through numerous gates each guarded by a goddess; only after answering her questions one can pass through; those who fail will be put in to the lake of fire!); excavated by Geovanni Belzoni.

KV 17; built for Seti 1; the largest tomb but damaged by ‘explorers’ who removed some sections to be taken away; excavated by Geovanni Belzoni, G. Battista and Howard Carter.

KV 18; is incomplete.

KV 19; made for Ramesses 8 but had to be used for Ramesses 9; paintings of Egyptian Gods like, Osiris, Ptah, Khonsu, Thoth etc decorate the walls; excavated by Belzoni.

KV 20 is significant as the tomb for Thutmose and Queen Hatshepsot (queens body was identified only on June, 2007 by DNA tests; the body of Thutmose 1 was removed by Thutmose 3 later to KV 38; excavated by Howard Carter.

KV 21 contains only unidentified mummies of two women; excavated by Geovanni Belzoni in 1817;

WV 22 (in western valley); tomb of Amenhotep 3 with two dub burial chambers for his wives; sarcophagus missing; discovered by Prosper Jollois; and Edouard de Villiers both Napoleon’s engineers; officially excavated by Howard Carter.

WV 23; near Luxor in Western Valley; tomb of Pharaoh ‘Ay’ desecrated by unknown and sarcophagus is reconstituted; excavated by Geovanni Battista and Belzoni..

WV 24 not fully excavated; discovered by Robert Hay; partly excavated Otto Schaden.

WV 25 presumed to be built for Akhenaton’s Theban Tomb and left unfinished; excavated by Geovanni Battista and Belzoni.

WV 26 occupant not identified; it is a small one; must be of the 18^th Dynasty; excavated by James Burton.

KV 27 discovered by John Wilkinson in 1990; it is undecorated and unfinished; occupant unknown; excavated by Donald P Ryan.

KV 28 occupant unknown; first excavations unrecorded; Donald P Ryon has found parts of two damaged body parts; presumed to be of the Nobles.

KV 29 not excavated.

KV 30 occupant unknown; discovered by Belzoni in 1817; a mission sponsored by Lord Belmore hence known as Lord Belmore’s Tomb; excavated by Victor Loret.

KV 31 covered in sand and debris; nothing known about the occupant; excavated by Geovanni Belzoni.

KV 32 burial site Tia’a; wife of Amenhotep and mother of Thutmose 4; discovered by Victor Loret in 1898; excavation incomplete.

KV 33 not fully excavated; nothing known of the occupant; discovered by Victor Loret.

KV 34 occupant Thutmose 3; 18 dynasty Pharaoh; sarcophagus though damaged still in place; widely vandalized by tomb raiders walls decorated in unusual style; excavated by Victor Loret..

KV 34 - valley of the kings

KV 35 occupant Amenhotep 2; discovered by Victor Loret in 1898; the tomb has the shape of a dog’s leg; lower part holding the sarcophagus of the king; later it became a cache of various mummies like Amenhotep 3, Thutmose 4, Seti 2, Septah, Ramesses 4, 5 and 6, along with many unknown mummies.

KV 36 occupant Maiherpri a Noble; details unpublished; discovered by Victor Loret.

KV 37 badly damaged; occupant unknown; discovered by Victor Loret.

KV 38 original tomb of Thutmose 1; later the body removed to KV 20 by Thutmose 3; discovered by Victor Loret.

KV 39 located in high on the hills away from other burials in the eastern part of Al Qurn; its structure also varies from other tombs

KV 40; original occupant not known; barring the upper portion all remain filled with debris; excavated by Loret in 1899.

KV 41; occupant not identified; found by Loret.

KV 42; made for Hatshepsut wife of Thutmose 3 but it was Sennefur got buried there during the time of Amenhotep; excavated by Victor Loret and Howard Carter.

KV 43; tomb of Thutmose 3; shaped like a dog’s leg; discovered by Howard Carter; located on the higher side of the cliff far above the valley; decorations of the walls intact; the outer stone of sarcophagus intact within the burial chamber excavated by Howard Carter for Theodore M Davis.

KV 44; occupant not known; pottery fragments retrieved indicate 18^th dynasty tomb; but it was reused in the 22^nd dynasty time; excavated by Howard Carter and Ryan.

KV 45; made for Usarhat a Noble of the 18^th century.

KV 46; tomb of Yuya and wife Tjuyu parents of Queen Tiye wife of Amenhotep 3; tomb rediscovered by James E Quibell in 1905; it is one of the best preserved tombs in the site with even the sarcophagi intact.

KV 47; tomb of Siptah of the 19^th dynasty; discovered by Edward Ayrton.

KV 48; made for Noble Amenemopet;

KV 49; not a tomb; might be a ‘mummy repairing unit’; excavated by Ayrton.

KV 50 to 53; burial ground for animals explorations made by Ayrton.

KV 54; not a tomb; a pit located near the tomb of Seti; large jars carefully packed with invaluable articles; at present kept in Metropolitan Museum of Arts.

KV 55; severely vandalized years back; believed to be of Akhenaten son of Queen Tiye of 18^th dynasty; marks of multiple burials done in the site; a mummy has been found with ornaments missing (later the golden plates were returned by a collector to Munich; at present the same in Egyptian Museum. Four canopy jars made of alabaster along with some damaged wooden pieces with her name inscribed were found in the tomb; discovered by Ayrton.

KV 56; original occupant unknown; casket disintegrated; known as golden tomb as some gold ornaments, a pair of silver gloves, a set of ear-rings marked Seti 2 found; discovered by Ayrton in 1908; were present on the mummy;

KV 57; burial of Horenheb the last Pharaoh of 18^th dynasty; sarcophagus carved out of red quartzite; passages of the book of the Gates and painted bas relief instead of paintings; discovered by Ayrton in 1908.

KV 58 known as Chariot Tomb; remains from WV 23 (Ay’s) tomb dumped in to it; it was discovered by Harold Jones.

KV 59; it is incomplete and no remains present.

KV 60; occupant presumed to be Queen Hatshepsut; seriously desecrated in antiquity; discovered by H. Carter in 1903; reopened in 1906 by Donald P Ryan and Edward P Ryan; had two mummies which were taken to Cairo Museum for research in 2007; one is presumed to be of Sit Ra the Royal Nurse and the other of Queen Hatshepsut.

KV 61; no proof of any burial made in this tomb; discovered by Harold Jones in 1910.

KV 62; belonged to the mysterious child king Tutankhamun; being located beneath a labor colony it could escape the hands of tomb robbers; discovered first by Theodore M Davis; but unfortunately they did not realize the real size and returned exploring only the top chamber. Harold Carter was the explorer who found the real tomb and the accompanying treasures.

KV 62 - valley of the kings

KV 63; this is the most recent find; it was not a tomb but a mummy preparing chamber but valuable finding could be made like big jars, salts, linen, pieces of potter etc (pottery is for archaeologists like open books they can read much from a piece).

KV 64; located near KV 63; found in March 2006; no remains found; its status as a tomb and the number ‘KV 64’ itself not yet approved.

The absence of a master plan of the tombs makes it hard to say whether there is any more lying undetected; however it is presumed that most of the tombs in this site have been detected and excavated.

Karnak Temple

Karnak Temple (Luxor temple) Karnak, Egypt

Karnak Temple image courtesy: sti-travel.com

Size matters

The Karnak Temple remains to be the largest temple complex in the world as well as the largest visited structure in Africa after the Pyramids. The total built up area of the complex is 62 acres; can easily accommodate 3 of the largest cathedrals of the world! Only painful thing with the site is that most of its parts are in ruins; badly needing more excavations and repair; that can be done only by the best team of experts. Egypt rich in monuments like the numerous Pyramids, archaeological marvels like Abu Simbel Temple and too many palaces find its attention rather spread.

Sacred place (ipet isut)

The Karnak Temple is located on the eastern banks of River Nile near Luxor (old name Thebes) in Egypt. It was the spiritual center of the whole Egyptians from the Pharaoh Kings to common people. Ancient Egyptians called it Ipet Isut (the sacred place); a village by name El Karnak is there about 2.5 km north of Luxor; and that name came to be associated with the temple also.

The entire complex of Karnak has four precincts (walled enclosures) of which only one is open to the public (the precinct of Amun Re) the other three are 1, the precinct of Montu, precinct of Mut, and the precinct of Amenhotep IV.

Real long time to build!

Karnak Temple map courtesy: bible-history.com

The total time taken for its construction is astounding; 1300 years! In its long history of construction about 30 Pharaoh Kings took charge and died; but additions and alternations went on! But most of the works in this complex were done between 1500 and 1100 BC. The entire complex comprising of temples, statues made of sandstones, obelisks, sphinxes, numerous inscriptions, bas reliefs and all the typical accompaniments of Pharaonic Temples. At present it is a sea of big and small broken structures some of them buried deep.

Amun (Amon) the super God

Karnak Temple image courtesy: eb.com

The Karnak Temple with the primitive tribal God Montu was not a landmark at all before 11^th Pharaoh Dynasty, when Thebans became the rulers of entire Egypt; they opted for Amun as deity; and Amun became the super god of the entire region. Amun had been at times associated with ram, goose, bull etc. He was also called the creator, lord of air, breathe of life, god of fertility and even keeper of divine wisdom. Later some how Amun got merged with Re the Sun God giving rise to Amun Re; a merger of gods! Amun even got associated with the Greek Gods like Zeus and Jupiter.

Akhenaton v/s Amun Re

The Pharaoh Kings had a practice of popularizing their image as the chosen one by God; this concept gave them a place in the heart of people and kept their rivals at bay. But Pharaoh Akhenaton (1379 BC) tried to make his countrymen monotheistic and asked to worship the Sun-God instead of Amun. He was a king of great clout and acquired a name Amenhotop IV (Queen Nefertiti one of the most beautiful women ever lived on earth was his wife). It was Akhenaton who installed the ‘sun-disc’ and his views on conflicted with the worship of Amun Re; the conflict went on until the death of Akhenaton. Tutankhamen who proceeded him retrieved the diminished the glory of Amun. In short God Amun had his last laugh.

Tutankhamen and the legendary curse!

Karnak Temple image courtesy: wayfaring.info

Tutankhamen was the son of Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti; he became king at the age of 9 but died mysteriously at the age of 18. In his short life he left more riddles than any of the Pharaohs. Tutankhamen married his half sister (Akhenaton’s child in another wife) and died shortly. The Egyptian legends had it that those who disturbed Tutankhamen’s tomb will die without delay. But these legends did not deter archaeologists from excavating the mummy.

Reason of a death on cost of 25 lives

Karnak Temple image courtesy: worldstogethertravel.com

The mummy had many treasures along with the mummified bodies of children. It so happened that about 25 persons associated with the retrieval died mysteriously in short time as warned by the ancient legends. But before their death these explorers could ascertain the cause of death ‘a fall from horseback and infection from open wound’!

Queen Halshapsut was yet another interesting character associated with the site she was the widow of 18 Dynasty Pharaoh who preceded Thutmose II; after her husband’s death she took over the throne and spread news to legitimize her action that she was the nominee of Amun Re and actually the daughter of the Pharaoh and not his wife as perceived! She built a temple (Deir el Bahri) dedicated to Amun Re. There is an obelisk with her image inscribed on it in perfect condition. The story behind is that her step son covered the image with mortar to express his hatred; but that action worked as a preservation to the image!

History of Construction

Karnak Temple image courtesy: virtourist.com

Excavations have brought the ruins of some of the structures belonging to the 11^th Dynasty structures like the White Chapel, Middle Kingdom Court, a planned human settlement etc close to the sacred lake.

Eighteenth Dynasty additions, the enclosure wall connecting 4^th and 5^th pylons with 14 papyrus columns and two obelisks of Halshapsut and Thutmose, Festival Hall of Thutmose known as Akhmenu etc were additions of the 18^th dynasty. There are statues of gods, men, women and animals in abundance, one colossi stands on a platform is 20 feet in height even though it is only up to the waist and the rest lies fallen on the ground; just imagine how much would have been its actual height!

Nineteenth Dynasty additions, 18^th and 19^th centuries were the golden periods of Karnak Temple; at that time the Pharaohs won many battles and brought many booties and prisoners to the empire; some of the inscriptions depict the victories. There are stele and obelisks to proclaim the gains.

The Great Hypostyle Hall remains to be the most remarkable structure that still remains as the prime show of the site; it is 50,000 sq feet in area, roof that rested on 134 columns arranged in 16 rows (two middle rows have taller columns with height of 33 feet) had collapsed long ago. The Great Hypostyle Hall has a circumference of 80 feet.

Precinct of Amun Re

This is dedicated to the principal of the Theban Triad (Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khoms); it is the largest structure in the complex with a built in area of 25,000 sq meters. In its southwest part there is the mega open-air assembling area with small and large stone work ruins scattered and waiting for re assembly. In this side temples of Opet and Khons lie in a dilapidated condition. There is a museum in the northwest corner.

The Temple of Montu is a part of the Karnak Temple Complex dedicated to the deity of Montu; son of Amun Re and Mut; this temple with 200,00 sq meters is in a neglected state. Its main features excluding the Temple of Montu are Temple of Harpre, Temple of Ma’at, and the Gateway of Ptolomy IV which is the most prominent structure in the complex.

Precinct of Mut is 15,000 sq meters of ruins, with a crescent shaped lake at its middle; this lake is fed from an underground spring. The Mut; known as the Mother Goddess was worshipped up to the 1^st century and later it lost the status and left uncared. At present no structure stands vertical! It is a pitiable sight to see so many granite statues broken and lying flat in the hot sun; fortunately admission to the precinct is banned to the public.

Temple of Amenhotep; built by Pharaoh King Akhenaton is out side of the compound of temple of Amun Re, the main temple structure was Gempaaten is in a severely damaged state. The original structure was a really massive one with a size of 130 * 216 meters made of red granite and decorated with statues of Akhenaton, sphinx etc. The structure had no roof and the platform for sacrifice was exposed to sun; its entrance was believed to be facing west and that led to an open court. This hall is surrounded by square pillars and statues of Akhenaton and Nefertiti. Public is at present not admitted to this complex.

The Christian Period

In the AD 4^th century Rome was ruled by Emperor Constantine the Great who embraced Christianity and issued orders for the closure of Pagan temples. By that time itself the Karnak was a deserted one; yet it was not spared. Romans built a chapel on the ruins of the temple and drew pictures of saints and wrote Coptic inscriptions on the walls of the Festival Hall of Thutmose III. Thus in its long history of existence Karnak Temple got a chance to get baptized at the expense of the Roman Empire!

A treasure house

Karnak Temple image courtesy: cis.nctu.edu

The Karnak Temple Complex; with most of its monuments ruined and some still standing intact is a real treasure of the world’s heritage. With some arduous efforts these sites can be revived to make it the most beautiful and unparalleled sites in the world. A revived Karnak may be able to tell the events of history from four millenniums back. The Romans, Greeks, Pharaohs and all who played prominent part in the history have their markings here. Just pick up the stone bits and place it on its position; that is all what is required; but the hitch is; which stone to be placed where a thing only experts can say!