The Nile ships

There are the small cruise liners which go up and down the Nile River, carrying tourists.

A closer look at the Egyptian cruise liner

The ship deck.

A comfortable room on the ship with a view of the river Nile.

You might also like The River Nile or the ancient culture of Egypt Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or for more images of this country in Africa, of important monuments like the Pyramids and other temples.try the label "Egypt"

Esna Lock Photographs

There is a lock system on the river Nile. The reason for it to make it easy for ships to navigate across a difference in height of the water.  A lock is built with a fixed chamber inside of it and in this fixed chamber the water level can be raised or lowered. It is quite an experience to go through a lock. It is like a lift for a boat or ship! However the chamber itself does not go up and down, just the water level does.
Tourists on the Nile who are traveling by a cruiser have to go through this lock. At times the waiting times can be several hours as there is a queue.

Here is a picture of the approach to the Esna Lock. In the background you can see that the water level of the river on the other side is much higher.

Here is a clearer picture of the difference in water levels, seen as you enter the chamber where the water level can rise and fall. The photograph is taken from the top of the cruise liner.

After the water level is raised the gates on the other side are opened.

And the boat goes through to the other side.

You might also like to see photographs of the magnificent River Nile or the Edfu Temple in Egypt or other photographs from Egypt like Fishing at Esna Lock or Nubian Village of Egypt
Or see all the photos of Egypt including that of important monuments like the Pyramids and other temples.

Kom Ombo Temple in Egypt

The Temple of Kom Ombo was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty in the town of Kom Ombo in Egypt and construction started in 180 BC. It is on the banks of the river Nile. After that there was additional construction during the Roman period. The temple consists of courts and halls. It is a "double" temple in the sense that it is two temples in one - for two different dieties - The crocodile god Sobek (God of Fertility) the Falcon god Haroeris. At one time in its history Egyptian Christians (Copts) sacked the temple and used it as a church. In 1893 the temple was restored by a French geologist and archaeologist - Jacques de Morgan.

Here is a view of the Kom Ombo Temple from the side.

A spectacular view of the Nile in the foreground with the tourist ships which stop at Kom Ombo. The temple can be seen in the background.

An Egyptian local man sitting quietly, leaning against the carved pillar of this ancient temple.

A flood of tourists entering the Kom Ombo Temple

More photos of Egyptian Temples: Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Edfu Temple in Egypt
You might also like pictures of The River Nile
Or try the label "Monuments" for photographs of monuments from different parts of the world including the pyramids, or for all posts on Egypt.

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Pyramids at night

A brightly lit Khafre's Pyramid of Egypt. A golden yellow light has enveloped the pyramid during the Sound and Light Show. The background is the sky at dusk.

The Sphinx bathed in a golden light and the foreground rocks in blue.

This shows a spectrum of colours of the setting sun as a background for the three pyramids of Egypt. A glowing Sphinx can be seen in the foreground as well as the chairs laid out for spectators of the Sound and Light show. This is a view of Khafre's Pyramid, and the Sphinx which is said to have the head of Khafre.

A glowing Khafre's Pyramid with the Sphinx in the foreground.

An image of a mummy is projected on to the rocks.

The Sound and Light Show tells a story of the Pharaohs and here one of their faces is projected on to the rocks.

This photo was taken at dusk. The fading light of the sky is in the background, and the quickly darkening pyramids in the foreground.

Related Images: Three Pyramids of ancient Egypt
More photos of ancient monuments from Egypt: Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or The Great Sphinx of Egypt or Pyramid Silhouettes and Sketches
For more related photos try the label "Egypt"

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Designs and wall paintings from the Edfu Temple in Egypt

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu, built in between 237 and 57 BCE and dedicated to the falcon god Horus. This post has images of the sculptures, wall paintings and other forms of ancient Egyptian art and writings (hieroglyphics) found at the Edfu Temple. The walls writings are about ancient Egyptian myths and religion during the Greco-Roman period when this temle was built. In fact, some of the inscriptions on the temple walls write of  construction details! Scenes from the conflict between Horus and Seth are also on these walls.

The images on the temple walls range from fully armed warriors with weapons like bows or farmers working in the fields or women in different poses. There are also images of ancient Egyptian gods, kings, queens and princes, and musicians.

Both the men and the women are carrying a staff of some kind perhaps used in a religious ritual.

Women wearing a head-dress and jewelery.

This is part of a the bottom of an elaborated carved inner sanctum of the Edfu Temple. These inscriptions are writings of some sort.

The artistic skills of the ancient Egyptians are evident here. They decorated their temples and sacred places in great detail. Although the colours have faded over time the beauty of their art is visible. Whether it was statues, reliefs, paintings, pottery, sculptures or elaborated decorated coffins and tombs, the ancient Egyptians were a very highly evolved culture dedicated to art and beauty.

Here are some wall reliefs at the Edfu Temple.

The base of a carved wall at one of the entrances of a temple hall. The inscriptions are writings, and Egyptian written language is called hieroglyphics.The writing was beautifully pictures and an art form. Hieroglyphics were either drawn, carved or painted.

A sculpture of the falcon god in the Edfu temple complex.

Here you can see the delicate incriptions on the Edfu temple pillars that used to hold up the large halls.  Egyptians were great lovers of art.

Related Images: Some exterior images of the Edfu Temple in Egypt or  Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs

For more pictures of Egyptian monuments and sketches/Silhouettes of Pyramids try the label "Egypt"

Edfu Temple in Egypt

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu. Some of it was destroyed by fundamentalist Christians as the temple was considered "unchristian." Some of the inner roofs and walls are blackened, as if by fire when Christians tried to destroy the beautiful art on the walls of the temple. The temple initially had 3 large halls, a barque sanctuary and has 9 chapels around it. It is a typical example of an ancient Egyptian temple.

The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus and was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BCE, the Graeco-Roman Period. It had been buried in the sand and the French re-discovered it. The Efu Temple lies near the banks of the river Nile.

This is a long shot of the temple as one goes towards it.

The pillars of the temple with a main wall behind it. A lot of it is in ruins today.

A close look at the ruins of the temple with the intricately carved pillars.

A closer look at the beautiful ancient art on the walls of the temple.

The inner courtyard of the temple which is milling with tourists.

Another view of the inside hall of the temple. The roof is gone.

And inner sanctum which houses a mummy and the falcon god guarding it.

You might also like Designs and wall paintings from the Edfu Temple in Egypt or check out photos of some other Egyptian Temples like the Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs
Or you might like to see pictures of The River Nile
For more pictures of Egyptian monuments and sketches/Silhouettes of Pyramids try the label "Egypt" or for more ancient temples and monuments from the rest of the world try the label "Monuments."

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Pyramid Silhouettes and Sketches

A simple pencil or line drawing of the three main pyramids of Giza. The pyramid on the extreme right is the Great Pyramid, the tallest of the three, the middle one is the Pyramid of Khafre or Chephren and the smallest Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinos) is visible only partly, behind the Great Sphinx.

A sketch of the two main pyramids of Giza, the Great Pyramid and the Pyramid of of Khafre or Chephren. The outline of the Sphinx is also visible.

A silhouette of the three pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Great Pyramid, Pyramid of of Khafre or Chephren and the Pyramid of Menkaure behing the Great Sphinx.

Another black on white silhouette of the two main pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

These drawings and silhouettes are based on this post: Three Pyramids of ancient Egypt
More photos of ancient monuments from Egypt: Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or The Great Sphinx of Egypt
For more related photos try the label "Egypt"

The Great Sphinx of Egypt

This is a side-view of the Sphinx with the Great Pyramid in the background.

A front view of the Sphinx on a bright and hot day under the scorching desert sun. The figure is under repairs.

This is a frontal view of the Great Sphinx. The Pyramid of Khafre (or Chephren) is behind it.

The Sphinx is believed to have the head of Khafre. In this picture there is part of the Great Pyramid in the background, and it appears as if the Sphinx has a headdress!

A view of the Sphinx from the side, in the bright, almost blinding, desert sun. Tourists are milling about the Sphinx which is under repairs.

More photos of ancient monuments from Egypt:  Three Pyramids of ancient Egypt or the Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or for more related photos try the label "Egypt"

Three Pyramids of ancient Egypt

These are photographs of the three main pyramids on the Giza Plateau, which is called the the Giza Necropolis. This place lies on the outskirts of Cairo in Egypt. These ancient monuments comprise of three pyramid complexes (Great Pyramids) as well as the huge sculpture of the Great Sphinx. This complex also houses some cemeteries, a small village and an industrial complex. These pyramids were one of the ancient Wonders of the World.

The first photo is of all the pyramids together against a deep blue sky. The Great Pyramid (the Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu) is to the right of the photograph, the smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Chephren, Cheop's son) is in the centre, and the smallest Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mykerinos) is at a distance to the left of the image. This is the smallest pyramid on the Giza Plateau. Menkaure's pyramid is a tomb of the fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Menkaure. The Pyramid was once 218 feet but is now just 204 ft tall. The Sphinx can be seen as well.

This photograph is of the Great Pyramid of Giza (or the Pyramid of Cheops or Khufu). This is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids and one of the wonders of the world. The pyramid was a tomb for the fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (or Cheops in Greek). The pyramid was built over two decades and was finished around 2560 BC. It was built at a height of 146.5 metres or 480.6 ft and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost 4000 years! You can see tiny figures of people at the bottom of the pyramid which gives you an idea of the enormous height of this pyramid. The outer layer of casing stones has been eroded away.

This is a view of Khafre's Pyramid and the Great Pyramid alongwith the Sphinx at dusk. The Sphinx is said to have the head of Khafre. The chairs that have been laid out in front of the pyramids are for the Sound and Light show which is about to begin.

This is a worm's eye view of Khafre's Pyramid. It is possible to enter deep inside all the pyramids to see the tombs. The tunnel entrances are narrow and low

This is another view of the smaller Pyramid of Khafre (or Chephren). To the right of the image is the Great Sphinx.

In this photo you have a camel with its caretaker in local dress against a background of the Great Pyramid against a blue sky. An iconic Egyptian visual!

This is how the pyramids look like if one looks at them closely. Not surprising to see the erosion, considering how old they are! The smooth upper layer or stone casing is gone and the bricks are visible, many of them broken. Some of these broken upper layer large stones are visible at the bottom of some of the pyramids.

At the bottom of the pyramids there are large boulders which have fallen off. Some of them are possibly from the outer smooth layer of the pyramid.

More photos of ancient monuments from Egypt: Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or for more related photos try the label "Egypt"