Top 5 Historical Places in Egypt
As the cradle of ancient civilization, Egypt lets history lovers dive deep into a living timeline of pharaonic power. They can witness towering stone columns and well-elaborated painted tombs. When it comes to getting close to Egypt’s ancient heart, especially as a first-time traveler, you should add the following five historical places in Egypt on your itinerary such as Karnak Temple Complex, Abu Simbel Temples, Valley of Kings, Luxor Temple and Saqqara Necropolis Although numerous historical sites are there in Egypt yet these top 5 sites are significant as they are a truly monumental echoes of civilization that helped shape human history.
Karnak Temple Complex
Your first travel stop in Egypt should be Karnak Temple Complex, located in Luxor. This temple is worth visiting as it is regarded as the most remarkable and expansive temple site in the world. Once you are inside the complex, you’ll be amazed to learn that this 200-acre complex evolved over 2,000 years of continuous construction. This temple was the main worship ground for the Theban triad known as Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. During your discovery, you must look into its iconic part “Hypostyle Hall”. This hall is different from other areas as it consists of 134 massive columns organised in 16 rows. Each column of this hall is decorated with intricate hieroglyphs and carvings that reflect religious rituals and symbols. This hall is so spacious that it can easily provide room for thousands of priests and worshippers during grand ceremonies. Other iconic sites within this complex include colossal statues, sacred lakes and obelisks.
Abu Simbel Temples
Abu Simbel temples are located in Nubia. Every history lover who wants to explore a testament of the Ancient Egyptians’ astronomical prowess always adds this site to their list of Egyptian discoveries. During the 13th century BCE Pharaoh Ramses II commissioned this breathtaking pair of rock-cut sanctuaries. Abu Simbel temples were directly carved into the cliffs on the western bank of Lake Nasser first to impress southern neighbours and second to reinforce the divine status of Ramses. The Great Temple features four colossal statues of the Pharaoh. It is dedicated to the gods named Amun, Ptah and Ra-Horakhty and also to Ramses II. Each statue of this temple is over 20 meters tall. Inside this temple, you must see reliefs that showcase the Battle of Kadesh. Ramses won this battle against the Hittites through his strategy. Next to the Great Temple, there is a Small Temple dedicated to the Goddess Hathor and Queen Nefertari. UNESCO relocated both temples through modern engineering in the 1960s to prevent their destruction due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings is the final resting place for powerful nobles and pharaohs. To prevent tomb raiding, these tombs were hidden in the barren cliffs. Inside this valley, you will come across numerous artefacts placed in the burial chamber. Over 60 tombs have been available for discovery. But you must visit the burial chamber of King Tut as it has more than 5,000 artefacts, including Tutankhamun’s mummy and sarcophagus. Other noteworthy displays can be seen at the burial chambers of Seti I and Ramses VI. An array of well-preserved wall paintings lets you witness the journey through the underworld as mentioned in the Book of the Dead. These burial grounds and displays truly showcase the complex beliefs of Egyptians in the afterlife. Each burial chamber has a unique story waiting to be discovered.
Saqqara Necropolis
In the north of modern-day Cairo, you come across Saqqara Necropolis, which is home to the first monumental stone structure and a prototype for all later Pyramids in the world. Architect Imhotep built this home to the Step Pyramid of Djoser during the 27th century BCE. Instead of creating a flat-roofed tomb, Imhotep designed a structure that rose in stages. These stages are symbols of the Pharaohs’ ascent to the heavens. Saqqara was used as a royal cemetery for the ancient capital of Memphis. You can find dozens of temples, burial shafts and tombs from several dynasties here. If you visit Egypt now, you will get a chance to look into highly revealing decorated rooms with painted ceilings and wall reliefs that have remained intact for over 4,000 years. If history lovers want to dig deep into the early dynastic period and spiritual beliefs then there is no better place than Saqqara Necropolis.
Luxor Temple
Those who already see Egypt in films tend to admire Luxor Temple due to its construction and grand entrance featuring seated statues of Ramses II and the mind-blowing colonnade. Most temples in Egypt are dedicated to gods but Luxor is an exception because it played the main role in the political and ceremonial life of ancient Thebes. The temple was built in the 14th Century BCE during the reigns of Amenhotep III and Ramses II. It was used for the Opet Festival- a grand procession during which the statues of Mut, Khonsu and Amun were paraded from Karnak to Luxor to rejuvenate the essence of the Pharaoh’s divine status. If you often read about Alexander the Great, you must visit a small shrine built by him. Once you discover everything at the Luxor temple during the day, plan a night visit later. It’s when the temple is well-illuminated by soft golden lights and you can sense the sacredness of the entire temple ground in this mystical atmosphere.
