Deir el-Bahri

  • DSC01427 The Colossi of Memnon. Two large, 18 m, statues of Amenhotep III originally erected in 1350 BCE. They stand guard at the entrance to Amenhotop's mortuary temple, now almost entirely destroyed.
  • DSC01430 The statues have been severely damgaed over time. They have subsequently been rebuilt and repaired.
  • DSC01434 After an earthquake in 27 BCE that significantly damaged the upper portion of the eastern statue, it became famous for singing at sunrise. Reports of the singing continued until the Romans rebuilt the statue around 199 CE.
  • DSC01441 Nearby is Deir el-Bahri, the mortuary temple for the Pharaoh Hatshepsut. One of the few female rulers of Egypt, Hatshepsut ruled for 22 years from 1479 BCE until her death in 1458.
  • DSC01443 A statue of Hatshepsut portrayed in the death pose, arms crossed and lower body bound as if wrapped for mummification. Her statues show her wearing the false beard of power.
  • DSC01444 Entry to the inner temple.
  • DSC01446 Tourists gathered in the courtyard of the inner temple.
  • DSC01447 The colonnaded hallways around the temple had scenes celebrating Hatshepsut's accomplishments.
  • DSC01449 A line of Hatshepsut statues.
  • DSC01451 The view from the temple looking over the valley toward the nile (~4.5 kilometers away).
  • DSC01452 Many of the carvings at Deir el-Bahri were in poor condition, few had color and many were damaged.
  • DSC01453 The best colors, like those seen here, were protected near the ceiling under still intact ceilings.
  • DSC01454 Examples of carvings that have received only minor damage.
  • DSC01455 Carvings showing the god Anubis. Notice the starry ceiling.
  • DSC01456 A Pharaoh (possibly Hatshepsut) making an offering to Horus.
  • DSC01457 A good view of the starry ceiling.
  • DSC01459 A scene depicting the wealth of the country, large piles of grain.
  • DSC01460 Although this scene is difficult to see, it depicts trees from her imported arboretum of regional trees. All of the color is long worn away.
  • DSC01462 This is much more typical of the condition and presentation of the carvings at Deir el-Bahri.
  • DSC01463 Another scene of the Pharaoh making an offering to a god (not pictured).
  • DSC01464 Scenes of war. Egyptian soldiers can be identified by their round topped shields.
  • DSC01466 A photo of the our tour group.