IN 1922 on Luxor’s west bank, Howard Carter made probably the most famous archeological discovery of all time: The tomb of “the boy king”, Pharoah Tutankhamun. The Valley Of The Kings continues to reluctantly disgorge its secrets, with over 60 tombs, some with over 100 chambers found so far. Some are open for visitors.
The east bank, home to ancient Thebes (Luxor), is not to be outdone, with the sprawling, gigantium Karnak Temple complex, which successive pharoahs built and added to for over 2000 years.
And further south down the Nile towards Sudan, one wonder of the world, a marvel of antiquity in its own right, but somehow relocated thousands of years later: Abu Simbel.
Away from the sites, Nile river life has changed little.
Karnak spread out over a vast area, where successive pharoahs have added their own halls and temples.
Karnak Temple, Luxor.
Reliefs at Karnak Temple.
Construction at Karnak spanned over 2000 years. It is a huge complex!
Luxor's small Mummification Museum gives a fascinating insight into this most Egyptian of practices.
Cats and crocodiles are just some of the mummified things Egyptains took to the afterlife.
Sandstone for the pillars in the Precint of Amun Re was transported 100km by river.
Each pharoah from about 2000BC added to Karnak, which covers 1500m x 800m.
Every where you turn are statues of gods and pharoahs.
29 metres, 382 tonnes.
More wonders in Luxor's historic temples.
The scarb (dung beetle) and ibis were revered in ancient Egypt.
Hatshepsut's image was defaced by her son and successor Thutmose III.
Royal slaves depicted at Hatshepsut's Temple.
Looking out at Hatshepsut's Temple, Luxor.
Heiroglyphics on the left have been defaced by Hatshepsut's son.
Egypt is hot. Relax, take your time. Grab a tea. Watch the street.
Farming in Luxor.
Despite being Egypt's second most visited sight, the Temple of Karnak doesn't feel overcrowded.
Away from the historical sights, Egypt is still a poor, rural country, where farming supports the majority of the people.
A passenger ferry takes you to the Valley Of The Kings, Luxor.
Luxor's Mummification Museum.
Away from the gods and guides, peaceful rural life in Luxor.
The ibis was a sacred bird in the time of the pharoahs, unlike eastern Australia, where they are known as "bin chickens."
Karnak, pillars dwarf everything in the surrounds.
My knowledge of heiroglyphics is limited, but I am guessing this depicts bringing goods into the afterlife.
I must apologise. I am not sure which temple this is.
A massive stone figure of a man on the left shows the scale of Egyptian monuments.
Another incredibly massive and impressive monument, which with the riches in Luxor, is considered a secondary sight.
A man tends his stall in an Aswan market.
Felluca sailing boats on the Nile.
One of the most historical rivers in the world, the Nile is also truly relaxing.
It is enough to contemplate how these massive monuments were built, and yet there is the second wonder of how they were relocated.
Mind-snappingly huge figures at Abu Simbel.
On the walls of one of Abu Simbel temples, which were incredibly relocated in 1968.
Ramsesses II.
The Great Temple at Abu Simbel is dedicated to the gods Amun, Ra-Horakhty, and Ptah....and Ramesses himself.
The Nile River in Aswan.