Egypt4u

While going through my many, many images of Egypt and its temples I came across quite a few that I had to wonder just why I took that particular image? I am sure that many of us have similar pictures that we took for a particular reason, but maybe have to think why? when we view it later. So I thought it would be a good idea and maybe generate some sharing of images that have a story or something to tell, so rather than just a ‘record shot’ photograph, do you have any that maybe need an explanation?

I will start it off with this one taken at the Temple of Isis on Philae, I took it to show that graffiti is not a new thing and that even our earliest travellers behaved far worse towards the monuments than would be expected or tolerated today.

I was quite shocked when I saw all the graffiti carved into the various temples (and their age too which I have to admit I did find interesting)

When I visit the monuments I am always looking to find something out of the ordinary especially with the Hieroglyphs and often search around looking for the more unusual ones, this one at Kom Ombo of a woman giving birth is not one that you see so often.

You have sharp eyes, Horus!

Ruby Slippers wrote:You have sharp eyes, Horus!

Yes RS you always need to look for the detail as it will tell you so much, take the Temple of Horus at Edfu, believed by the ancients to be the site where the two gods Horus and Seth did battle. We often see reed boats depicted on temple walls, but how often do we see them shown with sails and masts. This particular frieze depicts the 'Feast of the Beautiful Meeting' in which Horus of Edfu was united with Hathor of Dendera. Also note the empty Cartouche, I will mention that later.

In the past I have walked around the city and taken pictures of areas or buildings that I know are going to be changed. When the city was rebuilt after the war, a large concrete car park was incorporated in the plan. Although an excellent car park right in the city centre it was a ghastly eyesore and in 2001 it was decided to demolish it as part of the city centre re-development.

I took this picture in May 2001 as nothing more than a record of how the car park looked before demolition


And this one in October 2001 as demolition was in progress


The whole area called Whitefriars was built and there is now no sign of where that old concrete monster once stood.

Harking back to the Egyptian theme, I took these images because of the unusually empty cartouches. They can be seen all over the walls and columns of the Temple of Horus at Edfu, there were two reasons for this, the main one being that the temple was never finished also it was built during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods when there was much uncertainty as to who was the current ruler (Pharaoh) would be so they were left blank.

I think they were waiting for you to go and fill them in yourself H.

Grandad wrote:I think they were waiting for you to go and fill them in yourself H.

You mean like this one?

WHEW - now I can sleep better at night secure in the knowledge the cartouches are finished!