King Ramses II (c.1279-1213 BC), the most famous king of ancient Egypt (who fought a battle against the Hittites), built the Ramesseum Temple, a funerary temple built of sandstone, the temple served as a model for future temples built by different kings. It consists of the first pylon, which is a large building facing four...
The Temple of Khonsu, nestled in the southwestern corner of the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, dedicated to the moon god Khonsu, a significant deity in ancient Egyptian mythology. Construction began under the reign of King Rameses III on the ruins of an earlier temple from the 18th Dynasty. Over time, the temple was enhanced,...
Edfu Temple is one of the most striking and complete of ancient Egyptian temples and is dedicated to the worship of the god Horus. Situated on the western bank of the Nile, its construction began during the reign of Ptolemy III (246–221 BC) in 237 BC, but was completed in the reign of Ptolemy XII...
The Great Pyramids at Giza, Egypt (photo: KennyOMG, CC BY-SA 4.0) One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World The last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the great pyramids of Giza, are perhaps the most famous and discussed structures in history. These massive monuments were unsurpassed in height for thousands of...
The Hanging Church is one of the oldest churches in Egypt and the history of a church on this site dates to the 2nd century AD. It is called the Hanging Church because it was built on the southern of Babylon Fortress, the Roman fortress in Coptic Cairo (Old Cairo). Logs of palm trees and...
Coptic Cairo: A Detailed Local’s Guide Cairo might be known as the city of a thousand minarets, but old mosques and Pyramids aren’t all that Cairo has to offer when it comes to history. Coptic Cairo, also known as mogama’ el adyan (Interfaith Complex), is an area unlike any other in Egypt. It’s part of...
Inside the Tomb of Tutankhamun The tomb of Tutankhamun, also known as the “Tutankhamun’s burial chamber,” is located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922 and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Carter had been excavating in the Valley of the...
Deir al-Bahari The celebrated temple of Hatshepsut (c.1473–1458 BC), the queen who became Pharaoh, is located here, in Deir al-Bahari, on the west bank of Luxor. Made up of three man-made terraces that gradually rise up toward the sheer cliff face, this structure is truly a sight to behold. The site of Deir al-Bahari was...
Mudawara Mountain, where stargazing and camping are few options Only 90 km from the capital city of Cairo, an hour and 15 minutes drive, with a year round moderate weather, is one of Egypt’s 7 oases, Al Fayoum. Home to several attractions from different eras from Pharaonic, Greco-Roman, Coptic and Islamic, to sand dunes, palm...