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Visiting the Ancient Sites of Egypt: A Trip Back in Time

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If you’re thinking about visiting Egypt, schedule some time to discover its many historical treasures. For over 3,000 years, the rulers of Ancient Egypt left their imprint on their kingdoms through a succession of ever-more-impressive colossal construction projects.

Because of the extraordinary skill of the Egyptian architects, many of these structures still stand today, with some of them astonishingly in fine shape. The tombs, sphinxes, and pyramids of the long-dead pharaohs have been luring tourists from across the world for thousands of years.

With Egypt Air booking, you can book flights from Cairo to major cities across the world, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and many more, at the lowest monthly fares available on a highly reputable website.

Some of the top historical sites to visit and explore when travelling to Egypt are:

The Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza

The royal tombs of three significant 4th dynasty pharaohs, Khufu the father, Khefren the son, and Mykerinos the grandson, are located on the Giza plateau in Egypt, on the Nile River’s west bank, approximately ten kilometres from Cairo. This vast complex of pyramids, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been their home for the last 4,500 years. 

Khufu’s pyramid, the greatest and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the only one that remains intact. Up until the 12th century, standing at 137 metres above the ground, it was the highest structure on Earth. 

The limestone-carved Sphinx of Giza has stood guard over the tombs beneath it since 2500 BC. It has a human head with a royal headpiece on top of a lion’s body. A single piece of limestone was used to sculpt the statue.

Karnak

Karnak, a complex with many temples, is a great place to explore. Located near Luxor, the site is known for a mix of different types of obelisks, columns, and ruins. Constructed in the Nile Valley between 2200 and 360 BC, the 123-hectare Karnak complex is the largest in Egypt and the most compelling and engaging archaeological site for anyone to explore. Karnak, which was formerly known as Thebes, was built over many years and is still a sight to behold. 

Many pharaohs contributed to the construction of the Great Temple of Amun, leaving their imprints on this structure honouring the most powerful deity in Egypt. With 134 stone columns, the enormous hypostyle hall is a sight to see and admire.

Temples of Abu Simbel

The Abu Simbel temples are two enormous buildings hewn from the rock face of a mountain; they rank among Egypt’s most famous sites. The monuments are a grand demonstration of the Ramesside pharaohs’ wealth. They are the temples of Abu Simbel, which are devoted to Ramses II and his wife Nefertari. Ramesses the Great, a pharaoh of the 19th dynasty who ruled for several decades until 1213 BC, is reflected in the temples’ overwhelming authority.

Awe-inspiring features of the vast temple include the painting, the four colossi, the vast hall with its eight Osiris pillars, and extraordinary inscriptions. It’s worthwhile to pay homage to Queen Nefertari at the nearby Temple of Hathor. These two structures, as with the Temple of Philae, were spared from the sea in the 1960s.

Kom Ombo Temple

While each ancient Egyptian temple is distinct, the Kom Ombo Temple is the only one with a symmetrical form, holding respect to two gods. The two sets of gateways and chapels of this edifice are a result of the enduring figures in Egyptian mythology, the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. 

Constructed in the first century BC, this rather contemporary edifice withstood the last 19th dynasty of ancient Egypt by upholding centuries of customs, religion, and culture.

The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is home to what may be the greatest concentration of pharaohs ever memorialised, a claim that is remarkable for Egypt. The Valley is a collection of tombs devoted to prominent Egyptian figures that were built over 500 years ago. Up to the eleventh century BC, the site was cared for, and in the present day, it has been investigated and maintained for over 200 years.

Among the more than sixty tombs and several chambers are many striking designs and lavish interiors that were once brimming with valuables. Just the wall marks themselves offer an enlightening perspective on mortality and life in ancient Egypt.

So book your ticket through Egypt Air booking and visit the ancient places of Egypt. 

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