Today's program: the temples at Abydos and Dendera.
Normaly we had visited thes temples on our way from Minya to Luxor if we had a car avaiable. But because this was not the case we drove back out of Luxor to Abydos. The good news was that we did have enough diesel to our disposal.
After a journey of about 3½ hours, something that was previously easy 2½ hous, but no longer possible because of the application of many speed bumps, we arrived at Abydos. Arriving there we saw someting menacing in the air, but more about that later.
Abydos is one of the oldest towns in Egypt and is located 160 km north of Luxor.
Abydos was actually a kind of pilgrimage, because the tomb of the king of the Underworld, the god Osiris, the god of death and rebirth is here.
The kings of the first and second dynasty built their tombs here. But probably they are not buried here because they had their tombs at Saqqara.
Abydos is a holy place, many kings and high officials put a stele or a chapel here and Seti I and Rameses II built a temple here. Seti I started with the great temple and Rameses finished it. Rameses also built a temple of his own, smaller than the one of Seti but also very rewarding.
Abydos.
Click on the ticket for more.
Video impressie van de tempel van Seti I.
The temple of Seti I is beautiful but unfortunately is the first pylon and hal lost, but there is still enough to see.
First there is the outer hypostyle hall, after that comes the inner hypostyle hall, on the other side of this hall are 8 chapels, dedicated to various gods.
From right to left the chapel of Horus, than Isis, than a much larger one for osiris, which runs through to the rear
and has beautiful colored reliefs. This hall has also three chapels with beautiful colors.
The second hall is unfortunately quite damaged, with the chapels for Amon, Re-Horakhte, Ptah ans Seti I himself, the last hall is for Nefertem and Ptah-Sokaris.
Opposite is the entrance to the gallery with the Kingslist, on this list are except the names of Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun and the names of all kings until Seti I pictured. This gallery is also the doorway to the hall of the bulls here are images of Ramses II and his son who are catching a bull. Walking through this via a staircase leading up and out and you find yourself standing before the tomb of Osiris, the so-called Osireion.
Click on the image to see more of the Osireion.
After a visit to the quaint and beautiful temple of Seti I, we looked oputside to see if we could take a walk through the desert to the temple of Rameses II, a 5 minute walk.
But unfortunately the threatening thing that was in the air was come true................ there was a real sandstorm raging outside. In other words the temple of Rameses II was not avaiable. A bit disappointed we returned to the car to drive to Dendera, hoping that this temple was not closed because of this sandstorm.
Video impression of a bit sand.
Underway from Abydos to Dendera.
Dendera temple.
Click on the ticket for the pictures.
Fortunately the temple at Dendera was still open and we could fully enjoy all the wunderful things here.
The Dendera temple from the Ptolemaic period is dedicated to the godess Hathor.
The temple of Dendera lies near Qina, this town is located about 60 km north of Luxor.
The temple of Dendera is built over a period of 34 years from 54 to 20 BC.
After the death of Ptolemaeus XII the construction has halted for several years.
Dendera temple, outside.
Click on the picture for more.
The subterranean crypts were built by his daughter Cleopatra VII during her 21 year reign, when she died in 30 BC, they had just begun with the decorations of the crypts.
Often the cartouches are not completed so we do not know who has built what. However at the wall on the back on the back of the temple is the only image of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII, with their son Caesarion, who was co-regent under the name Ptolemaeus XV.
Beside this image is a false door with a head of Hathor, unfortunately this has gone lost.
Dendera hypostyl hall.
Click on the picture for more.
Inside the temple in the hypostyle hall is a magnificent astronomical ceiling painted blue.
It is very high but here are also the characters in the zodiac depicted.
Dendera underground passage.
In the back of the temple if you absolutely do not suffer from phobia straw punch, you can visit the underground crypt.
Click on the picture for more.
Dendera birthplace.
Click on the picture for more.
Behind the temple is another temple which is dedicated to Isis. And before the temple is a sanatorium, a birth house from the 30th Dynasty, a Coptic church and a Roman birthplace.
The access gate to the entire temple complex is also from the Roman era.
The sacred lake present by every temple, is today overgrown with palms.
Video impression of the temple at Dendera.
After these sandy visits we went bach to the lotus hotel. After a nice and neccesary shower we went to Aboudy, a world nenowned bookstore in Luxor, where I find and bought a few interesting books for me, which will come in handy in my translation of the Book of the Dead.
Also I overheard dureing a conversation between somebody and Olet, that they want to do an excursion to an undeveloped area called "The Valley of Colors", something that later proved to be a nickname of Malqata.
Naturaly my interest was aroused and I asked if I could come along and .................... I may, yippie.
Next week when we come back in Luxor we agreed to do this trip because there was some room in the program.
So now that was settled we did a second attempt to get a croqette roll and look there "Broodje Holland" was open. Unfortunately the croquettes were sold out, however the meatball sandwiches tasted very nice. The host Hein, a great guy, promised that he would make some croquettes for us when we return next week. Well so far so good. Time for a few bears and than a good night sleep, because tomorrow we have again a big day ahead of us, with among others the 'Valley of the Queens'.
