r/history Jan 16 '23

Egyptian authorities unveil ancient tomb in Luxor dating back around 3,500 years that archaeologists believe holds the remains of an 18th dynasty royal Article

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2232406/middle-east
4.7k Upvotes

642

u/medfreak Jan 16 '23

The timeline of the Egyptian civilization is mind blowing.

468

u/TiempoPuntoCinco Jan 16 '23

One of the recent Assassin's Creed games (Origins) is set in Ptomelean Egypt. They added a Discovery Tour where you hop around the Nile without any of that "videogame" nonsense and go on guided tours that show pictures from museums and historical sites and is the absolutely best thing.

227

u/jpastore Jan 16 '23

What a great way to introduce education into the game. That's pretty neat.

198

u/Leachpunk Jan 16 '23

Assassin's Creed games have been top notch for their educational purposes alone. Their attempts at faithfully recreating cities during a certain era is mindblowing.

136

u/Peculiar_One Jan 16 '23

My favorite part is that even though they aren’t 100% accurate the developers did their best to find a balance. OSP did a fairly detailed breakdown of the historical accuracy in assassin’s creed. My favorite part is when there are certain buildings that we would expect in a particular city weren’t there in the time that the game takes place in (sometimes by centuries), so they would have the building under construction or something with the key points of the building already there.

73

u/TiempoPuntoCinco Jan 16 '23

In Origins they're straight up like, "it's Egypt we put the Sphinx in like that because it's a videogame and you love to see it"

8

u/Red_Tannins Jan 17 '23

Doesn't the Sphinx predate most of the pyramids? It was carved out of the limestone, the blocks were used to build other things.

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u/TiempoPuntoCinco Jan 17 '23

It wasn't uncovered until the 1600s iirc

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u/bababbab Jan 17 '23

The sphinx was built around 2500 years before the events of the game…

So us here on Reddit right now are closer to the time where the game takes place than they were to the building of the sphinx

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u/boogs_23 Jan 16 '23

I heard when Notre Dame burned down, they contacted Ubi because they had incredibly detailed images and scans taken for AC: Unity.

56

u/Jackalodeath Jan 16 '23

Pretty sure I read that somewhere too.

I'm having an absolute field day playing "Hercules if he was a ninja" in Ancient Greece at the moment. I don't even care about the lore changes; the way they did the RPG elements in the story is scratching a roleplay itch that hasn't been scratched since 2010.

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u/boogs_23 Jan 16 '23

I'm playing Origins right now. There are so many good points to AC games, but the Ubi formula is killing me. I have trouble stopping myself from doing everything and when presented with an Ubi map just plastered with "?", I burn out hard.

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u/Jackalodeath Jan 16 '23

Ah, so there lies our differences; exploring worlds that only exist thanks to a team of imaginations working together is my bread and butter. Its always amazed me that these things only exist because of someone's brain, some math, and something to translate it into "substance." I won't go into how many hours I've logged between the (early) GTAs, Elder Scrolls, and Fallouts just combing every inch of the maps/dungeons while ignoring the storyline. Finally got over my "fear" and decided I need to jump on the Fromsoft train, who's apparently masters at stitching those sorts of worlds together from sheer fantasy. The Souls and Soul-"sisters" games will likely last me the rest of this decade given my habits xD

Collectibles that don't upgrade your character/play and "being the very best" at combat are tertiary concerns for me. I can play an absolute rubbish game for months if it takes place in a sandbox that's fun to fiddle with. Hell, exploring Hollow Knight - which isn't that big in comparison to "3D worlds" - lasted me nearly 300 hours (granted at least 50 was getting lost.) Just my "happy place."^_^

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u/boogs_23 Jan 16 '23

See, I do actually enjoy everything you mentioned. It actually really bugs me when a game tries to hurry you along when there are still things I haven't seen. People put a lot of time and effort into making those environments. My major issue is that there are just so many games I want to play out there. Putting 300 hours into just one means I don't get to experience a bunch of others.

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u/Jackalodeath Jan 16 '23

Oh I certainly understand that sentiment. Aside from the Fromsofts, I have the Witchers, Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk, and a few other massive maps/games to explore. Pretty sure I'm set for the rest of my life xD

Just as an example, before this, I was playing Fallout 76. Two thousand hours over the course of 2.5 years, just wandering post-apocalypse West Virginia, helping other players, and snatching anything that could be picked up. I didn't expect to play it for 50hrs due to the multiplayer thing, much less 40 times as long>_<

Hey, at least we definitely get our money's worth!

6

u/StatikSquid Jan 16 '23

Valhalla has a lot less "?" bloat compared to origins and odyssey

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u/alihassan9193 Jan 16 '23

Origins is fine. Honestly I liked Origins. But Odyssey made me physically sick for how tedious and mind numbing it is.

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u/X-Maelstrom-X Jan 16 '23

God, Odyssey is my favorite game of all time. It’s like that game was tailor made for me. Glad to see someone else enjoying it.

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u/Jackalodeath Jan 16 '23

This game blindsided me. It is by far the most fun "choices-matter" RPG I've played since New Vegas; just with added Tenchu: Stealth Assassins vibes. Granted ain't many games of the same genre between those - maybe MGS: Snake Eater in the stealth department - but my point stands for me.

My sneaky bastard of an inner child is so happy playing this^_^

2

u/peacemaker2007 Jan 17 '23

that game was tailor made for me

*This hole is mine! It was made for me!

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u/TiempoPuntoCinco Jan 16 '23

I loved Origins so much. I'm more disappointed by Odyssey than actively disliking it. I have trouble with the size of that game (it's excessively large), and personally I just find the time period/location not as interesting. I really like the structure of finding cult members and how they tried their best to implement a sorta Nemesis system. I think they took the wrong lessons into Valhalla because that game is super repetitive along with bloated. But wtf do I know those are the 2 most successful AC games. I think if I was 17 and still had the time, lesser income to just buy any game, and a lower pot tolerance I would have LOVED Odyssey.

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u/Ok-Captain-3512 Jan 16 '23

I heard that too. But I heard it on reddit so grain of salt

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u/jpastore Jan 16 '23

I only saw the movie, never really played the games. This is fascinating and I wish I put more time into it now.

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u/IngsocIstanbul Jan 16 '23

Istanbul was pretty amazing

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u/Life_outside_PoE Jan 16 '23

If I remember correctly, the Florence tourism board suggested playing assassin's creed (brotherhood or revelations, can't remember) to get a bit of a history lesson and also to know where buildings are in relation to each other.

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u/medfreak Jan 16 '23

I did that and loved it!

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u/Born2fayl Jan 16 '23

I need to try this! I loved the game, but I assumed the tour thing was just the same game without violence or challenges.

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u/X-Maelstrom-X Jan 16 '23

I love the discovery tours so much. I just wish they were either more accessible while playing the main game or they also brought back those blurbs they used to have when you found a historical place.

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u/FridgeKing994 Jan 17 '23

That mode was freaking amazing.

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u/Staerebu Jan 16 '23

Definitely looking forward to future discoveries

23

u/terlin Jan 16 '23 edited Jan 16 '23

Always found it funny that Romans went sightseeing tours in Egypt too.

148

u/beatenwithjoy Jan 16 '23

Cleopatra is chronologically closer to us than the pyramids of giza.

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u/vinicelii Jan 16 '23

I think a better job needs to be done at separating the Old Kingdom from Ptolemaic and then Imperial Roman Egypt in how we talk about 'ancient' Egypt. They are -functionally- completely separate.

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u/amehatrekkie Jan 16 '23

The old kingdom is separate from the Ptolemaic dynasty. They're part of the New kingdom (there's also the middle one).

Plus the Ptolemies maintained Egyptian traditions (as did Alexander and even the Persians).

The Romans stopped alot of things, that's why they're considered the end of Pharaohnic Egypt.

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u/goldthreadcurtains Jan 16 '23

Isn’t the new kingdom separate from Ptolemaic Egypt?

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u/Welshhoppo Waiting for the Roman Empire to reform Jan 16 '23

You're all missing out the Late Kingdom as well, which ran until what we call Ptolemaic Egypt.

Although there were still Pharaohs in the Roman period. Every single Roman Emperor was also Pharoah of Egypt with their own Kartush. And depicted as a traditional Pharoah in art as well.

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u/amehatrekkie Jan 18 '23

Didn't know that

Most material I've read always said the last pharaoh was Cleopatra

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u/KWilt Jan 16 '23

Plus the Ptolemies maintained Egyptian traditions (as did Alexander and even the Persians).

Source on that? I find it a little suspect when they didn't even speak the language. Cleopatra was one of the first to speak the common tongue in the Ptolemaic dynasty, and its part of what endeared her to her people.

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u/amehatrekkie Jan 18 '23

The Egyptians' own records.

The first generation or 2 of the Ptolemies only spoke Greek, true, but the future ones did speak Egyptian.

The Persians had a viceroy handle the day to day stuff

Ps

Btw there were English kings that didn't speak a word of English and yet had no problem with maintaining traditions

30

u/Vo_Mimbre Jan 16 '23

One of my favorite things is that in that time period, they had Ancient Egyptian Archaeologists as a career, studying the pyramids and the like. That was the first time I truly got the scale of age there.

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u/yonatansb Jan 16 '23

One of my favorite historical things is that when archaeologists were excavating the city of Ur (in modern day Iraq) and discovered a room that had a bunch of pots in it. Most of the pots were much older than the stuff around them, including the small clay tablets with writing on them near each pot. Often, the pots seemed to not be from Ur itself either. The archaeologists looked this room over and thought "wait, I know what this is!?!" In the ancient Babylonian city of Ur, at the start of civilization there was a history museum.

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u/Vo_Mimbre Jan 16 '23

Holy crap. Wasn’t Ur considered at some point to be the first city??

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u/shadowsformagrin Jan 16 '23

That's amazing. Where can I find more info on this? I'm not finding much on google

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u/Hank_The_Cat Jan 16 '23

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u/shadowsformagrin Jan 17 '23

Thank you!

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u/yonatansb Jan 17 '23

The owner of the museum was the daughter of the last king of the Neo Babylonian Empire. She was alive: roughly 700 years after the Trojan War, 1500 years after the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza, and 2000 years after the reign of Gilgamesh. Her father's empire was defeated by the Achaemenid Empire of Cyrus the great. That defeat also ended the "Babylonian exile" of the Jewish people. Cyrus's grandson is the Persian king who is in the movie 300. 200 years later that empire is crushed by the Macadonian empire of Alexander the Great. There is a lot of history.

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u/Vo_Mimbre Jan 18 '23

And once again that amazing time scale. The time between Cyrus the Great and Alexander is a longer time span than the United States being a thing :)

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u/muddyrose Jan 16 '23

You just got it to click for me, that’s wild!

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u/elcapkirk Jan 16 '23

You mean she's closer to us than she is to the pyramids.

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u/iK_550 Jan 16 '23

At least she has been in one.

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u/garry4321 Jan 16 '23

No need to rub it in our faces

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

It is, but this like caught my eye.

But the discoveries have been a key component of Egypt’s attempts to revive its vital tourism industry, the crowning jewel of which is the long-delayed inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the foot of the pyramids.

From what I’ve read on Reddit, visiting the area is dangerous for women and annoying for guys and couple since there’s so many crooks, thieves and scams.

Dems like they should crack down on that aspect and clean that up so visitors don’t come away with that vibe. I don’t know, I’ve never been there and quite often you just get an echo chamber on Reddit. But I’ve traveled enough that you should take heed when people say things like that.

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u/Dandonezo54 Jan 16 '23

Yeah word is egypt is just a big scam trap for tourist, no matter where you are they try to scam you. I will not visit there for the foreseeable future because of this. There are many other places on the world without such a reputation, no sense in risking it when it could be better in some years or decades.

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u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23

It’s absolutely not dangerous, it can be a little intimidating if you don’t know way of things and there are scams on the go (no different than anywhere else really), the main thing is educating yourself before you go on the types of scams there are. I.E. •Don’t give them your camera to take a photo of you, they will want paying for the ‘service’. •Don’t accept ‘free’ gifts from the kids, or anyone really. Someone will follow you and when you open it say it’s not free and you need to pay for it. •Agree prices and terms for everything, so if for example you 2 of you want to get a taxi, make sure you define the price for the journey and that it’s the total price for two people (to avoid them claiming it’s the price per person. Etc etc Lastly, be firm, if you get to your point and they try charging more, firmly say you’ve paid the agreed amount and then walk away, and keep walking.

My wife found it a little intimidating her first time but by the end was in love with the place.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

I agree as I’ve encountered these things on my travels and it’s really up to you. But can we agree that this kind of predatory behavior is also not part of the local charm and would result in more and better tourism if the local government put a stop to it?

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u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23

Oh I absolutely agree with that. It would certainly help with tourism.

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u/nirataro Jan 17 '23

It’s Reddit bias. Cairo is a very safe city and it is as cosmopolitan as New York.

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u/Ok-Captain-3512 Jan 16 '23

Cleopatra had Egyptologists to study ancient Egypt

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u/JeffFromSchool Jan 16 '23

According to Shinto tradition, the Imperial House of Japan goes back in an unbroken line all the way to 660 BC. The history of some parts of the world is mind boggling.

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u/RPG_are_my_initials Jan 16 '23

While still a very long time, there is only evidence to support the lineage for about 1500 years. The extra 1000 or so years claimed by any tradition is only mythical at this time, with no reason to believe it went much further other than faith. You said according to Shinto tradition, which is helpful, but I'm just commenting here for anyone who might be interested because I find it disappointing to see even major publications refer to the supposed 2600 year unbroken line as if it were fact. I've seen plenty of instances where sources spout this as fact that should know better. For example, a quick Google search shows as a top hit a New York times article restating the same claim as a fact even though it has a contradicting sentence afterwards noting the evidence only goes back to 500 CE. I think Emperor Jimmu was probably no more real than Romulus.

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u/hazzdawg Jan 17 '23

Wait until you learn about the indigenous Australians.

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u/medfreak Jan 17 '23

Would love to learn more. Any links to good sources you recommend?

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u/hazzdawg Jan 17 '23

Wikipedia is always a good start: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Indigenous_Australians

They're like 60k years old. No cool pyramids though.

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u/memy02 Jan 16 '23

Humans first evolved in Africa and needed to go through Egypt to migrate into Europe and Asia so it makes sense Egypt has such a long history.

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u/Ghostc1212 Jan 16 '23

This isn't the reason why Egypt has a long history. The real reason is that its geography lent itself to the formation of early civilization. Egypt and the Fertile Crescent are the cradles of civilization, they figured out agriculture and writing and shit before literally anyone else, which is why they've got the longest (recorded) histories.

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u/Rhodog1234 Jan 16 '23

18 th Dynasty ... Known as New Kingdom Era, ended about 1292 bc. King Tut was of this time period.

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u/fool_on_a_hill Jan 16 '23

yeah this appears to be in the neighborhood of tut's tomb as well

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u/snkn179 Jan 16 '23

Yep the 18th through to the 20th dynasty (~1500-1000 BCE) all buried their pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings.

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u/Welshhoppo Waiting for the Roman Empire to reform Jan 16 '23

Could be a very interesting development. There's a fair few missing tombs from the 18th dynasty. As well as a couple of Royal mummies we can't Identity/ are unsure of.

Shame about the damage to it, hopefully enough survives to give us a good idea who it belonged too.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/Minuted Jan 16 '23

Not super relevant but I went down a wiki rabbit hole and it's the same time period:

I just learned that Nefertiti was Akhenaten's wife. No idea why I always thought she was her own thing or some sort of female ruler. I guess because of "Nerertiti: Queen of the nile"?

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u/thestartinglineups Jan 16 '23

She may in fact have ruled briefly after Akhenaten’s death and before Tutankhaun under the name Neferneferaten. In any case, she had more power than a lot of wives of the Pharoahs (Queen isn’t really accurate since the royal house usually practiced polygamy - the closest equivalent was something like Great Wife). Before his death, Akhenaten made her co-regent and she’s depicted in art in poses normally reserved for the king, such as riding a chariot and smiting enemies. So, she’s much more than a famous name/beautiful face. The Amarna period is so unique and interesting.

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u/Blake198624601 Jan 16 '23

I always got Nefertiti confused with Hatshepsut.

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u/No_Juice418 Jan 16 '23

Just very famous I guess. There's not many female characters around in ancient Egypt.

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u/Foul_xeno Jan 16 '23

Hatshepsut was one, she was a pharaoh from the 18th dynasty as well. An impressive pharaoh all things considered, with a very successful reign!

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u/Minuted Jan 16 '23

Yeah I knew there had been female rulers of Egypt, so I just assumed Nefertiti was one.

In fact there's some debate around whether she ruled for some time after Akhenaten's death to Tutankhamun's ascension to the throne, but it seems like it's not settled one way or another.

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u/whitewalker646 Jan 16 '23

You might have mixed her up with hatshepsut who actually ruled Egypt before tuhtmose III

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u/Karnorkla Jan 16 '23

Ancient Egypt is the gift that keeps on giving. I'm glad the tomb robbers didn't ruin it all!

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u/TotalitarianismPrism Jan 16 '23

If modern media is to be believed, we have the fear of ancient curses on tombs to thank for that.

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u/Vandergrif Jan 16 '23

Or in the case of some archaeologists - blow it up with dynamite while trying to excavate.

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u/Red_Tannins Jan 17 '23

Good read, thanks!

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u/TotalitarianismPrism Jan 16 '23

I know nothing of Egyptian history. There were 17 other dynasties before 1300BC? That is insane.

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u/chris6082 Jan 17 '23

Obligatory factoid: Cleopatra lived closer to the moon landinga than to the building of the Great Pyramid

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u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23

My wife and I are heading back to Egypt this summer, I’ve been very fortunate in life and been able to travel extensively and Egypt is both of our favourite place in the world (that we’ve seen). The amount of history that’s yet to be discovered there is mind blowing. If all goes to plan we will be getting an internal flight to Cairo, staying at mena house overnight, flying to Aswan, visiting Abu Simbel before getting a nile cruise to Luxor, going back to the Valley of the kings and the other temples before heading back to Hurghada for the remainder of our trip. We’ve seen everything before with the exception of Abu Simbel and every time it’s just as magical as before. Can’t wait to see the work being carried out at the new entrance (I don’t imagine it will be open to tourists). Anyone who hasn’t ever visited, add it to your bucket list!

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u/No_Juice418 Jan 16 '23

Stayed 4 months there in 2021. The ancient stuff is amazing, and wel worth it. Would go back in a second to visit. But I won't. As far as modern Egypt concerned, it's probably the most awful place I've ever been to. The whole civilization is morally bankrupt.

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u/WendolaSadie Jan 16 '23

We’re headed there in 3 weeks as first time visitors. We chose a “high-end” tour, hoping to avoid problems. Can you expand on your experience…to educate us?

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u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23

Absolutely, depending on where you’re going will depend on what I can recommend. Are you able to give me an idea of the areas you’re staying and where you’re going to visit?

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u/WendolaSadie Jan 16 '23

Briefly: 4 nights in Cairo (Top hotel + day tours + all meals); flight to Luxor (day tours + all meals); small ship Nile cruise with multiple stops for 7 nights (day tours + all meals + Abu Simbel).

Not sure if that’s enough detail to help, but I’m also interested in the country culture and overall vibe. Are Egyptians happy to host Westerners?

Thank you for your time.

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u/lmgculley Jan 16 '23

Ah ok, so pretty similar to what we’re doing then.

Ok, so going in just get your head around the fact it’s a VERY different culture. when outside a resort It can be a shock to the system and a bit intimidating but ultimately the locals are not trying to hurt you, they are trying to get you to spend money with them. They are poor and getting you to part with your money is food on the table for them. The phrase ‘la shukran’ (no thankyou) will help. You will use it a lot.

•Never accept free gifts, they won’t be free. •Don’t give your phone to anyone to take photos unless you’re happy to pay for those photos. It won’t be much, say around £5 but they will expect paying. (In my experience they won’t have any interest in stealing your phone, they just want paying for the photos they take) • Haggle for EVERYTHING, the general rule of thumb is to decide a price you’re happy to pay for something, half it and start there. Don’t go above the price you have in your head and be prepared to walk away (walking away is the quickest way to get them to your price). • don’t believe anything you’re told regarding the material or origin of the stuff you want to buy. (Personally the only place I would buy things that aren’t your usual key rings etc would be Aswan and Luxor, check out all the stands at the sphinx in Cairo and you get an idea of the usual tat, avoid that stuff in Luxor, but yeah, you’re much more likely to get something hand made in Luxor - but haggle haggle haggle). • Get your guide (you will pay but get them to go in to order for the cheapest prices) to buy LOTS of water from a street stall before you get to any tourist site, the cost for water in these places is astronomical. • The hot balloon trip you will be offered in Luxor is actually really good, it’s pricey but it’s an experience I would recommend to anyone. Be aware of the kids that you will find around the docks as you’re travelling to the balloons and as you land in the balloon. This is the only time I’d say you have to actively watch out for thievery. One little bugger tried snatching the wife’s bag. • take several packets of tissues with you, when visiting temples you may find you need the loo, don’t expect there to be toilet roll unless you pay for it, taking tissues solves this problem. • do pay to visit king tuts tomb, you’re there, the price is set so there’s no haggling, just do it so you can say you’ve done it. • if you haven’t yet paid for your hotel in Cairo, try to get it changed to ‘mena house’ it’s a Mariott hotel right at the base of the pyramids and it’s AMAZING. Any celeb or high profile person visiting Cairo will stay there and it’s not OVERLY expensive to stay at (think around £130 per person per night for a pyramid view room), make sure you get the pyramid view room (partial view is usually decent too). Honestly it’s a magical experience sitting there with a glass of wine on your balcony looking at the pyramids. • if you do stay there, you will find someone who if you pay them a tenner or so will take you to the room Winston Churchill stayed in, it’s again worth the little tour and is the actual room he stayed in.

If you’re staying in Hurghada for any of your trip then make sure you go to Sheridan street for an evening, it’s the main tourist strip. There’s a hotel there called The Seagull which has an outside area you can sit, have a drink and a shisha, it’s decent. There’s also a restaurant called Moby Dick a little further down and the food there is AMAZING.

There’s probably loads more I’m not thinking of right now but if you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. 👍

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u/timonemillion Jan 17 '23

Just back yesterday. Found Egyptians SUPER nice (though as Imgculley mentions, constantly on the game - but you can’t blame them as their economy is in the toilet).

Try koshari from Abou Tarek, near the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It’s a local staple, and soooo good.

Don’t just see the pyramids at Giza - Sakkara is incredible. The step pyramid, the little room on the north face for Djoser to see the stars, the Serapeum… all fantastic.

1

u/nirataro Jan 17 '23

Yeah a lot of people missed the Sérapéum.

If people have time they should visit the pyramids in order of construction

  • Saqqara
  • Maidun
  • Dashur

Etc

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u/nirataro Jan 17 '23

There are two Egyptians

  • the ones in tourism
  • everyone else

The everyone else is so much nicer

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u/No_Juice418 Jan 17 '23

Nope there's something deeply rotten in that society.

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u/No_Juice418 Jan 17 '23

The best thing about having a tour guide or all inclusive, is that, they will protect you from the constant harrasment, lies and ripp offs.

But also, watch out with the guides. It's not unusual to hear or see stories,even on reddit of the guides, demanding 'tips' and extra money and leave out must see things cause they are to lazy.

Like the other two gentlemen, who reacted on this, they will say it's their 'culture', but lying, cheating and stealing from people isn't a culture. People, like these two gentlemen, will point out that being poor has something to do with morals. But it hasn't.

I've been to 35 countries at this point, where ever you go, 95+% of the people are decent. Doesn't matter where, what religion, whatever. I have a hard time beliving that in Egypte. In Egypte, nobody is your friend.

So dont be naive or overly friendly.

It is all beautiful though. There's good books available. The rise of ancient Egypt by Toby'something' is a good quick read. It a good idea to prepare yourself, cause it's hard to actually grasp how much time they actually were around. They excisted longer then we did at this point. The pyramids where already ancient in their time.

Also in Caïro. Coptic cariro is an amazing interesting thing to go and look at, specifically the museum. Coptics are they oldes christian Church in excistens. With first renderings of the bubel about jesus's brother and children. Very cool.

If you have more questions, please ask.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/elcapkirk Jan 16 '23

Like a lot of ancient Egyptian monuments, there are few things as awe inspiring as standing in front of Ramses II at Abu simbel

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u/butterflycaught2 Jan 16 '23 edited Jan 16 '23

I did have trip planned to see the pyramids. I was staying in Hurghada, the trip to the pyramids was meant to start Sept 12, 2001. Needless to say, it never happened and I unfortunately never made it back to visit Egypt.

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u/Xerisca Jan 16 '23

I'm like you. Egypt is my favorite place to visit.

My favorite temple is Abydos. It's a slog to get there, but it's totally worth the drive. The carvings from the Seti I era are just magnificent.

I was last at Abydos in ... 2016? I think. Might have been 17. My guide, my husband, and I were the only people there. It was incredible having such a massive complex all to ourselves.

Dendara is also really neat, but there's just something I like more about Abydos. I think all the temple complexes pale in comparison to those two though.

1

u/newtbob Jan 17 '23

Don’t do the donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings. [source: 45 years ago, I was warned. If it’s still an option, you’ve been warned.]

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u/lmgculley Jan 17 '23

Have been many times and I’ve never seen it offered, I’m guessing it’s something they done away with 👍

1

u/newtbob Jan 17 '23

HaHa! It’s a good thing.

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u/nirataro Jan 17 '23

Next time stop by Siwa. Al-arag oasis is finally accessible again after 8 years.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '23

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u/Tomcat5663 Jan 17 '23

I'm heading there this fall and hope to see this site.

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '23

Egyptian history confuses me. I need to find a good book about it.