▲ The Temple of Hatshepsut, located in Deir el-Bahari, is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture, embodying her reverence for the gods and her own deification. The temple's design harmoniously blends nature and architecture, with its majestic colonnades and expansive terraces making it a spectacular sight against the cliffs. Hatshepsut's reign not only brought economic prosperity but also fostered advancements in art and culture, cementing her legacy as one of ancient Egypt's most revered female leaders to this day.
▲ The Colossi of Memnon were originally statues in front of the temple of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, but the temple itself has long disappeared. It is said that the right colossus once emitted a profound, distant sound at sunrise every morning. Many travelers have recorded hearing a sorrowful, melodious song. The ancient Greeks associated this phenomenon with the legend of the fall of Troy. Scientists, however, attribute it to natural causes—the sound was produced by the sudden temperature change from cold to warm at sunrise, as the first rays of the morning sun heated the stone, causing it to emit a metallic resonance. In front of the Colossi of Memnon, vast fields stretch not far away, with green waves rolling. The two colossal statues stand like a gateway between history and the present, between humanity and nature, majestically enduring for millennia without fading.
▲ The Luxor Temple is a large ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River, within the modern city of Luxor (ancient Thebes). It was constructed around 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language, it was known as ipet resyt, meaning "the southern sanctuary." It is one of the two main temples on the east bank, the other being Karnak. Unlike other temples in Thebes, the Luxor Temple was not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of a deceased pharaoh. Instead, it was devoted to the renewal of kingship; it may have been where many Egyptian pharaohs were crowned in reality or conceptually. The Luxor Temple was dedicated to the Theban Triad, including Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu.
▲ Built over 3,900 years ago, the Karnak Temple is located in the northern part of Luxor, Egypt, and is a magnificent temple complex left by the ancient Egyptian empire. The temple complex features over 20 large and small shrines, 134 massive stone pillars, sphinx ram statues, and other ancient relics, creating a grand and awe-inspiring sight. Karnak was part of Thebes, the capital during Egypt's Middle and New Kingdom periods, serving as the worship center for the sun god Amun and a sacred site of ancient Egypt.
