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It is another glorious sun filled day as we climb aboard our bus and head for Medinet Habu, the walled* temple, attached palace and town of Ramesses 111. (1175 B.C.) (A copy of a Syrian Migdol Fortress.)
On the outside of the temple are weather-damaged reliefs depicting the greatest victory in ancient Egypt. The battle pitted Ramesses and his army against thundering hoards of Sardinians, Cretans, Philistines and the Danu who plundered and destroyed everything in their path.
We enter the temple through the huge pylon into the first court, where sporting events, including wrestling, were held. On the south wall is a depiction of Ramesses' victory against the Libyans and in the centre of the western side is the Window of Appearances. Behind this window a descending staircase enters into a hall of columns. Ramesses III would come through this hall and ascend the stairs, appearing in the window like the sun rising in the east.
Then comes the audience hall with the kings shower room nearby. Its water tank, made of stone, is still intact.
The second court contains eight Osiride Columns. This temple is noted for its deeply cut hieroglyphics and reliefs and the beauty of the wall paintings, both religious and martial, some of them with their original colours surviving through time. Of note is the scene of the Feast of Sokar and a relief of the kneeling Ramesses. He is kneeling on symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt. The Hypostle hall and most of the rest of the temple and large palace was destroyed by an earthquake in 27 B.C.
Originally a canal connected the temple to the Nile. But this has been filled in by the desert sands.
Emile, our guide takes us to a spot near the temple, where the remains of a Nilometer still stands. These instruments were used as flood warnings and were set strategically along the riverbank; to not only to register the height of the river, but to measure the amount of silt that was being deposited. This foretold which crops would thrive. The government then could use this information to base the tax levy, in advance.
Our next stop is the Valley of the Kings, situated on the West Bank of the Nile, hidden behind the Theban hills. It is the burial place of most of the New Kingdom rulers, chosen because it is close in proximity to the Nile, it is surrounded by easily guarded hills and because of the good quality limestone, which forms the valley. Sixty-plus tombs have been unearthed in the Valley of the Kings, some massive, one with over 110 chambers and corridors, some as small as one room. Most tombs. when found, were already plundered. Only a few, like the tomb of Tutankhamun contained numerous, precious artifacts.
