THE SEATED SCRIBE The seated scribe statues are painted carved limestone, considered one of the earliest forms of ancient Egyptian sculpture, dating to the period of the Old Kingdom, from the 4th Dynasty, 2620–2500 BCE. The statue of the seated scribe from Saqqara is one of the most important examples of ancient Egyptian art because it displays a rare example of Egyptian naturalism. Unlike most Egyptian art, which is highly idealized and rigid, this sculpture shows a more realistic and natural depiction of the human form. The scribe's eyes are inlaid, conveying a sense of wisdom and psychological depth. His gaze gives the impression of meditation as if contemplating what he will write, capturing the moment of inspiration.

The role of the scribe was one of the most important in ancient Egypt, representing culture, science, knowledge, and literature. Scribes had administrative responsibilities and were key in preserving Egyptian history and oral traditions. They were among the few individuals who knew how to read and write and were highly regarded and well-paid for their skills. Many pharaohs and high-ranking officials would accompany their scribes into the Afterlife, believing that their skills would be beneficial in their second lives. smarthistory/The Seated Scribe

THE FALSE DOOR The ancient Egyptians viewed the false door as a threshold between the living and the dead, allowing deities or the spirits of the deceased to pass through. Usually positioned on the west wall, where the west was associated with the land of the dead, the false door was the focal point of a tomb's offering chapel, where family members placed offerings on a slab in front of it. Carved from a single block of stone or wood, the false door was not meant to function as a regular door. It first appeared in the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom around the 27th century BCE and became common in tombs from the Fourth to the Sixth Dynasties.

tomb embellishment The ancient Egyptians utilized relief sculpture, a three-dimensional artwork that projects from a flat background, such as tomb walls adorned with paintings and hieroglyphics. These inscriptions often featured special prayers, assisting pharaohs and others on their journey to the afterlife. The term "hieroglyph" originates from the Greek words "hieros," meaning 'sacred,' and "gluptien," meaning 'carved in stone.' Hieroglyphs were commonly inscribed on tomb walls, particularly in texts like "The Book of the Dead," which contained spells and prayers designed to guide the deceased through the afterlife and protect them during their journey to the next world.

These hieroglyphs were believed to possess magical powers, helping the deceased overcome the challenges of the afterlife. The underworld, known as the Duat, had a single entrance. Upon entering this realm, a soul would encounter a corridor lined with captivating gods, including Thoth, Isis, and the hawk-headed Horus. After this, the deceased would be presented to Osiris, the ruler of the underworld and judge of the dead. Osiris would assess the virtue of the deceased's soul by the weight of a feather and grant a peaceful afterlife to those deemed worthy.

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF THE STEP PYRAMID Historical photography of the Step Pyramid complex and the necropolis at Saqqara in Memphis dates back almost two hundred years. Monuments of ancient Egypt gained significant popularity in the early years of photography. French academician François Arago (1786-1853) endorsed this new medium in 1839, claiming it would provide a labor-saving method to copy "the millions and millions of hieroglyphics that entirely cover the great monuments at Thebes, Memphis, Karnak, and so on." Immediately, artist-travelers began bringing cameras and photographic plates made of metal, and later glass, to the region to document the famous sights previously known to Westerners only through the artists' interpretations.

pharaoh SNEFRU PYRAMIDS   Pyramid building reached its maturity in the reign of Pharaoh Snefru of the 4th Dynasty (2543–2436 BCE); he constructed three pyramids; the first was known as the Bent Pyramid due to its double slope collapsed, the second was known as the Meidum Pyramid that collapsed too, the third was successfully known as the first true pyramid—called the Red Pyramid at Dahshur; it is about 220 meters (722 feet) wide at the base and 104 meters (341 feet) high, it is Egypt's first successful construction of a "true" smooth-sided pyramid.

Archaeologists speculate the Red Pyramid design built at a slope of 43° was an outcome of engineering crises experienced during the construction of Sneferu's two earlier pyramids. The first of these, the Pyramid at Meidum, collapsed in antiquity. In contrast, the second, the Bent Pyramid, had the angle of its inclination dramatically altered from 54 to 43 degrees part-way through construction, and it collapsed. The Red Pyramid was built at a slope of 43°, 105 meters (344 ft) high, and 220 meters (720 ft) wide; it is believed that Pharaoh Sneferu was buried in the Red Pyramid in 2589 BCE. Considering that the remains of King Sneferu have not yet been found or positively identified, it may still be possible that his sarcophagus and mummy lie hidden in his Red Pyramid in a hidden chamber.

THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA The Great Pyramids of Giza were the burial places for Egyptian royalty during the Old Kingdom. The three large pyramids at Giza were built for three generations of Egyptian kings: Sneferu's son Khufu, his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure. Several smaller pyramids at Giza are also constructed for these kings' wives and mothers. Approximately 80 pyramids were built from the Kingdom of Kush, now in modern-day Sudan, to the pyramids at the Giza plateau.

Pharaoh Khufu built the Great Pyramid for his tomb around 2600 BC. It took about 26 years, and it's the highest at 481 feet (147 meters) tall, almost as high as a 50 story skyscraper and has a base of 756 feet (230.33 meters). The Great Pyramid is built at an angle of approximately 51°50 degrees on each side and aligned with the constellation Orion. The Great Pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only 7th wonder that has remained largely intact. To ensure that the king would join the circumpolar stars (situated around the earth's north pole), the Great Pyramid was laid out facing north toward the "indestructible" stars.

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF THE PYRAMIDS Historical documentation of 19th-century photography, etchings, and oil paintings on canvas of the pyramids. Photographers and artists have flocked to Egyptian desert to see the colossal sculptures, monuments, and especially the Giza Plateau to capture the massive size of the pyramids specifically the Great Pyramid at 481 feet high, known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

THE GREAT SPHINX  The Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx: The colossal Great Sphinx of Giza was built during the reign of King Khafre, the builder of the second pyramid at Giza. In ancient Egypt, a sphinx was a mythical creature with the body of a lion, symbolizing the strength and power of the kingship and a human head, usually that of the ruling Pharaoh wearing the royal headdress. The Great Sphinx is one of the earliest and largest monolithic statues in the world, 241 feet (73.5 m) long, 63 feet (19 m) wide, and 66 feet (20 m) high.

HISTORIC PHOTOS OF THE GREAT SPHINXHistorical documentation with 19th-century photography and oil paintings of the Great Sphinx. While photography has only been around for about 200 years, photographers have flocked to the Giza Plateau in the Egyptian desert to capture images of the enigmatic creature with the head of a pharaoh and the body of a lion.

The Karnak and Luxor Temples are situated approximately a mile and a half apart within a vast temple complex in the city of Luxor, originally the site of ancient Thebes, located on the east bank of the Nile River. These temples are linked by the Avenue of Sphinxes, a path that lay buried under layers of sand for thousands of years. Archaeologists uncovered the Sphinx statues in 1949, and extensive excavations were conducted between 1984 and 2000 to restore the connection between the Karnak and Luxor temples.

One of the most remarkable achievements in Egyptian architecture is the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak. Its construction began during the 19th Dynasty in the 13th Century BCE, specifically during the Ramesside period, when Egypt was ruled by a succession of eleven pharaohs named Ramesses. Located within the Karnak Temple's Precinct of Amon-Re, this hall ranks among the most visited monuments of Ancient Egypt, second only to the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The Great Hypostyle Hall spans an area of 5,000 square meters (or 54,000 square feet). Though the roof has since collapsed, it was originally supported by 134 columns arranged in 16 rows. The two central rows of columns are notably taller, measuring 10 meters (33 feet) in circumference and soaring to a height of 24 meters (70 feet). The design of the hall features a central space that is higher than the adjoining areas, permitting clerestory lighting. This innovative element includes windows situated above eye level in a raised section of the walls, allowing light and fresh air to enter the hall. The earliest evidence of this clerestory lighting can be found within the Hypostyle Hall itself.

In ancient Egypt, Ram-Headed Sphinxes, were believed to represent Amun, the chief deity worshipped at the Great Temple of Karnak. Amun was a powerful and primeval god with the head of a curved horned ram; the ram was his sacred animal. The sphinxes' lion bodies and ram heads signified Amun and their task was to hold back evil forces. Each sphinx protects, between its forelegs, a standing statue of Ramesses II (The Great) (1279-1213 BCE).

Karnak: First Barque Chapel of Ramses III (1184–1153 BC), Osiride statues depict the king wrapped in mummy-like cloth, emphasizing their connection to the afterlife. The first court is lined with eight Osiride statues of the king, with those to the west wearing the crown of the red crown of the south, while those on the east, wear the crown of the north. Beyond the court is a vestibule also fronted by Osiride pillars leading into a small hypostyle hall, which in turn leads into three chapels for the barques of Karnak.

The Temple of Luxor is a mile and a half south of Karnak Temple, in the city of Luxor on the east bank of the Nile River the original site of ancient Thebes. Constructed over several centuries by pharaohs such as Amenhotep III, Ramses II, and Tutankhamun, the pylon of Luxor Temple for over 2 thousand years was buried in 30 feet (9 meters) of sand until the 1880s. Upon excavation, it revealed two towering pylons that stand 78 feet (24 meters) high and 214 feet (65 meters) wide. The pylons are adorned with elaborate sunken reliefs depicting Ramses II (The Great) in the battle of Kadesh. Guarding the grand gateway are two colossal seated granite statues of Ramses II, flanked by four standing granite statues of the pharaoh. Originally, two 80-foot (25-meter) obelisks graced the entrance, but today, only one remains at the temple; the other is in the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

The Avenue of Sphinxes stretches for 1.86 miles (3 kilometers) and is lined with over 1,000 sphinx statues featuring both ram-headed and human-headed varieties. The Spinxes statues were discovered by archaeologists in 1949, and extensive excavations took place between 1984 and 2000 to connect the temples of Karnak and Luxor once more. Other remnants of this grand complex include the impressive Great Colonnade Hall, which measures nearly 61 meters long and features 28 columns, each standing 21 feet high. The hall’s decorations were completed under the reign of Tutankhamun around 1330 B.C.

Historical documentation with 19th century photography of ancient Egyptian sites, especially from early archaeological excavations, act as a vital historical record, capturing the state of monuments before significant changes or restoration. Collectively, the earliest photographs of Egypt, whether daguerreotypes or prints made from paper and glass negatives are the accomplished expressions of a young medium flexing its muscles. They define a moment when ancient Egypt, still buried under 20 feet of sand like the Sphinx, would come to life after 3 thousand years and inspire a new generation of photographers in the 19th century, such as Félix Teynard, John Beasly Greene, Théodule Devéria, Felice Beato, Félix Bonfils, Lichtenstern and Harari, Francis Frith, etc.

Philae on Agilkia Island, south of Aswan, Egypt, is an island-based temple complex in the reservoir of the Aswan Low Dam, downstream of the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser. When the Aswan Dam was constructed in the 1960s, Philae Island and its temple were almost wholly lost underwater. Thanks to the efforts of UNESCO and the Egyptian government, the Temple of Isis, dating back to the 7th century BCE, was painstakingly taken apart and rebuilt on higher ground in its current location on Agilkia Island. Despite flooding and vandalism by early Christians, the Temple of Isis is one of Egypt's most spectacular sanctuaries. The columns of its hypostyle hall are amazingly well-preserved, and reliefs like the carvings of musical scenes in the Temple of Hathor have retained much of their ancient beauty.

Papyrus manuscript, vignettes & illustrations from the Book of the Dead by Hunefer, 1275 BCE. The scene reads from left to right. To the left, Anubis brings Hunefer into the judgment area. Anubis is also shown supervising the judgment scales. Hunefer's heart, represented as a pot, is being weighed against a feather, the symbol of Maat, the established order of things, meaning 'what is right' in this context. The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the seat of emotions, intellect, and character and thus represented the good or bad aspects of a person's life. If the heart did not balance with the feather, the dead person was condemned to non-existence and consumption by the ferocious 'devourer,' the strange beast shown here, part crocodile, part lion, and part hippopotamus.
However, as a papyrus devoted to ensuring Hunefer's continued existence in the Afterlife is not likely to depict this outcome, he is shown to the right, brought into the presence of Osiris by his son Horus, having become 'true of voice' or 'justified.' This was a standard epithet applied to dead individuals in their texts. Osiris sits under a canopy with his sisters, Isis and Nephthys. At the top, Hunefer is shown adoring a row of deities who supervise the judgment.

The Ramesseum is the Mortuary Temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II ("Ramesses the Great"); it is located in the Theban Necropolis in Upper Egypt, on the west of the River Nile, across from the modern city of Luxor, beyond the second courtyard, at the center of the complex, was a covered 48-column hypostyle hall, only fragments of the base and torso remain of the syenite statue of the enthroned pharaoh, 19 m (62 ft) high and weighing more than 1000 tons, Scattered remains of the two statues of the seated king which once flanked the entrance to the temple can also be seen, one in pink granite and the other in black granite.

The head of one of these has been removed to the British Museum. British Consul General Henry Salt hired Giovanni Belzoni in 1815 to collect from the Ramesseum Mortuary temple in Thebes the so-called 'Younger Memnon,' one of two colossal granite heads depicting Ramesses II, and transport it to England. Thanks to Belzoni's hydraulics and his skill as an engineer (Napoleon's men had failed in the same endeavor a decade or so earlier), the 7-ton stone head arrived in London in 1818, where it was dubbed "The Younger Memnon" and some years later, given pride of place in the British Museum. It was against the backdrop of intense excitement surrounding the statue's arrival, and having heard wondrous tales of treasures still in the desert, that the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley penned his sonnet "Ozymandias," the colossus would tower 19 m (62 ft) above the ground, rivaling the Colossi of Memnon and the statues of Ramesses carved into the mountain at Abu Simbel.

Tomb KV17, located in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, is the tomb of Pharaoh Seti I of the Nineteenth Dynasty; he ruled from 1290 to 1279 BC. It is also known as "Belzoni's tomb", it was uncovered by Italian archaeologist and explorer Giovanni Battista Belzoni on 16 October 1817. His tomb is one of the most decorated,  one of the largest and deepest tombs in the Valley of the Kings; at 137.19 meters, or 446 feet, it contains well-preserved reliefs in all but two of its seventeen chambers and side rooms. Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c. 1294 or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II (Ramesses The Great) .

The only vaulted ceiling in the Valley of the Kings is over Seti's tomb, painted with motifs and symbols of the female hippopotamus constellation, which was believed to be a guardian of the northern sky to keep it devoid of evil. It stopped all who were unworthy to pass. These stars were considered a substantial constellation that extends around the north celestial pole, creating a hybrid goddess composed of a hippopotamus head, lion paws, and a corpus resembling the stellar snake, the Hippopotamus with the crocodile holding a cane, where there are two ropes tied to the bull's tail. This bull represents the "Big Dipper," the goddess Serqet is in front of it, with a falcon next to her feet. Below this falcon is the Lion, the crocodile, and the man fighting; a man with a solar disk on his head is holding the ropes and Anu is standing on the cane.

All represent circumpolar stars as a perfect metaphor for the Afterlife because they never seem to set when viewed; they rotate around the pole star. They are the undying stars, or in Egyptian terminology, the Indestructibles, a perfect destination for the dead king's soul. In ancient Egypt, the northern stars were considered "imperishable" or "undying," signifying eternal life. In Pyramid Texts from the third millennium BC, the deceased pharaoh ascends to heaven and becomes an imperishable star. Nevertheless, circumpolar stars belonged to Egypt's northern group of constellations, which are depicted in several tombs of New Kingdom pharaohs, including the famous astronomical ceiling in tomb KV17, belonging to Pharaoh Seti I (c. 1292–1191 BCE.), Valley of the Kings, Cairo, Egypt.

TEMPLE OF HATSHEPSUT

The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, known as the Djeser-Djeseruk, the "Holy of Holies," was built in the Eighteenth Dynasty, 1500 BC, located in the Valley of the Queens across the river from Luxor and is considered to be a masterpiece. It is one of the great architectural wonders of the ancient world. Its three massive terraces rise above the desert floor and into the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari. Her tomb, KV20, lies inside the same massif capped by El Qurn, a pyramid for her mortuary complex. Note: The style of sculpture used at this temple is "Figure Of Standing Osiris." Hatshepsut is depicted as an upright pillar statue made of stone in the guise of the god Osiris, often described as a mummy to emphasize his transformed state, his hands holding a flail and a short shepherd's crook to indicate Egyptian kingship, has a long-braided beard, and is wearing an Atef crown with a sacred cobra on the front ready to attack enemies.

TOMB OF NEFERTARI, QV66

It is called the Sistine Chapel of Ancient Egypt, created in 1255 BCE., Nefertari which means "beautiful companion," was Ramesses II's favorite wife; he went out of his way to make this obvious, referring to her as "the one for whom the sun shines" in his writings, built the Temple of Hathor to idolize her as a deity, and commissioned portraiture wall paintings. In the Valley of the Queens, The details of the ceremonies concerning the Afterlife also tell us much about the duties and roles of many major and minor gods during the reign of the 19th Dynasty in the New Kingdom. Gods mentioned on the tomb walls include Isis, Osiris, Anubis, Hathor, Neith, Serket, Ma'at, Wadjet, Nekhbet, Amunet, Ra, Nephthys, Khepri, Amun, and Horus.

After the tomb's discovery in 1904, scientists found deterioration in many paintings caused by water damage, bacterial growth, salt formation, and, recently, the humidity of visitors' breath. Two factors damaged the tomb at a rapid rate: Capillary absorption of trapped flood-waters into the walls of the tomb and direct entry of flood-waters. In 1986, the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation and the Getty Conservation Institute embarked upon an operation to restore all the paintings within the tomb and replace over 3,000 years' worth of dust and soot with paper pasted to the fragile walls and ceilings to preserve the paintings. In 2006, the tomb was restricted to visitors except for private tours of a maximum of 20 people purchasing a license for US$3000. As of December 2023, holders of a 2000 EGP entry ticket or a premium Luxor pass can visit this tomb.

TEMPLE OF HORUS AT EDFU