Trips

The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut was our next stop. Hatshepsut is the second known female Egyptian pharaoh/king (another link). Hatshepsut was smart and well-educated and prepared to rule by her father, Thutmose I. She ruled from 1473-1458 BCE as regent for Thutmose III, son of her husband Thutmose II (and a secondary wife named Isis). Thutmose III was two-years old when his father died and he assumed the throne, thus necessitating a regent - his aunt (it is complicated) Hatshepsut.

Kara Cooney has written an excellent and very readable book about the women who ruled in Egypt: "When Women Ruled the World." It contains a chapter on Hatshesut.

Another alabaster shop	Rugged surroundings
Rugged surroundings	Temple of Hatshepsut
Temple of Hatshepsut	Temple of Hatshepsut
Temple of Hatshepsut (from Ancient-Egypt-online)
Hatshepsut	Rugged surroundings for the temple
Hatshepsut	Gale and Hatshepsut
Goddess Hathor - column in the Shrine to Hathor	Goddess Hathor
Unrestored ruins	On the right side of the Temple is the only known shrine dedicated to the jackal god, Anubis, the god of death, mummification, embalming, the after-life, etc.
Anubis	Re-Horakhty
	Anubis - being presented with offerings
Ceiling - Anubis shrine
Broken column with a partial serekh, a rectangular enclosure representing gated façade of a palace	In the main Sanctury of Amun Re
In the main Sanctury of Amun Re
	Sphinx of Hatshepsut?
On the way to a late lunch, we had a photo stop at the two very large (60 ft. high), sandstone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III, called the Colossi of Memnon. They have stood at this location since 1350 BCE. The right one is said to have sung in the morning as the sun heated the cracks in the statue.	Colossi of Memnon
Left-hand statue	Right-hand statue
Really narrow guage railroad	The boatmen have a sense of humor
Looking at the west bank area at night - from the hotel room	Looking at the same west bank area in the morning- from the hotel room
Thurs., 3/10/22 - Luxor to Cairo The group left for the Luxor airport at 7:15 for a 9:15 flight on Egyptair to Cairo. Barbara talked us into joining her to get a handicap “lift” out to the plane in Luxor. I thought that meant a cart ride but it was an elevator truck taking us to the back door of the plane that was out on the tarmac. It turned out okay because OAT had the seats at the back of the plane anyway. At the Cairo airport we had to wait again for the tourist police to allow us to get on our waiting bus and then held the loaded bus so we knew how important and authoritative they were. While waiting for the police to release us, we ate our packed lunch of French fries, Pepsi, and a yummy sandwich called a chicken fajita which tasted a little like a Philadelphia cheese steak. Two visits were scheduled before we returned to the Cairo Marriott: to the Hanging Church (Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church) and to the new (opened last year) National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC). On the way to the Hanging Church we walked past the Church of St. George and the Fortress of Babylon, probably built by the Emperor Trajan.
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George	Front façade of the Church of St. George
Sign for a metro station	Fortress of Babylon
The Hanging Church, or the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church, was built on top of the gatehouse of the Fortress of Babylon. The Church of St. George and the Hanging Church are both built within the area of the Fortress. The main sanctuary is small and there are two side chapels. A service was going on while we were there with three priests presiding in white albs. The façade is of Egyptian folk art. The courtyard has tile mosaics of Joseph and Mary on a donkey, another of Angel Gabriel telling Joseph to flee from Herod, and one of the baptism of Jesus. The inner altars are of ebony wood inlaid with ivory. It was dark and old and full of incense smoke. The ceiling is in the shape of an inverted Noah’s ark.	Hanging Church or the Saint Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church
Mosaic outside the church - baptism of Jesus	Mosaic showing the holy family traveling
Niche in the entryway	Interior of the church
Interior of the church	Rug seller
Trash heap	Donkey cart on the freeway - amazing

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