12/15/2011

THE TEMPLES OF ABU SIMBEL

THE TEMPLES OF ABU SIMBEL 

THE TEMPLES OF ABU SIMBEL

 

 

 

ABU SIMBEL
 
 Approaching Abu Simbel by boat


Abu Simbel is a set of two temples near the border of Egypt with Sudan. It was constructed for the pharaoh Ramesses II who reigned for 67 years during the 13th century BC (19th Dynasty).
 
The temples were cut from the rock and shifted to higher ground in the 1960s as the waters of Lake Nasser began to rise following completion of the Aswan High Dam.
The Great Temple is dedicated to Ramesses II and a statue of him is seated with three other gods within the innermost part of the rock-cut temple (the sanctuary). The temple's facade is dominated by four enormous seated statues of the Pharaoh (each over 20 metres or 67 feet high), although one has been damaged since ancient times.

The Small Temple was probably completed ahead of the Great Temple and is dedicated to Ramesses' favourite wife, Nefertari. At the entrance stand six 10-metre-high (33 feet) rock-cut statues - two of Ramesses and one of Nefertari on either side of the doorway








 
The temples can be reached by road, air or boat. Arrival by boat is achieved by cruising from the Aswan High Dam on a 3-day journey. The author first made the boat trip on the "Eugenie" in January 1995 with the vessel stopping at various relocated temples along the way. In early 1998, the journey was repeated on the "Nubian Sea", but the number of tourists reaching Abu Simbel in this way remains relatively small. A hydrofoil service from the Aswan High Dam to Abu Simbel was re-introduced in 2000 (there was a service in the 1960s) with two return trips per day.
In early 2001, the author was surprised at the increased number of visitors at Abu Simbel at night and for sunrise. Once it was possible to watch sunrise with just a few others. However, it is still a very special time
 
 
Small Temple Abu Simbel Temples
 



During a visit to Abu Simbel during February 2002 by means of the re-opened highway, buses were required to proceed in a convoy with arrival at the site a little after sunrise and about 2.5 hours spent at the temples before the return journey to Aswan. A security fence has been erected around the site and the cruise boats are now kept off to the sides of the temple site. A new visitors' centre has been opened behind the temples and vendors are now housed in a line of permanent shops leading to the centre.
A very good Sound & Light show also has been introduced for those at Abu Simbel in the evening.  This includes projections onto the two temples showing how they once would have looked. The program is presented in a number of languages with the provision of ear pieces

 

 

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Tour to LUXOR

Tour to LUXOR 


Tour to LUXOR

THE LUXOR AREA
 
 
 


The Luxor area of Upper Egypt was the Thebes of the ancient Egyptians - the capital of Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms. Today it is famous for its temples and the nearby Valley of the Kings.
On the east bank is the modern town of Luxor. Running alongside part of the river bank and separated from it by the corniche is Luxor Temple. Modified over many centuries, its main pylons, or gates, are on the northern end. In front of them is one obelisk - its companion was given to France and taken to Paris where it was erected in Place de la Concorde on 25 October 1836.
Just south of the temple is the Old Winter Palace Hotel - used early this century by Lord Carnarvon as work proceeded on West Bank excavations and preliminary work on the tomb of Tutankhamun.
At the northern end of town is the sprawling Karnak complex of temples built over a span of about 1,500 years. It is famous for its main Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns. One can wander for hours amongst the ruins. Starting at the first pylon, one walks back through time to the earlier constructions toward the rear.
About halfway between Luxor and Karnak temples is located the Luxor Museum - one of the best in Egypt.









The major temples include the Ramesseum - the famous mortuary temple of 19th-dynasty pharaoh Ramesses II. Walking amongst its ruins evokes a special feeling and the fallen colossus shows how even the mighty have fallen. This was the site from which Belzoni removed the famous bust now in the British Museum. Belzoni's signature can still be found carved in stone in a couple of places within the Ramesseum, along with those of other well-known personalities of 19th-century Egypt. Stories of the Ramesseum and the display of the enormous bust of Ramesses




Medinet Habu was Ramesses III's attempt to copy his ancestor. The complex was added to over the centuries following, but it is most impressive and shouldn't be missed. The artisans from the nearby town of Deir el-Medina moved in to the compound when things got unsafe and the construction of Royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings came to a halt. The mortuary temple of 18th-dynasty Queen Hatshepsut is a masterpiece of design and has been under restoration for about a century. It is built into a natural amphitheatre in the cliffs and does not look out of place in the 20th century, even though it was constructed during the early 15th century BC.
 
Ramesseum


Most famous of all on the West Bank is the Valley of the Kings. Although its modern paths detract a little from its atmosphere, it is still possible to feel the link to the distant past - especially when most of the tourists have left earlier in the day. Tutankhamun's tomb is one everyone wants to visit - and should if possible - just to appreciate how small was the area that contained the riches now partly on show at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
However, there are many other more impressive tombs. There is no guarantee which ones will be open during a visit, but try to see those belonging to Thutmose III (the Napoleon of Ancient Egypt), Ramesses III, IV and VI, and Horemheb. That of Horemheb contains examples of how workmen created wall reliefs. The tomb of Seti I is a masterpiece, but structural problems keep it closed these days
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Christmas games

Christmas games

 

Christmas games

 

Christmas games

For several hundred years, Christmas has been synonymous with playing and Christmas games. It is the time when the family members gather and enjoy competitions and Christmas games.
Here in allthingschristmas.com, we have devoted a whole section to computer games for children. You can visit the page via our Christmas for Kids-section or you can try some of the games here.

f you are looking for ideas for Christmas games to enjoy together with family and friends, we also have some good ideas for you.

Christmas games for children

1. Fill the Christmas stocking
Each team needs a sock, a spoon, a bucket, and some candy.
Divide the children into teams. Ask the children to stand on one end of the living room and hang up the socks at the other end. Place a bucket with candy and a spoon in front of each team. A child from each team shall now take a piece of candy with the spoon, carry it to the sock and put the candy inside. Now the child runs back to his team and gives the spoon to the next child. The first team that puts all of the candy in the sock wins. You can make the competition more difficult by requiring the children to hold the spoon with the mouth.



christmas games
Large picture: Christmas games
2. Sing the Christmas carol
Each participant receives a piece of paper and a pencil.
All participants write 4 of their favorite Christmas songs on a piece of paper. (Skip Jingle Bells, otherwise everybody will choose that one). When the songs have been written down, each song is assigned a random number from 1-20. When the competition starts, the organizer shouts out a number from one to twenty. If one of your four numbers is called, you have to sing the corresponding song. The first participant who gets to sing all his four songs is the winner. The competition is a lot of fun, because everybody will soon be singing all at once.

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christmas cards photo

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Christmas cards

Christmas cards 


Christmas cards

Christmas cards and greetings

AllThingsChristmas offers its 2007 collection of free, beautiful Victorian Christmas cards in pdf format for you to print from your computer, as well as free Internet Greeting Cards you may send via email.

 

Christmas Cards

Electronic Card

Instead of paper cards, why not send out an electronic Christmas card? Making & sending a Virtual Christmas card is easy. Just follow the instructions at each step.

You can also print and write your own Victorian Santa Cards

Christmas cards and greetings

AllThingsChristmas offers its 2007 collection of free, beautiful Victorian Christmas cards in pdf format for you to print from your computer, as well as free Internet Greeting Cards you may send via email.

 

Christmas Cards

Electronic Card

Instead of paper cards, why not send out an electronic Christmas card? Making & sending a Virtual Christmas card is easy. Just follow the instructions at each step.
Press here to create card
You can also print and write your own Victorian Santa Cards



Victorian Santa Cards

Create your own Christmas cards this year! These lovely Santas look beautiful when printed on 8½ x 11 inch cream or white cardstock from your color printer; after printing, just cut in half and fold! Simply select your card and click. A new window will open with your card in pdf format for easy printing. Cards print two per page. If a new window doesn't open after clicking the picture, you will need Adobe Reader which you may download free from the Adobe Website.
For more printing projects, visit our Christmas Printable page which features Victorian Gift Tags & Lists, our Printable Coloring Pages, and our North Pole Gift Tags.




Chrismas cards
Victorian christmas cards
 

All things christmas card shoppe

Send a Free Holiday eGreeting to someone you love, compliments of AllThingsChristmas. Choose from one of many beautiful designs, then customize your christmas cards with your choice of background, color and even music! Go to All things christmas card shoppe.

The History

The tradition of sending Christmas cards begun in 1843 – about the same time as the first Christmas seal was published. The first Christmas card was produced in England, and the idea was well-received, because the following year, more than 25,000 Christmas cards were sold. However, the first Christmas card provoked controversy in certain circles in England, because the Christmas card pictured a company of people touching glasses and saying “Merry Christmas”. Putting alcohol and holy Christmas in one picture did not please the English citizens then.
For more than thirty years, Americans had to import greeting cards from England. In 1875, German immigrant to the U.S. Louis Prang, opened a lithographic shop with $250, and published the first line of U.S. Christmas cards. His initial creations featured birds and flowers, unrelated to the Xmas scene. By 1881, Prang was producing more than 5 million Christmas cards per year.
Today, Christmas cards come in all shapes and sizes -- from small and simple to big and colorful. The big American producer of Christmas cards, Hallmark, employs a whole army of Christmas card designers who produce new Christmas cards every season. The most popular cards are the old fashioned and nostalgic ones with sledges and pixies, and a big, chubby Santa Clause in a red and white coat.
Since the Internet became widespread in the middle of the 90’s, sending electronic Christmas cards became the trend.
Many homepages offer easy-to-use digital cards which simple require the user to write an email address, a traditional Christmas greeting wishing for many nice Christmas presents, and finish by clicking “send”. The card arrives in the receiver’s inbox, and the old Christmas greeting tradition is carried on albeit in a modern way.

It is quite easy to make a personalized Christmas card. Here are a few ideas:

1. Glue small fern leaves on a piece of paperboard. Putting them together simulates the look of a Christmas tree, especially if you add a small star sticker or cut-out on the top. The trees can be decorated with small gift packages, i.e. squares made of colored tape which you wrap with cross ribbons in contrasting colors.
2. Even if you are not good in drawing, you can still create beautiful Christmas cards. Cut out Christmas motifs from magazines, preferably colorful ones, and glue them together on a piece of paper (e.g. in several layers). It sounds simple, but you can really make very beautiful and creative cards in no time.

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Did you know that…

In 2004, the German post office gave away 20 million scented stickers for free to make Christmas cards smell like a fir Christmas tree, cinnamon, gingerbread, or a honey-wax candle.
A surge in Christmas cards came in the 1940s, courtesy of World War II. Friends and family, far away fighting, received cards with patriotic messages and symbols, like Uncle Sam.
Many organizations produce special Christmas cards as a fundraising tool. The most famous of these enterprises is probably the UNICEF Christmas card program, launched in 1949.
An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 cards arrive in their place.
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