Egypt - Day 5 - 24 March 2019 - Wadi el Sebau

Egypt and the Eternal Nile 

Day 5 - 24 March 2019 

Wadi el Sebau

Temple of Wadi El Seboua, also known as the Valley of Lions.  (There are actually two temples, both of which are worth exploring.  A third temple is not as complete. All were relocated to avoid inundation by Lake Nasser.)

Wadi (valley) El Seboua (or Sebua) is on the western shore of Lake Nasser, about 15-20 miles south of the Aswan High Dam 

Theresa "Walks the Plank!"

We went over early and it wasn't as hot today, so Bob eschewed the use of the cart and walked the short (200 yards) to the Valley of the Lions

Theresa and Bob, "Tomb Raiders!"

Janet and Mike

The “Valley of the Lions,” a sphinx-lined avenue, leads to the older of the two “New Kingdom” structures.  

The Temple of Wadi El Seboua was built by Amenhotep III and dedicated to a Nubian version of the god, Horus.  It came under attack during the Amarna period, and many of the paintings and carvings were damaged when Akhenatan had the image of Amun inserted over any of those depicting Horus. Rameses II later restored the temple

One of  the "lions"actually sphinxes

Hassan was describing Ramses II and called for Bob.
Seems Ramses II was "very tall and slender like Bob" (his words!)

Bob . . . or is it Ramses II?

The line of sphinxes . . .

. . . and statues of Ramses II

"Pull up a rock" Hassan gives us some details regarding what we are seeing

The sphinx wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt 

And represents Ramses II

The long stairs to the temple

Hassan was a wonderful, knowledgeable guide

The thousands of years old reliefs were amazing in detail an color

Workers continue to complete the restoration of the temple

This time Hassan didn't give us the choice to walk the 1/4 mile to the Temple of Deka

The choice was Donkey cart . . .

. . . or tractor

The donkey cart left first and had a substantial lead, but the tractor caught up quickly

Theresa chose the donkey cart while Bob went with "more power!"

The Temple of Deka (or Dakka) was dedicated to Thoth, god of writing, magic, wisdom, and the moon.
Over the years it was expanded.
Eventually it ended up being used as a Roman fortress.

Offering ducks and eggs to the gods

Cartouche or signatures identified the king by title or name

A camp site (home site?) in the wadi below the Temple of Deka

Everywhere we went, we had a well armed security man.
At the same time comforting and alarming (that he is needed) 

Nearby, the Temple of Maharraqua, is a small, unfinished temple and was also relocated shortly before the completion of the Aswan High Dam 

The temple was never built to completion, and had no formal pylon, the court was completed, along with some surrounding walls. 

Before we left, Theresa took the Purdue logo from an old baseball hat and sewed it onto my "boonie" hat

Several small tombs are carved in the hillsides

A slightly different (closer) path back to the boats 

Nancy and Janet, pleased they successfully walked the plank one more time!

"Stand by for boats alongside, starboard side!"
(Only say that in Arabic!)

Later in the morning, a trip to the "bridge"
The Master sat cross legged and steered with a joy stick

Primary navigation tool - radar.
They have no fathometer (depth finder)

Many people accepted the invitation to the bridge

After lunch, a replay of a video  recounting the massive effort by  many nations to save the temples and other antiquities from inundation. 

That afternoon, the barometer fell and we encountered cool and windy conditions. This photo is from the dining salon

Tomorrow:

Visit Kalabasha island  

"Bumper Boats!" i.e a falucca boat ride with Larry, Mo and Curly

And, we change boats - MS Sun Ray - A Nile river boat