Alexandria
Granite statue of Pharaoh Menkaure
The triad of statues depicts Pharaoh Menkaura of the 4th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Menkaura stands in the center wearing a tall white Egyptian crown hedjet. To his right left in the image the goddess Hathor wearing a crown with bull horns and a sun disc stands to his left right in the image representing a nome. These statues made of graywacke date back to approximately 2,400 BC and are currently on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. These statues were discovered hidden beneath the sand in the Menkaura Valley temple on the Giza plateau when a local worker pointed out a shallow pit containing the stone heads of the pharaoh and queen. The discovery included the famous pair of statues of Menkaura and his queen. And three more statues made of graywack stone.
The following details the historical excavations and the famous statues. Between 1908 and 1910 an expedition from Harvard and Boston universities led by archaeologist George Reisner discovered a large group of remarkably well-preserved Old Kingdom statues in the Temple Valley of the Menkaure pyramid complex at Giza.
The excavation uncovered a triad of statues of Pharaoh Menkaura of the 4th Dynasty of ancient Egypt made of graywacke dating to approximately 2,400 BC and currently on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Pharaoh Menkaura of the Fourth Dynasty is known as the builder and former occupant of the third and smallest of the three pyramids at Giza. His reign was also notable for its artistic talents even early in Egyptian history. Among the Old Kingdom pharaohs only the earlier Pharaoh Chephren and the slightly younger Pharaoh Djoser have large statues surviving. Menkaura has three similar statues believed to be modern gods. It is believed there were eight in total each an Egyptian dwarf. A significant place of worship for Hathor the three statues have carvings discovered in the ruins of the Menkaura Temple in the Valley depicting the goddess seated on a throne.
This triad of statues depicts Pharaoh Menkaura of the 4th Dynasty of Egypt dating back to approximately 2,400 BC and is currently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The tomb of Pharaoh Menkaure also yielded a group of exquisitely carved sculptures such as a statue of Pharaoh Menkaure standing beside his queen. Pharaoh Menkaure known in Greek as "Mycerenus" was a king of ancient Egypt from the 4th Dynasty who built the Pyramid of Menkaure the smallest of the three Great Pyramids of Giza. Currently it stands approximately 65 meters tall. He reigned around 2530 BC succeeding his father Pharaoh Khafre. His pyramid is notable for its base being covered in red granite from Aswan unlike other pyramids.
Pharaoh Menkaure of the 4th Dynasty built the Pyramid of Menkaure the smallest of the Great Pyramids of Giza. A major mystery is its "incomplete construction" due to his sudden death which necessitated the hasty sealing of his tomb. The lower part is covered in red granite from Aswan while the upper part uses ordinary limestone. Reflecting the haste in the final stages of construction in the 19th century explorers discovered a wooden sarcophagus inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Menkure but the sarcophagus sank at sea during its transport to England leaving the whereabouts of his mummy a mystery.
Cleopatra VII of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt
Alexander the Great Conqueror of Macedonia 356-323 BC in the context of the development of the ideology of conquest of Egypt in the Mediterranean for over three centuries the Roman Emperor extended his power across almost all of the Mediterranean and northern Europe until the eventual fall of the Western Roman Empire. To preserve the long-standing rule of the ancient kingdom and as a key successor the conquest of Upper and Lower Egypt in 525 BC was a significant event. Some courageous pharaohs of ancient Egypt were able to seize some control of the Nile Valley until the spring of 522 BC when Cambices seized Cyrenaica an area on the eastern coast of Libya and left Egypt to quell a Persian rebellion.
A bas-relief depicting Cleopatra VII Philopator from the Temple of Dendera in Egypt portraying her as a representation of the earthly goddess Isis.
Under Cambices' departure to deal with the Persian rebellion Egypt was able to seize some control of Persian invasions in the Nile Valley for the next two centuries. The glorious history of Cleopatra VII of Alexandria in her unwavering dedication to ruling an ideal Egypt amidst great turmoil and the establishment of the Alexandria Empire by both of them through Macedonian ancestry is also noteworthy. Cleopatra VII the last emperor of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
A large serpent sculpture representing the Greek god Agathodaimon a patron deity wearing a double crown. Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa Alexandria Egypt.
Besides Greek Cleopatra was the first to learn and speak ancient Egyptian a language tracing back to Ptolemy I Sother a close confidant and general of Alexander the Great who was of Greek descent. She founded Alexandria in Egypt a city that later became her capital and administrative center blending Macedonian culture with modern influences.
The catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa in Alexandria Egypt are an important archaeological site in Alexandria. These tunnels known as catacombs are dug deep into the sandstone mountain.
Cleopatra VII forged an alliance and relationship with Julius Caesar to help reclaim the Egyptian throne from internal conflicts following Caesar's assassination. Both politically and romantically she lost the war against Octavian the first Roman Emperor and adopted son of Caesar who rose to power after Caesar's assassination and defeated his political rivals in civil wars. After Cleopatra VII's death Egypt lost its independence and became a province under the direct control of the Roman emperor. Following the victory of Emperor Augustus Egypt became a crucial province of Rome and the port of Alexandria grew into one of the most important trading centers. of the Mediterranean world and the Roman Empire.
The Enigma of the Nubian Warrior of the Kingdom of Kush
Amanishakheto the Warrior Queen of Nubia reigned in the early 1st century. Her name written Amanishakheto in hieroglyphs means "Warrior Queen of Nubia" Along with her daughter she is the only African queen mentioned in the Bible who defeated the Roman army sent by the first Roman Emperor Augustus. Several monuments mentioning Amanishakheto have been found including in the Temple of Amun at Kawah on tablets from Meroe inscriptions found on the Banaga Vad and tablets from the ruins of the ancient city of Meroe.
Queen Amanitore of the Kingdom of Kush Nubia during her joint reign with King Natakamani in the mid-1st century AD. This carving is from Wad ban Naqa present-day Sudan.
Pharaoh Piye the Pharaoh of Kush began the Third Middle Period of Egyptian civilization with the establishment of the capitals Napata and Thebes the sacred mountain Jebel Barkal and was among the first group of ancient Egyptian pharaohs to rule a unified early Egypt. They revered and worshipped the god Amun. During the restoration of the Temple of Amun under Pharaoh Thutmose III Piede commissioned Egyptian stone carvers to rebuild it.
The Nubian Pyramids located in Sudan, were the site of royal burial grounds of the ancient Kingdom of Cush. These pyramids are steep and smaller than the pyramids in Egypt. Sudan has the largest number of pyramids in the world.
The tombs in Qustul are part of a civilization located on the east bank of the Nile River in Lower Nubia opposite Ballana near the Sudanese border. In the 1960s royal symbols similar to those of ancient Egypt or the Gyrzeh culture were used resembling the ancient Nubian civilization. Archaeological evidence from the Qustul tombs includes patterned bowls and pottery from the earliest powerful Nubian societies located between southern Egypt and northern Sudan flourishing between the Nile River and the ancient Nubian culture that inhabited Lower Nubia during the First Dynasties of Egypt around 5,800 years before modern Egypt.
The Black Pharaoh's Pyramid of the Kush Dynasty
The Meroe Pyramids located in Sudan are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site comprises over 200 ancient pyramids built by the Kingdom of Kush. These pyramids are characterized by their smaller size and steeper slopes compared to the pyramids of Egypt. Efforts are currently underway to protect this cultural heritage site amidst ongoing conflicts in the region. Southern cultures gradually replaced Egyptian cultural heritage. The pharaohs of the Kush dynasty migrated south to the savannas of Sudan and established their capital at Meroe. In terms of the afterlife northern cemeteries at Meroe during the 3rd and 4th centuries BC became the focus.
The Pyramids of Meroe located in northeastern Sudan are Nubian-style pyramids that are narrower and steeper than typical Egyptian pyramids. These pyramids served as ancient tombs for the kings and queens of the Kingdom of Cush.
It is believed that due to the existence of earthly life in the past the construction of large tombs as permanent dwellings for the dead reflected the earthly status of the pharaoh son of Amun-Ra the sun god. His life followed a cycle akin to the rising and setting of the sun and his union with the gods in heaven at night a stairway to paradise. Beneath these tombs a burial site was discovered in a cemetery near the ancient city of Kematon in Sudan. These pyramids are over 2,000 years old and date back to the reign of the kingdom known as Kush in Sudan. Some pyramids were not built as tombs some are buried beneath simple rectangular structures called mastabas some have stone stacks on top called tumulis while others show no signs of burial.
The Pyramids of Meroe located in Sudan and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site were built by the Kingdom of Kush approximately 2,700 to 2,300 years ago. They are Nubian-style pyramids characterized by their narrower and steeper slopes compared to typical Egyptian pyramids.
A large steep pyramid stands at the very top. The pyramids symbolizing the stairway to heaven were lavishly decorated. A small chapel on the east side was used for offerings to deceased pharaohs and as a place for prayer and funeral ceremonies. The chapel doors overlooking the sunrise illuminated the altar in the back wall. During the late Middle Kingdom the Black pharaohs of the Kush dynasty ceased pyramid construction.
The cave tombs with their underground chambers and passages symbolized the nighttime dwelling of the sun god. The 223 pyramids in Nubia exceed those in Egypt by 16. The pyramids have three main sections each containing an underground tomb symbolizing the underworld where mummies lie. The mummies of pharaohs and queens were placed on beds according to the ancient Kerma tradition filled with small statues of people destined to be resurrected by the gods.
Records of events during the golden age of Ramesses II
Ramses II the ruler of Egypt during its golden age was considered one of the most powerful and famous kings of the Egyptian Empire. His formidable army was powerful enough to conquer Syria Nubia and the Hittite territories. He built numerous temples and monuments established a new capital and constructed fortified cities to protect routes from enemies. His reign resulted in a stalemate with neither side achieving a decisive victory. Ramesses II also built or restored other temples in Nubia such as the Beit el-Wali a house of priests and religious leaders. Surviving carvings depict the brutality of warfare in Nubia Syria and Libya are still present today.
The Abu Simbel Temple in Egypt was a temple built for King Ramses II. It is located in the Aswan region.
The Derr Temple is remarkable as it is the only rock temple in Nubia located on the east bank of the Nile River. This includes the stone pillars inside the temple which are not oriented towards the central axis as usual but rather face the entrance and the Gerf Hussein temple. The memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramses II in Luxor Egypt. This site is known for the ruins of giant statues and large pillars that still remain. In addition to the main temple the surrounding area also includes the remains of workers' residences and agricultural areas and records of battles on inscriptions found in the temples of Beit Elwali and Abu Simbel.
The Holy Chamber Holy of Holies inside the great temple of Abu Simbel from left to right features statues of the gods Ptah Amun-Ra Pharaoh Ramesses II and Ra-Horakhty. The temple was built in the 13th century BC.
Important historical evidence of kingship for Pharaoh Ramses II shows the god Amun-Re bestowing the symbol of kingship upon the pharaoh. Ramses II built more buildings statues and monuments than any other pharaoh in Egypt. He commissioned the construction of the Abu Simbel temple in Nubia a massive rock-carved temple and the Ramesseum a mortuary temple. He moved the capital from Thebes to Pi-Ramesses east of the Nile Delta to be closer to the strategically important eastern territories of Egypt.
The Temple of Maharraqa of the gods Isis
The only large open-air temple surrounded by three covered terraces dedicated to the goddesses Isis and Serapis is a Romanesque temple the only one in Nubia with a spiral staircase leading to the roof a visual phenomenon created by sunlight that differs from the unique large enclosed temples of the time. These reconstructed gods served as focal points of religious fusion. Pharaoh Ptolemy I of the Greek dynasty combined elements of Egyptian and Greek mythology to unite people from both cultures.
The image of Serapis is depicted in the Greek style as an elderly man with a handsome beard wearing Greek robes and a headdress of a basket of fruit Modius a symbol of fertility and harvest. This resulted in the worship of Isis and Serapis becoming a widely popular belief in the Mediterranean world fostering a sense of unity.
Photograph taken during the 19th century approximately 1870-1880 showing the Roman-era temple dedicated to the goddesses Isis and Serapis.
In the Roman era of the 1st century AD a temple dedicated to the gods Serapis and Isis was built along with Osiris the god of death and resurrection and Apis the supreme sacred bull god of Memphis. A temple dedicated to the gods who ruled the cosmos and fertility was built by Pharaoh Ptolemy I of Soter in the 3rd century BC.
The Temple of Maharaka represents one of the most significant religious fusions of the Hellenistic era. The worship of these two deities was not limited to Egypt but spread throughout the Mediterranean. Dedicated to Serapis and Isis often worshipped together as the patron gods of Alexandria the temple fused Greek and Egyptian beliefs with its primary center of worship at the Temple of the Serapeum in Alexandria Egypt.
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)
theralsilca| Distributed by theralsilca
Social Media
Search