In the early morning we flew from Cairo to Luxor where we would board our cruise ship for four nights on the Nile. How romantic that sounds! (and is!) But first we would tour the two major temples of Luxor and Karnak. We started the tour with Karnak where our guide pointed out the columns shaped like papyrus and lotus representing the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. The columns are covered with figures and symbols: the ankh is the symbol of the Nile River and therefore of Life. Kings, Pharoahs, and gods are represented with their names incised in oval-shaped medallions called cartouches, a French word meaning cartridges.
Egyptian temples were built from the back, where the Inner Sanctuary is, to the covered courtyard to the open courtyard and finally to the gate. The Inner Sanctuary, where only the King and High Priests could enter, was built around 2600 BC and the rest of the temple was built over the next 1500 years.
Between the two temples at Luxor there is a grand walkway lined with hundreds of ram sphinxes. We arrived at Luxor Temple by bus and entered at the gate which is guarded by two massive statues of Ramses II. Then, as at Karnak, there is an open courtyard filled with beautiful columns and rows of more columns depicting papyrus leading to another courtyard built by Amenhotep III. Finally we reached the Inner Sanctuary.
From journal An Unforgettable 10 Days in Egypt