Ancient temples of Egypt. Sights of Egypt: temples, palaces, fortresses

Egypt - one of those countries, a visit which allows you to see firsthand the beauty of the ancient world, preserved in magnificent works of architecture.

Ancient Egypt - the beginning of the birth of modern civilization

It refers to the first states that appeared in the world in the distant past (there were several of them, those whose data were preserved until our years). They originated in the territory of the Ancient East due to the good conditions there for living (climate, availability of water bodies) at the beginning of the III millennium BC. E. These include Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China.

Ancient Egypt (briefly examine the history of this country) was located in the valley of the Nile. Only on its shores and in deserted oases was life possible. The rest of the territory of the ancient state was occupied by the desert. It was a great danger for the Egyptians - the advancing sands, which had to be fought all year round and to win lands suitable for sowing, the wind withering, tormenting the country in April and May ... But at the same time the desert was good: it helped to form a wet river valley And the moderate climate necessary for successful farming, and was a natural barrier to attacks from other countries. Here, along the banks of the Nile, covered with fertile black soil, the great Egyptian civilization arose, fine works of art and magnificent architectural structures of which modern man can admire now.

Great rulers - the embodiment of gods on earth

They are chosen by the gods, mediators between heaven and earth, an unshakable center of the country. The history of ancient Egypt has more than four thousand years, and all these long centuries it was a single whole - a state in which time seemed to be frozen.

The significance of the pharaoh was expressed in the fact that with the coming to power of the king for the country a new era and a new countdown began. The ruler, the earthly embodiment of the god Horus (Horus), had to zealously watch over his main wealth entrusted to him by the gods - Egypt. He eradicated violence and evil, established justice, order and harmony.

One of Pharaoh's main responsibilities was the construction of houses for the great gods. The ancient temples of Egypt, built in great numbers, glorified Osiris, Isis, Ra and other deities. Pharaoh himself was simultaneously the supreme priest who conducted religious rites and ceremonies. It was believed that the gods can only hear it. Therefore, the ancient temples were of great importance in the life of the Egyptians.

Art

Time saved for us only a small fraction of the works of art of the ancient Egyptians. A huge number of precious objects were buried with the pharaohs in the pyramids, but all the tombs of the kings found today were plundered thousands of years ago. Only the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamun gave the world an idea of the great skill of ancient artists, potters and jewelers.

There is something that even time could not cope with. These are the ancient temples of Egypt and the pyramids. Of course, the past millennia strongly affected their safety, and some of the architectural structures disappeared without a trace. But the preserved ancient temples can give an idea of the life of the Egyptians and their religion. Thanks to the fact that the walls of the buildings were covered with frescoes with scenes glorifying the pharaohs, and inscriptions telling about their deeds, we now know a lot about that time.

Architecture

The majestic ancient temples of Egypt and the monumental pyramids are the main example of the architecture of the builders of the past. It is believed that the history of architecture began in this country. Due to the lack of forests, building materials here were limestone, sandstone, granite and raw brick. The stone went to the construction of pyramids and temple complexes, palaces and fortresses were built from bricks.

A feature of Egyptian architecture was that the masonry was made without the use of adhesion solutions. Inside and outside the walls of the temples and columns were decorated with frescoes, figures and inscriptions. All of them were symbolic.

To see the work of ancient architects can be seen firsthand or in the photo of Egypt. Temples and pyramids, even in the images, amaze with their monumentality, strict lines and majestic tranquility.

How ancient architectural constructions were erected

Pyramids - one of the mysteries of history, which modern man can not yet solve. Actually, everything that is connected with them is one big puzzle. Scientists are still not sure that the pyramids were built as funerary complexes of pharaohs. How exactly they were built, given the lack of any technology processing and delivery of giant stone blocks, is another mystery of the pyramids.

We know much more about the construction of temples. There were three kinds of them: rocky, semi-local and terrestrial. The latter were built according to a certain type. These were rectangles surrounded by high walls. From the Nile to the temple usually led a road, which on both sides was decorated with statues of sphinxes. The facilities were not a complete composition, they were built on the principle of molding - the buildings were built one after another.

Rock temples had an external façade, all other rooms were cut down in the rock. Semiskalnye complexes were partially built on the surface, and partly - in the rocks.

Columns were an obligatory element of the temples. In the hall of the Karnak temple there are 134. They often depicted a bundle of reeds.

The ancient temples of Egypt did not have windows. They were illuminated at the expense of small openings under the roof itself.

Obligatory was the facing of the walls of the temple complex or a coating with painted paints.

The great woman-pharaoh and her sanctuary

One of the most beautiful buildings in Egypt - the temple of Hatshepsut - was erected for the great ruler who led the country in the era of the New Kingdom.

In the history of this ancient state there were only a few cases when the power passed into women's hands, and it happened in times of crisis. Hatshepsut, a thoroughbred queen, daughter of Thutmose I, was the supreme priestess of Amun, which in no small measure helped her to get the reins of Egypt. She became the wife of her brother Thutmose II, and after the death of her husband from illness, she led the country.

The queen is known as the Pharaoh-builder. During her reign (for 22 years) many temples, obelisks, sanctuaries were erected, monuments destroyed by the conquerors of Hyksos were restored.

The funerary temple of Hatshepsut is located in the west of Thebes and belongs to a semi-local type. In ancient times, it was called "Jesser Jesse" - "The Sacred of the Sacred," and to call it after Queen Hatshepsut became much later.

The builder of this magnificent architectural complex was the architect Senmut, who later the great woman-pharaoh entrusted the education of her daughter Nephrura. The temple was built in record time - for 9 years. It is carved into the rocks and it seems to be their natural extension. It consists of three huge terraces, located one above the other. Each has an open courtyard and sanctuary. In ancient times, the road to the first terrace was lined with myrtle trees, specially imported for this purpose to Egypt. According to tradition, the road was decorated with brightly colored sphinxes.

The pristine beauty of the Hatshepsut temple is lost. He suffered from time and earthquakes. But even now a magnificent monument of antiquity amazes with its severity of lines and grandeur.

The ancient beauty of Luxor

Not only the monumentality and grandeur of the famous pyramids can hit Egypt. Karnak temple, dedicated to the god Amonu-Ra, is the largest architectural complex of the country.

It is located on the right bank of the Nile in a small village of Karnak, three kilometers from another famous temple - Luxor. With him connects a long alley, decorated with statues of sphinxes. In ancient times it was called Ipet-Isut. A giant temple complex was built over a thousand years.

The sanctuary is erected in honor of the god Amon-Ra, but also includes temples of other Egyptian deities - Khonsu, Ptaha, Montu, Mut. Here are the chapels, numerous obelisks, statues of the pharaohs and the sacred lake.

The center of the Karnak temple and its pride is the Great Column Hall. It was built during the reign of the pharaohs of Seti I and Ramses II. There are 134 columns in it, located in 16 rows. The largest of them have the height of an 8-storey building.

The size of the temple complex is huge. It houses more than 30 temples. Most of the territory is closed to tourists, as archaeological excavations and restoration of ancient monuments do not stop here. At present, literally by pieces, the alley of sphinxes is recreated.

The Holy Place of the Christian World in the Land of the Pharaohs

The country of many religions - so you can fully describe Egypt. The temple of Catherine - one of the revered shrines of the Christian world - is on its territory. The structure has existed for 1600 years. The temple was founded in the IV century and was fortified by the order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I in the VI century.

The temple of St. Catherine in Egypt is built at the foot of Mount Sinai, where, according to the biblical legends, Moses received from the god who appeared to him in the flame of an unburnt bush, the Ten Commandments. It is named after the Christian enlightener Catherine, who lived in the third century, tortured and executed for refusing to renounce her faith in Christ.

The temple of Catherine is a whole town, which includes a monastery, a temple and hundreds of other buildings.

Abu Simbel

On the territory of Egypt you can see many magnificent temples. One of them is interesting because it is carved into the rock, and only the facade is outside. More precisely, these are two sanctuaries of a married couple: Pharaoh Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. Another of their purposes is to determine the southern border of the state. The sanctuaries are famous for their giant sculptures depicting Pharaoh and his wife.

Conclusion

In ancient times, Egyptian temples were an important component of the religious life of a great country. Today their value lies in the cultural heritage that they represent. Architectural monuments give an opportunity to modern man to touch the deep antiquity and allow to learn more about the history of Ancient Egypt.