Of all the great empires of history, few are as intriguing as Ancient Egypt. Of the many ruins left behind, here are five favorites.
© Icon72 | Dreamstime
Temple of Hatshepsut
Dedicated to the sun god Amun, this historic site is a funeral shrine to Hatshepsut, Egypt’s second female pharaoh. The architecture is unique, made of three levels that invoke the classical architectural traditions of Europe.
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Karnak
This open-air museum is the second-largest religious site in the world (after Angkor Wat) and the second-most visited historical site in Egypt. It’s also one of the most diverse ruins to see, built over the reigns of 30 pharaohs, showing a variety of ancient Egyptian deities.
Horus, Temple of Edfu, Egypt © Shariff Che’ Lah | Dreamstime
Temple of Edfu
Edfu is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. For centuries, it was hidden underneath sand and silt before archeologists unearthed a massive complex dedicated to the Falcon God Horus.
© Ginasanders | Dreamstime
Abu Simbel
Two rock temples comprise Abu Simbel, marked by its iconic rock reliefs and carefully engineered solar alignment. Today, the site hosts two Sun Festivals, two days of the year where rays of light penetrate the complex to illuminate the sculptures on the back wall.
© Vitalyedush | Dreamstime
Great Pyramid of Giza
The most famous of the ruins is also one of the oldest Wonders of the Ancient World, the only one still standing. For 3,800 years, it was the tallest manmade structure in the world at 481 feet.
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