Lost Sphinxes of Thebes - Karnak Temple
by Mark Tisdale
Title
Lost Sphinxes of Thebes - Karnak Temple
Artist
Mark Tisdale
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
It's odd sometimes the little things that can connect us with people long gone, but this row of Ram's headed Sphinxes in the Temple at Karnak was that connection for me. There was once an Avenue of the Sphinxes that connected the Temples at Karnak and Luxor in what was ancient Thebes. These weathered old statues lined that avenue. And they may again some day if the avenue is rebuilt as has been discussed.
How you may be wondering did these ancient relics connect me with long dead Egyptians? The reason they are in decent if not pristine connection all these centuries later? They were removed in antiquity and packed away, buried. The reason is that tastes changed and they redecorated. How very human! Like us, the ancient Egyptians had fads and trends. The Avenue of the Sphinxes were apparently the bell bottoms of their day.
At least that was the story our guide at Karnak told us about these ancient statues, and I loved how very humanizing it was and filed it away. It comes back to me each time I look at this photo from the temple at Karnak, part of a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site along with the temple at nearby Luxor.
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February 13th, 2013
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