The Acropolis of Athens stands as the most impressive and intact ancient Greek monumental complex still in existence today. It is located on a moderately high hill (156m) that rises within the Athens basin. The hill spans roughly 170 by 350m and is rocky and steep on all sides except the west, featuring a broad, nearly flat top. For over 3,300 years, strong fortification walls have encircled the Acropolis summit. The initial fortification wall was constructed in the 13th cent

We had Athens as our base for our various excursions. Delphi was a day trip slightly over two hours north and west of Athens. We visited it with a private guide and driver which made it very doable. It is the heart of Ancient Greece and is a memorable and worthwhile destination. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where Apollo's oracle delivered prophecies, was home to the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Seamlessly blending with the stunning landscape and rich in sacred

Ancient Corinth is located between two seas (the Corinthian and the Saronic gulfs or the Aegean and the Ionian seas) and between the land of the Peloponnese and that of mainland Greece had a decisive impact on the ancient city’s development and its long-lasting life. Below is a view of the Corninth Canal that separates the mainland from the Peolponnesian Peninsula: The ruins of ancient Corinth, including the remarkable Temple of Apollo and the expansive Roman Forum, stand as

On our first day in Athens, we did a walking tour of the old town. While the Acropolis loomed above, our focus was on the ancient agora. We climbed up Muses Hill to get a stunning overview of Athens. The expansive plateau of the ancient agora served as a gathering place for the citizens of ancient Athens to socialize and discuss contemporary issues. The term "agora" comes from the greek verb meaning "to congregate". This ancient city, with its court of law, gymnasium, temples

Aswan was our final destination on our Nile River cruise; it borders Sudan and its civil war was just beginning when we got there. It contains significant archaeological sites like the Philae temple complex, on Agilkia Island near the landmark Aswan Dam. Philae’s ruins include the columned Temple of Isis, dating to the 4th century B.C. Downriver, Elephantine Island holds the Temple of Khnum, from the Third Dynasty. Our takeaway from our brief visit to Aswan is that it is a co

Hatshepsut ( c. 1473–1458 BC), the queen who became pharaoh, built a magnificent temple at Deir al-Bahari, on the west back of Luxor. It lies directly across the Nile from Karnak Temple, the main sanctuary of the god Amun. Hatshepsut’s temple,  Djeser-djeseru  “the Holy of Holies” was designed by the chief steward of Amun, Senenmut. The temple consists of three levels each of which has a colonnade at its far end. On the uppermost level, an open courtyard lies just beyond the

T he  Temple of Edfu  is an  Egyptian temple  located on the west bank of the  Nile  in  Edfu ,  Upper Egypt . The city was known in the  Hellenistic period  in  Koine Greek after the chief god  Horus , who was identified as  Apollo .  It is one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt. The temple was built in the  Ptolemaic Kingdom  between 237 and 57 BC. The inscriptions on its walls provide important information on language, myth and religion during the  Hellenistic period

When approaching the temple, the first thing you notice is that the temple still stands on the original ground level, whereas the modern town rises 9 meters higher, on top of the remnants of the ancient town and its descendants, which have grown up around the temple over the last 2,000 years. There is no proof of the village of Esna and its temple prior to the Middle Kingdom, but from this point on, there are source materials up to the end of ancient Egyptian history. In Grae

The Valley of the Kings, located just outside the modern city of Luxor in Egypt, is a remarkable archaeological complex that serves as a significant tribute to the Pharaohs and their Queens of ancient Egypt. I really did not know what to expect when we toured the Valley of the Kings. I did not expect vast tunnels which are intricately decorated with elaborate hieroglyphs and stunning frescoes. These artistic representations not only highlight the grandeur of the Pharaohs but

The Temple of Dendera is undeniably one of the most beautiful and remarkably well-preserved temples in Egypt, standing as a testament to the architectural and artistic achievements of ancient Egyptian civilization. Located in the small town of Dendera, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor, who is revered as the goddess of love, beauty, music, and motherhood. The Dendera temple is very close to Luxor, which is often considered the heart of ancient Egypt due to its pro