Viking RA - Day 3 and 4

The early morning hot air balloon assent was occurring as we ate breakfast on the RA before boarding the bus to Qena. Some of our shipmates got up at 4:30 am to participate in this optional balloon excursion.

 

DENDERA TEMPLE COMPLEX - DAY 3

Dendera Temple complex, located about 2 miles south-east of Dendera, near Qena, Egypt. It is one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt.

Hathor Temple, the main temple at Dendera. The Egyptian god, Hathor personified the principles of joy, feminine love, and motherhood.

Our tour guide, Ahmen, provided an overview of this temple complex.

Hypostyle Hall and the magnificent ceiling inside the Temple of Hathor.

The goddess Nut, who ruled the night, is depicted inside the Temple of Hathor. The Egyptian god Nut gives birth to Ra, the sun-god who ruled the day. Each day, he passes over her body until he reaches her mouth at sunset. He then passes into her mouth and through her body and is reborn the next morning.

Stairway inside the Dendera Temple.

 

 

The Viking Ra cast off at 1:30 pm leaving Luxor for Esna. We arrived in Esna at Sunset.

 

ESNA TEMPLE - DAY 4

This temple was a two block walk from where our boat docked in Esna. It was a early morning walk to the Temple as Viking Ra was leaving for Aswan at 10 am.

The Temple of Khnum at Esna

Looking up at the street level you can see how time had buried the temple. Much of the temple complex is still located below the town.

The temple was built of red sandstone, and its portico consisted of six rows of four columns each, with lotus-leaf capitals, all of which differ from each other.

 

SAILING SOUTH TO ASWAN

Banana orchards lined the banks of the Nile.

Sitting on our veranda watching the scenery as we cruise the Nile River.

On Thursday morning after visiting the Temple of Esna we set sail for Aswan, arriving there at sunset.