Esna and El-Moalla Day tour

Full day tour  to Esna and El-Moalla, Esna is located on the west bank of the Nile, 64 kilometers south of Luxor. The site was an important cultural center in the Ptolemaic Period, although archaeological evidence dates from as early as the Middle Kingdom. Esna Temple  was the last Egyptian temple to be decorated with hieroglyphic texts. It was erected in the Ptolemaic Period. Esna Temple or temple of Khnum in the center of Esna was covered by the rubble of later centuries and now nine meters below the present street level is the Temple of Khnum, the ram-headed local god, and his associate goddesses Neith and State. The outer walls bear reliefs and inscriptions by Roman Emperors. Domitian is depicted smiting his enemies in the presence of Khnum and Menheyet, and on the north side, Khnum, with the goddess Nebtu standing behind him, presents Trajan, also shown smiting his enemies, with the sickle sword. Temple walls are decorated with some unique ritual scenes, such as the dance of the pharaoh before the gods, and the catching of fishes and birds with a clap net. The temple’s columns, decorated mainly with inscriptions, display the only temple ritual known from ancient Egypt that is preserved. 

then will drive you to The other stop will be at the cemetery of El-Moalla is located in the desert cliff of the River Nile’s East Bank, about 32km south of Luxor. The site appears desolate and windswept, but two important tombs among many belonging to provincial governors and officials of the Old Kingdom to the First Intermediate Period can be found here. below some of them.

The Tomb of Ankhtifi:  the decorated tomb shows many interesting and important painted scenes which give us glimpses into the complicated political events in the obscure First Intermediate Period. scenes like : Fishing is especially interesting for its varieties of fish, which the deceased is spearing and reeling in, while his wife is holding a bird by its beak. Cattles and animals in agricultural scenes and the donkeys carrying grain. The few remaining columns are also decorated, 

The Tomb of Sobekhotep : A few meters to the north of Ankhtifi’s tomb is the smaller tomb-chapel of Sobekhotep, which has a few interesting scenes. scenes of the funeral procession ,scenes below of men taking grain to a storehouse. traditional desert hunt,  Parts of agricultural scenes,  Sobekhotep and his wife are again, receiving offering-bearers.

 wish you that you enjoyed your day and drive back to the hotel