For me, Egypt is, first of all, a living Red Sea with bright unusual inhabitants and its historical temples with rich history, bright scorching sun during the day and early black nights. I already wrote about some famous egyptian places I got to see, and today I will tell you about one more.
The artisans, servants and laborers who built the Valleys of the Kings and Queens of the Dead lived in the village of Deir El Medina, often called the village of the workmen. This village is located south of the Valley of the Queens and was especially hidden from the people so that the latter would not find out where the burial sites of the rulers were being built and would not pass on the secrets.
The city of Artisans is located on the mountain, with narrow streets, small living quarters, and the eternal resting place of the workers themselves, the necropolis. Decorated elaborately, the colors and frescoes are so bright: yellow, orange colors, reliefs carved on the walls and stories described in hieroglyphs, perfectly preserved. They seem to have been built and painted only a few hundred or decades ago, but not more than a few thousand years old.
One of the most beautiful is Sennedjem's tomb: the yellow ocher painted walls are perfectly preserved. They depict Sennedjem and his wife Iyneferti worshiping various gods and working in the fields of the underworld.
If to go to the village's north, you will find a small Ptolemaic temple. This temple is dedicated to the two goddesses: Hathor and Maat. During the Coptic era, it was converted into a monastery, leading to a structure called Deir El Medina which translates to "Monastery City".
The graves are small, you have to bend down to enter them, and only a few visitors are allowed in at once, but there were only a few visitors at all. The impression is great, so I would recommend to visit it. Tours offer to visit this Valley of Artisans in a 2-day tour: Dendera Temple and Luxor, as one of 10-12 optional attractions in Luxor.
When going to Deir El Medina Valley on your own, it is necessary to buy tickets in advance, they are sold about 500 meters ahead of the Colossi of Memnon, at the ticket office on the left. A visitor ticket to Deir El Medina costs LE 100, payable in cash. It will not be possible to buy tickets near Artisans Valley, and without a ticket you will not be allowed into the Valley.
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All photos are original.
With love
"Do what is right, not what is easy nor what is popular" - R. T. BENNETH