After their excellent lunch, Jim calls for the limousines to take them to Karnak. As the sun begins to drop towards the horizon, Glen collapses in the hypostyle hall of the Temple. At first it seems to be the result of the heat of the day, but subsequently it turns out to be a further 'contact' from 'whoever' or 'whatever' has brought them to Egypt. Next day, leaving Glen with Max at the Winter Palace to recover, the rest of the 'Gang' return to Karnak, and then visit Mahmoud at Medinet Habu before their evening meeting with the Sheikh....
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| Caleche - East Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
All - except for Ethan, of course, who had a 'thing' about horses.
Ethan's obsession with horses began in Amarillo, in Texas, when he saw a statue of a horse, (one of many), in a street in the town. More than 100 horses had been placed throughout Amarillo. Each horse was painted by a local artist, and the horses were exact replicas of a full-size Quarter Horse.
Quarter Horse Statue - Amarillo
"But why can't we go on one of those 'carriage-thingys', with a horsey...?", Ethan whined, going back to his 'little boy' persona that he had so often used with the 'Boss' in order to get what he wanted.
"OK... if you insist...", Jim said, much against his better judgment.
"Have you got some small notes for the driver ?", Zac asked.
"Yes....and Teddy's coming with me...", Ethan insisted.
"OK - but remember, the caleche drivers all speak English, so don't let Teddy start talking in Arabic - and be careful... and we'll see you at the Temple at Karnak... near the car-park.", Jim said reluctantly.
"Do you think he'll be alright on his own ?", Zac asked.
"I should think so, but you and Josh go in the first limo, and stay close to the caleche - and if there's a problem take immediate action.", Jim said - obviously concerned.
So Zac and Josh sat in the first limo, directly behind the caleche that Jim had called over, and both Zac and Josh released the safety catches on their hand guns - just in case.
El Karnak is a village 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) north of Luxor.
Ethan, enjoying himself immensely - and chatting happily to Teddy all the way, was undoubtedly considered by the puzzled caleche driver to be, at the very best, mentally defective, but the driver was not fooled by the group of three huge Mercedes limousines slowly following him, and so wisely decided not to try to take advantage of his very strange passenger.
Ethan then paid his - by then - very nervous driver, and waited for the limos to pull into the car park.
"OK... if you insist...", Jim said, much against his better judgment.
"Have you got some small notes for the driver ?", Zac asked.
"Yes....and Teddy's coming with me...", Ethan insisted.
"OK - but remember, the caleche drivers all speak English, so don't let Teddy start talking in Arabic - and be careful... and we'll see you at the Temple at Karnak... near the car-park.", Jim said reluctantly.
"Do you think he'll be alright on his own ?", Zac asked.
"I should think so, but you and Josh go in the first limo, and stay close to the caleche - and if there's a problem take immediate action.", Jim said - obviously concerned.
So Zac and Josh sat in the first limo, directly behind the caleche that Jim had called over, and both Zac and Josh released the safety catches on their hand guns - just in case.
El Karnak is a village 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) north of Luxor.
Ethan, enjoying himself immensely - and chatting happily to Teddy all the way, was undoubtedly considered by the puzzled caleche driver to be, at the very best, mentally defective, but the driver was not fooled by the group of three huge Mercedes limousines slowly following him, and so wisely decided not to try to take advantage of his very strange passenger.
Ethan then paid his - by then - very nervous driver, and waited for the limos to pull into the car park.
"Did you enjoy that, Ethan ?", Jim asked, relieved that all had gone well.
"It was great, Jim, and Teddy enjoyed it too...", Ethan replied, apparently blissfully unaware of all the concern that he had caused.
"And you're all prepared, Teddy, to tell us about this place ?", Josh asked.
"Well guys... it's very big... much larger than Luxor Temple, so there's only time today to have a quick look, and then perhaps we can come back another day...",Teddy explained.
"It was great, Jim, and Teddy enjoyed it too...", Ethan replied, apparently blissfully unaware of all the concern that he had caused.
"And you're all prepared, Teddy, to tell us about this place ?", Josh asked.
"Well guys... it's very big... much larger than Luxor Temple, so there's only time today to have a quick look, and then perhaps we can come back another day...",Teddy explained.
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| Karnak Temple Complex - Luxor - Egypt |
Ethan looked around..."Yes, I see what you mean, Teddy...", Ethan muttered.
"OK... well let's just pretend we're ancient Egyptians, find the main entrance... and then walk through as they might have done... and Teddy can tell us what we're looking at.", Josh suggested.
And so they made their way to the first, (but not first built), and largest of the many pylons at the Karnak Temple complex.
A pylon is the Greek term (Greek: πυλών) for a monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple It consists of two tapering towers, each surmounted by a cornice, joined by a less elevated section which encloses the entrance between them. The entrance was generally about half the height of the towers. Contemporary paintings of pylons show them with long poles flying banners.
When they reached the gateway, Teddy began his explanation...
"Well, guys, this is a pylon...
"Well, guys, this is a pylon...
In ancient the Egyptian religion, the pylon looked a bit like the hieroglyph for 'horizon' or 'akhet', which was a depiction of two hills between which the sun rose and set - so it was to represent the place of recreation and rebirth.
These pylons were often decorated with scenes showing the pharaoh's authority.
Rituals to the god Amun, who became identified with the sun god Ra, were often carried out on the top of temple pylons.
There are also vertical grooves on the face of a pylon wall which were designed to hold flag poles, and some pylons also contained internal stairways and rooms.
Also pairs of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...", Teddy said.
And by this time into their visit to Egypt, you may have noticed that Teddy was beginning to sound like a real (and possibly annoying) tourist guide, and Max was starting to was wonder when Teddy might start asking for baksheesh !
These pylons were often decorated with scenes showing the pharaoh's authority.
Rituals to the god Amun, who became identified with the sun god Ra, were often carried out on the top of temple pylons.
There are also vertical grooves on the face of a pylon wall which were designed to hold flag poles, and some pylons also contained internal stairways and rooms.
Also pairs of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...", Teddy said.
An obelisk (from Ancient Greek: ὀβελίσκος obeliskos) is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape referred to as a 'pyramidion' at the top. Originally they were called 'tekhenu' by the Ancient Egyptians. The Greeks who saw them used the Greek term 'obeliskos' to describe them, and this word passed into Latin and ultimately English. Ancient obelisks are monolithic; that is, they consist of a single stone."So... let's enter...", Teddy suggested.
And by this time into their visit to Egypt, you may have noticed that Teddy was beginning to sound like a real (and possibly annoying) tourist guide, and Max was starting to was wonder when Teddy might start asking for baksheesh !
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| Karnak - First Pylon of Nectanebo - East Bank - Luxor |
It was never completed, and is undercoated, and even the remains of the mud brick ramps, used to build, it can still be seen inside the great court.
It was built by the Pharaoh Nectanebo I (380-362 BC), who also built the huge enclosure wall surrounding Karnak, and some scholars believe that an earlier pylon may have stood on this same spot.", Teddy explained.
"I think this is going to be a long session...", Max said wearily, as they made their way through the first pylon, and entered a huge open courtyard.
 |
| Plan of the Karnak Temple Complex by Teddy |
"Well, as it happens, I just have, and Ethan has them in my Walmart bag.", Teddy replied, pleased to show off his artistic skills.
So Ethan once again had to hand out to the group neat laminated plans - this time of the 'Karnak Temple Complex'.
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| Temple of Ramesses III - Karnak - Luxor |
"So hold on, Teddy... what's this 'Theban-Triad'-thingy ?", Ethan asked, looking over to where the three chapels were situated.
"Good question...", Teddy responded.
"Now in the Eighteenth Dynasty...", Teddy began.
"Now hang on Teddy...", Zac interrupted...
And then Josh interrupted...
"We don't understand all this ancient Egyptian stuff.. so what's this 'Eighteenth Dynasty' business ?", Josh asked.
"OK... historians divide ancient Egyptian history into 30 dynasties (3100 BC - 332 BC).
"We don't understand all this ancient Egyptian stuff.. so what's this 'Eighteenth Dynasty' business ?", Josh asked.
"OK... historians divide ancient Egyptian history into 30 dynasties (3100 BC - 332 BC).
A 'dynasty' is a series of rulers belonging to roughly the same family.
The Eighteenth Dynasty occurred during what is known as the 'New Kingdom', when Egypt was very powerful.
Much of the history, buildings and art which ordinary people think of as 'ancient Egyptian' occurred during the Eighteenth Dynasty.", Teddy explained.
"Which was when ?", Max asked.
"Oh... about 1567 -1 070 BCE.", Teddy replied.
"Wow !.. that's a long time ago !", Max said, sounding thoughtful.
"You'll probably be pleased to know that the last Dynasty was the 'Ptolemaic' - when Egypt was ruled by Greek Pharaohs...
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| Atef Crown |
So anyway, during the Eighteenth Dynasty the 'god' Amon became the national 'god', and Karnak became the main cult centre of Amon.
Amon was known as the 'Unseen One', and Amon assimilated other 'neteru' - 'gods' - to himself, becoming 'Amon-Re', the supreme Creator, 'Amon-Min', representing fertility, or ram-headed 'Auf-Re', also known as 'Re made Flesh', who sailed through the underworld revitalizing the souls of the dead, and emerging reborn as the neter 'Khepri'.
However, Amon most commonly appears as a human wearing the twin-feathered Atef Crown.
 |
As for the 'triad', Amon's consort, Mut, was originally a local 'goddess', but in the Eighteenth Dynasty she took over the position of Amon's previous consort, 'Amonet', and became the 'Mistress of Heaven'.
She is usually shown wearing a vulture headdress, and uraeus, and the 'Combined Crown of the Two Lands'.
Amon and Mut’s son, Khonsu, known as 'the Traveller', crossed the night sky as the 'moon-god', issued prophecies, and assisted Thoth, the 'divine scribe'.
 |
He also had the titles 'Pathfinder' and 'Defender', as he was thought to watch over those who travel at night.
He was usually portrayed as a young boy, with the side-lock of youth.
Khonsu is mentioned in the 'Pyramid Texts' and 'Coffin Texts', but he does not become important until the New Kingdom, when he is described as the 'Greatest God of the Great Gods' (!).
Most of the construction of the temple complex at Karnak was centred on Khonsu during the Ramesside period.
His temple at Karnak is in a relatively good state of preservation, and on one of the walls is depicted a creation myth in which Khonsu is described as the great snake who fertilizes the 'Cosmic Egg' in the creation of the world (!).", Teddy concluded, as he indicated some of the reliefs with his fluffy paw.
"Gee whizz !... Quite a family !", Ethan muttered, as they all went over to have a quick look at the three chapels.
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| The Bark Shrines of the Theban Triad - Karnak - Luxor |
"Now - to get back to this Theban Triad, these three chapels are actually called 'bark shrines', and were built by the pharaoh Seti II, and are dedicated to Amon, Mut, and Khonsu.", Teddy said in his best schoolmaster's voice.
"On special occasions the priests carried the golden, jewelled statues of the 'gods' in a type of portable shrine, and these 'shrines' looked like small boats called 'sacred barks'.
The little model boats were covered in gold leaf, and studded with precious stone inlays of lapis-lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian.
Each 'neteru' had his or her own 'sacred bark' which priests carried on platforms with several long carrying poles.
Two figureheads at the prow and stern of each bark identified its owner.
Amon's bark had ram's head figureheads since that animal was sacred to him, Mut had a woman's head fore and aft, each wearing the Double Crown, and Khonsu had falcon's heads with lunar crescents and disks."
So they all had a quick look inside the three 'Bark Shrines' - which were a bit dull, but would be fascinating to an Egyptologist as the interior walls were covered with inscriptions and images of the processions with the 'sacred barks' - but then the 'boy's were not Egyptologists.
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| Second Pylon - Karnak Temple - Luxor |
Next they came to yet another Pylon - the 'Second Pylon', built by the pharaoh Horemheb near the end of his reign, and only partly decorated by him.
Ramesses I later took over Horemheb's reliefs and inscriptions on the pylon, and added his own to them.
These were later taken over (the proper word, as Teddy explained, was 'usurped'), by Ramesses II, and the east (rear) face of the pylon became the west wall of the newly built 'Great Hypostyle Hall', under the pharaoh Seti I, who added some images of the late Ramesses I to compensate for having had to erase his father's images there when he built the hall.
"So Teddy...how many more of these stupid 'gateway- thingys' are there ?", Ethan asked.
"I think you mean 'pylons', Ethan...", Teddy said, reprovingly.
"OK... pylon-thingys...", Ethan replied.
"Lots, I'm afraid... but I am doing my best...", Teddy said, realizing that by then it was late in the afternoon, and obviously everyone was getting tired.
"So what do you suggest, Teddy ?", Zac asked, wanting to avoid any weird disagreements between Ethan and Teddy.
"Well this gateway leads straight into the most famous part of the temple - the 'Hypostyle Hall' - and it's quite cool and shady, so we can take it easy there, and then walk back slowly to the limos.", Teddy said.
"OK... that sounds good - and then perhaps another day we can come back and see some more of the place.", Josh said, agreeing.
So with everyone agreeing, they walked through the gateway and entered the 'Great Hypostyle Hall'.
Teddy then gathered them together and began....
"The 'Great Hypostyle Hall' was begun by the pharaoh Seti I, and completed by pharaoh Ramesses II.
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| Great Hypostyle Hall - Karnak - Luxor |
The Hall covers an area of 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft).
The stone roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 sandstone columns in 16 rows; the 2 middle rows are higher than the others (being 10 metres (33 ft) in circumference and 24 metres (79 ft) high).
The 134 papyrus columns represent the 'primeval swamp' from which Amun; a self-created 'god', arose from the waters of chaos at the beginning of creation.
The north side of the hall is decorated in raised relief, and was the work of Seti I's sculptors.
He began to decorate the southern side of the hall shortly before he died but this section was largely completed by his son, the pharaoh Ramesses II.
Ramesses' decoration was at first in raised relief, but he quickly changed to sunk relief and then converted his raised relief decoration in the southern part of the hall, along with the few reliefs of Seti there, to sunk relief.
He left Seti I's reliefs in the north wing as raised relief.
Ramesses also changed Seti's names to his own (usurped them), along the main east–west axis of the Hall and along the northern part of the north–south processional route while, however, respecting most of his father's reliefs elsewhere in the hall.
The outside walls depict scenes of battles - Seti I on the north, and Ramesses II on the south.
These scenes may not show actual combat, but could have had a ritual purpose as well.
Adjoining the southern wall of Ramesses II is another wall that contains the text of the peace treaty he signed with the Hittites in the year 21 of his reign.
And that's about it.....", Teddy concluded.
Now the Hypostyle, although it no longer had a roof, was cool and shady, and each column had a broad base, which made a reasonably comfortable seat.
And so, in preparation for the long walk back to the limos, the boys decide to take a rest, and slake their thirst.
And all was quiet and calm......
They had only been resting for about five minutes when Ethan noticed that Glen, who had been sitting quietly, seemingly just thinking....had slipped over onto his side, and was then lying with his head on the sandy ground beside the base of the column.
"Zac !....I think Glen has fainted....!," Ethan said, but not too loud in order not to cause any panic.
Zac instantly looked over - got to his feet, with a bottle of water in his hand, and strode over to Glen's prostrate body.
At the same time Jim, Josh, and Max looked over...... and Jim instantly got up and went to where Zac was helping Glen.
"It'll be OK.....I hope...probably just a little dehydrated...give him some water, Zac, but don't make him sit up unless he wants to.", Jim said, taking control of the situation.
When they got to Glen he was apparently already 'coming round'.
"Don't panic, guys....just got a bit dizzy...", Glen said, obviously not wanting anyone to make a fuss.
While Zac got Glen to take some sips of water, Jim took Glen's pulse.
"How long was I out for ?", Glen asked.
"Oh, just a few moments as far as I could tell...", Zac replied.
"OK...well just sit quietly, and later, when you're sure you are feeling up to it, we'll head back to where the limos are parked - but slowly.", Jim said.
Jim decided to wait - but not too long.
He really wanted to get Glen back into the air-conditioning of the limousine - where he felt that Glen would be better able to recover, and also he felt that they were in a vulnerable position, and things would be safer back at the Winter Palace.
Glen seemed to recover quite quickly, however, but what really worried Jim was the fact that as they slowly made their way back to the car-park, Glen repeatedly insisted that he had been unconscious for some considerable time - although Ethan said that Glen had been in his field of view all the time, and only seemed to have been unconscious for a matter of minutes.
Ethan, of course, had been anticipating a further ride in a calèche, but Jim felt he had enough on his hands without worrying about Ethan and Teddy making problems for a calèche driver.
Soon, Jim was relieved to see the beautifully illuminated Winter Palace appear, silhouetted against the darkening pink of the early evening sky.
They left the limousines at the front of the hotel, and climbed the luxuriously carpeted steps to the main entrance, where the hotel manager, who had obviously been warned of their arrival, was waiting to greet them.
They were not only met by the hotel manager, however, but also by Faunus, who had recently arrived back at the hotel after his day on the West Bank.
So, on entering the hotel, instead of going to their rooms, they went to the hotel bar for a chat, and some refreshing 'shai'.
"You know this was the very bar where Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon came, after their long days of digging on the West Bank, in order to discuss their progress.", Teddy explained.
"Well, if you ask me,.. I don't think Lord Carnarvon would have been doing much digging.", Zac suggested.
"No... probably the local men from the nearby villages...", Josh added.
"And you think this furniture would be the same as was here in their time ?", Ethan asked, wide-eyed, and thinking that things were getting a bit 'spooky'.
"Quite possibly...", Jim replied, as Faunus pulled out his wallet, and produced what seemed to be an old photograph - presumably removed from an album as the photo-corners were still attached.
"There they are...", Faunus said, showing Ethan the photo.
"And where did you get that ?", Teddy asked.
"Well, you can get copies from here.....book shops, you know..", Faunus replied casually.
"So, they still sell these kinds of photos ?", Ethan innocently asked
"Yes, I'm sure....but I got this photo in London, a long time ago.", Faunus replied.
"Please don't tell me when...", Ethan said, knowing the answer, but not wanting to hear it.
"So when are you going to look for the cave ?", Glen asked, interrupting the slightly scary reminiscences about Carnarvon and Carter."
Jim looked to Faunus.....
"What cave ?", Jim asked Glen.
"The cave on the West Bank, of course...", Glen replied.
"What do you know about a cave on the West Bank ?",Ethan asked, who was getting very confused, as he couldn't see what Glen's question had to do with Carnarvon and Carter, and the bar in the Winter Palace.
"It's what he saw at the Karnak Temple Complex...", Teddy said, as if it was obvious.
"What !... and you said nothing ?", Jim said to Teddy, sounding somewhat exasperated.
"Well, nobody asked me....", Teddy said innocently.
"Well....we're asking now...", Zac said.
"Don't, Zac, you're frightening Teddy.", Faunus said, as he called over one of the waiters, and ordered everyone more glasses of 'shai'.
Teddy tried to compose himself, and explain.
"It happened when Glen 'passed out' in the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.", Teddy said quietly.
Faunus continued the explanation..."What Glen saw was a series of images of a cave that is somewhere on the West Bank.
It's a cave where I think there will probably be a further 'meeting' - but we need to find out more about this - but unfortunately Glen can't help us.", Faunus said, giving Teddy a gentle stroke.
"Well, that's all very well, but I would imagine that the West Bank is riddled with caves - what with all those 'tomb-thingys' - so how do we find the cave ? - even if we really want to.... ", Ethan asked.
"I'm not sure we want to see anymore of those 'pesky-alien-guys'...", Ethan continued, as he twiddled Teddy's ears.
At that moment, Faunus' cell-phone rang.
Faunus excused himself, and went out into the corridor to take the call privately.
Ethan looked to Jim, puzzled - wondering who could be calling - perhaps a call from L.A. or Vegas ?
Everyone in the group was then looking to Faunus expectantly...
"It's Ismail...
It seems that the Sheikh is in Qurnah, and will see me - so I will go - with Ethan and Teddy - to the West Bank..."
"Great... why us..? ", Ethan said, sounding annoyed.
"It's me he wants - but then where I go you have to come - so too bad, Ethan...", Teddy said boastfully.
"True...", Ethan said ruefully.
So reluctantly Ethan left his seat in the bar area, and carrying Teddy, followed Faunus, who was busy 'phoning Mahmoud in Medinet Habu.
It then only took a matter of minutes for Faunus, Ethan and Teddy to make their way along a corridor, and then to the main reception hall (lobby), and to the main entrance.
Quickly navigating the carpeted steps, they then crossed the road, and found themselves on the Corniche, where they stood, dazzled by the rapidly setting sun, as they scanned the river for Mahmoud's felucca.
"Wowy !... that's quite something !", Ethan said to Teddy, as they stood waiting for their felucca to arrive.
For some time they scanned the river - looking for the familiar triangular sail.
Then - to their surprise they heard the distant sound of a motor.
Eventually a small motorboat came into view - which was not what they were expecting...
but then the young man on board waved...
It was Mahmoud.
Apparently he either also owned a motor boat, or had borrowed one.
Regardless, it would be faster and probably safer than a felucca - and at least they had transport across the river.
"Yours - or borrowed ?", Faunus asked, as they climbed aboard.
"Mine, Ali.....it's much safer at night...", Mahmoud replied.
The breeze was cool and fresh, and before they reached the West Bank the sun had disappeared below the horizon.
"And who are your friends, Ali ?", Mahmoud asked, in that direct manner that so many Westerners find very unnerving, but which does not bother people like Faunus (are there any other people like Faunus ?) - or people such as Ethan - who come from 'another time' and 'another place', where 'manners' are very different - and much closer to the manners of people in the East.
"Oh, Ethan is a very old friend - and Teddy.....well Teddy is just Teddy."
And Mahmoud just accepted Faunus' very strange answer.
"So, Ali, where do you want to go ?", Mahmoud asked, as he shook hands with Ethan, and twiddled one of Teddy's ears.
"We go to see the Sheikh...", Faunus said.
"Ah - important business...", Mahmoud commented, as he started dialing on his cell-phone to call Hassan, (the guy with the taxi).
Of course, with a motorboat, the trip across the Nile took hardly any time at all.
The West Bank is a strange place by day - but at night it is even more strange.
Of course, after sunset, most of the tourists have returned to their hotels on the East Bank, although there are also a few hotels on the West Bank - but nothing like the Winter Palace.
"Zac !....I think Glen has fainted....!," Ethan said, but not too loud in order not to cause any panic.
Zac instantly looked over - got to his feet, with a bottle of water in his hand, and strode over to Glen's prostrate body.
At the same time Jim, Josh, and Max looked over...... and Jim instantly got up and went to where Zac was helping Glen.
"It'll be OK.....I hope...probably just a little dehydrated...give him some water, Zac, but don't make him sit up unless he wants to.", Jim said, taking control of the situation.
When they got to Glen he was apparently already 'coming round'.
"Don't panic, guys....just got a bit dizzy...", Glen said, obviously not wanting anyone to make a fuss.
While Zac got Glen to take some sips of water, Jim took Glen's pulse.
"How long was I out for ?", Glen asked.
"Oh, just a few moments as far as I could tell...", Zac replied.
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| Karnak Temple Car-Park - Luxor - Egypt |
Jim decided to wait - but not too long.
He really wanted to get Glen back into the air-conditioning of the limousine - where he felt that Glen would be better able to recover, and also he felt that they were in a vulnerable position, and things would be safer back at the Winter Palace.
Glen seemed to recover quite quickly, however, but what really worried Jim was the fact that as they slowly made their way back to the car-park, Glen repeatedly insisted that he had been unconscious for some considerable time - although Ethan said that Glen had been in his field of view all the time, and only seemed to have been unconscious for a matter of minutes.
Ethan, of course, had been anticipating a further ride in a calèche, but Jim felt he had enough on his hands without worrying about Ethan and Teddy making problems for a calèche driver.
 |
| Winter Palace at Sunset - Luxor - Egypt |
They left the limousines at the front of the hotel, and climbed the luxuriously carpeted steps to the main entrance, where the hotel manager, who had obviously been warned of their arrival, was waiting to greet them.
They were not only met by the hotel manager, however, but also by Faunus, who had recently arrived back at the hotel after his day on the West Bank.
So, on entering the hotel, instead of going to their rooms, they went to the hotel bar for a chat, and some refreshing 'shai'.
"You know this was the very bar where Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon came, after their long days of digging on the West Bank, in order to discuss their progress.", Teddy explained.
 |
| Winter Palace - Bar - Luxor |
"No... probably the local men from the nearby villages...", Josh added.
"And you think this furniture would be the same as was here in their time ?", Ethan asked, wide-eyed, and thinking that things were getting a bit 'spooky'.
 |
| Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter - West Bank - Luxor |
"There they are...", Faunus said, showing Ethan the photo.
"And where did you get that ?", Teddy asked.
"Well, you can get copies from here.....book shops, you know..", Faunus replied casually.
"So, they still sell these kinds of photos ?", Ethan innocently asked
"Yes, I'm sure....but I got this photo in London, a long time ago.", Faunus replied.
"Please don't tell me when...", Ethan said, knowing the answer, but not wanting to hear it.
"So when are you going to look for the cave ?", Glen asked, interrupting the slightly scary reminiscences about Carnarvon and Carter."
Jim looked to Faunus.....
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| Karnak Temple Complex - Luxor - East Bank - Egypt |
"The cave on the West Bank, of course...", Glen replied.
"What do you know about a cave on the West Bank ?",Ethan asked, who was getting very confused, as he couldn't see what Glen's question had to do with Carnarvon and Carter, and the bar in the Winter Palace.
"It's what he saw at the Karnak Temple Complex...", Teddy said, as if it was obvious.
"What !... and you said nothing ?", Jim said to Teddy, sounding somewhat exasperated.
"Well, nobody asked me....", Teddy said innocently.
"Well....we're asking now...", Zac said.
"Don't, Zac, you're frightening Teddy.", Faunus said, as he called over one of the waiters, and ordered everyone more glasses of 'shai'.
Teddy tried to compose himself, and explain.
"It happened when Glen 'passed out' in the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak.", Teddy said quietly.
Faunus continued the explanation..."What Glen saw was a series of images of a cave that is somewhere on the West Bank.
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| West Bank Cave - Luxor - Egypt |
"Well, that's all very well, but I would imagine that the West Bank is riddled with caves - what with all those 'tomb-thingys' - so how do we find the cave ? - even if we really want to.... ", Ethan asked.
"I'm not sure we want to see anymore of those 'pesky-alien-guys'...", Ethan continued, as he twiddled Teddy's ears.
At that moment, Faunus' cell-phone rang.
Faunus excused himself, and went out into the corridor to take the call privately.
Ethan looked to Jim, puzzled - wondering who could be calling - perhaps a call from L.A. or Vegas ?
Everyone in the group was then looking to Faunus expectantly...
"It's Ismail...
It seems that the Sheikh is in Qurnah, and will see me - so I will go - with Ethan and Teddy - to the West Bank..."
"Great... why us..? ", Ethan said, sounding annoyed.
"It's me he wants - but then where I go you have to come - so too bad, Ethan...", Teddy said boastfully.
 |
| Winter Palace - Entrance |
 |
| Corridor - Winter Palace |
So reluctantly Ethan left his seat in the bar area, and carrying Teddy, followed Faunus, who was busy 'phoning Mahmoud in Medinet Habu.
It then only took a matter of minutes for Faunus, Ethan and Teddy to make their way along a corridor, and then to the main reception hall (lobby), and to the main entrance.
Quickly navigating the carpeted steps, they then crossed the road, and found themselves on the Corniche, where they stood, dazzled by the rapidly setting sun, as they scanned the river for Mahmoud's felucca.
"Wowy !... that's quite something !", Ethan said to Teddy, as they stood waiting for their felucca to arrive.
For some time they scanned the river - looking for the familiar triangular sail.
Then - to their surprise they heard the distant sound of a motor.
 |
| Sunset over the Nile - Luxor - Egypt |
but then the young man on board waved...
It was Mahmoud.
Apparently he either also owned a motor boat, or had borrowed one.
Regardless, it would be faster and probably safer than a felucca - and at least they had transport across the river.
"Yours - or borrowed ?", Faunus asked, as they climbed aboard.
"Mine, Ali.....it's much safer at night...", Mahmoud replied.
The breeze was cool and fresh, and before they reached the West Bank the sun had disappeared below the horizon.
"And who are your friends, Ali ?", Mahmoud asked, in that direct manner that so many Westerners find very unnerving, but which does not bother people like Faunus (are there any other people like Faunus ?) - or people such as Ethan - who come from 'another time' and 'another place', where 'manners' are very different - and much closer to the manners of people in the East.
 |
| Mahmoud's Motorboat - Nile - Luxor - Egypt |
And Mahmoud just accepted Faunus' very strange answer.
"So, Ali, where do you want to go ?", Mahmoud asked, as he shook hands with Ethan, and twiddled one of Teddy's ears.
"We go to see the Sheikh...", Faunus said.
"Ah - important business...", Mahmoud commented, as he started dialing on his cell-phone to call Hassan, (the guy with the taxi).
Of course, with a motorboat, the trip across the Nile took hardly any time at all.
The West Bank is a strange place by day - but at night it is even more strange.
Of course, after sunset, most of the tourists have returned to their hotels on the East Bank, although there are also a few hotels on the West Bank - but nothing like the Winter Palace.
 |
| Luxor West Bank - Night |
In comparison to the East bank, the West Bank is rather neglected by the Egyptian authorities.
Electricity 'outages', (UK 'power cuts'), are relatively common - while on the East Bank they are practically unknown.
Transport is difficult to find, and many areas are completely deserted.
There is also the problem of small packs of 'feral dogs' - which are to be avoided - and the roads and the pavements are poorly maintained, or in many cases non-existent.
Although Ethan and Teddy were rather nervous as they negotiated their way along barely lit gang-planks to the apparent safety of dry land, there was no real problem, as Mahmoud stayed with them, and soon Hassan arrived with his rather battered blue and white taxi.
It wasn't a long ride from the Nile to Qurnah, and they were soon parked outside the local mosque where they were to meet the sheikh.
Neither Mahmoud or Hassan wanted to join Faunus, Ethan or Teddy into the mosque, but simply arranged for Faunus to 'phone when they wanted to use Hassan's taxi again.
Presumably the two 'boys' would go off to a nearby 'coffee-shop' and play some noisy games of dominoes.
Ethan - with Teddy, climbed the carpeted steps to the old mosque situated near the main road in the village of Qurnah. |
| Old Village of Qurnah- West Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
There were a few people sitting on benches, relaxing, talking quietly and drinking 'shai'.
To Ethan it looked and felt more like a 'coffee shop' or a 'social club', rather than a place of worship - the only difference being that the atmosphere was very quiet and reserved.
Within moments a young man approached Ethan and asked him, in slightly awkward English, if he had come to see the Sheikh.
Faunus immediately interrupted and explained, in fluent Ṣa'īdi Arabic, that his name was Ali, and had arranged to meet the Sheikh - and he then asked for the 'bathroom'.
Ethan thought that was odd - why ? - because he had never known Faunus make such a request before.
So Faunus disappeared, and Ethan began to feel very conspicuous in his shirt and trousers, as everyone else was in 'traditional' Ṣa'īdi clothes, and of course he was clutching a teddy-bear
Teddy, wisely said nothing, and kept very still.
When Faunus returned from the 'bathroom', Ethan barely recognized Faunus.
The person Ethan saw could well be mistake for one of the local Egyptians.
Somehow he had managed to discard his Western clothes, and was wearing a dazzling white جلابية - galabeya.
With his dark hair, and heavily suntanned skin no one would have expected that he was not an Egyptian - or an Arab.
Oddly, none of the people in the mosque seemed to notice any change.
Ethan was not standing in the 'prayer hall', which was to one side, but was waiting in a area, with a colonnade opening onto the nearby road, which seemed to be used as a reception hall - hence the sitting around, 'tea drinking' and quiet chatter.
Suddenly doors opened at the end of the hall, and a number of young men entered, who appeared to be escorting an older figure, dressed in a white جلابية - gallabiyah, almost identical to that which Faunus was wearing.
"That's the sheikh...", Faunus said to Ethan.
"Oh... friendly looking old guy...",Ethan said.
In the same way that Ethan was carrying Teddy, the Sheikh was carrying a cat.
"What's the cat business - are they going to sacrifice it ?", Ethan whispered.
"No... don't be silly, Ethan.
Mohammed - the prophet, was very fond of cats, so cats are usually welcomed in mosques.", Faunus replied, equally quietly.
"Well I hope the cats don't have a problem with Teddy...", Ethan added.
Now you just be very respectful to this gentleman - and remember, he won't understand your strange - to him - kind of humour, so try to be serious.", Faunus said.
"Of course... and I think he looks sweet...", Ethan said.
"Yes... well don't tell him that - just try to be grown up...", Faunus added.
"OK...", Ethan replied, just on the verge of sulking.
The older man approached...
"Salaam-Alaikum !"... ,the older gentleman said in a soft, gentle voice, putting his cat onto a nearby bench, and stretching out his hand to Faunus.
Faunus took the offered hand, and replied "Wa 'alaikum salam !".
Sheikh Ahmed, for that was who the older man was, patted the bench - inviting Faunus to be seated.
And so together they took their places, side by side.
"So you are the young man who calls himself 'Ali'...", the Sheikh said in English - with a strange accent that was tinged, possibly, with French.
Faunus wisely said nothing, but just nodded.
Meanwhile, Ethan plonked himself on a bench opposite to see what would happen, while at the same time letting the Sheikh's cat make friends with Teddy.
"So, Sir.. do you mind talking to me in English...?", Faunus asked.
"Well... 'Ali'... Arabic is easiest for me, but also my French is quite good... (the Sheikh had studied for some years in Paris)", Sheikh Ahmed replied.
"I know, sir... but my friend Ethan here only speaks English, and I think he would feel a bit 'out of things' if we spoke in Arabic or French.", Faunus explained.
"Oh, I see...", Sheikh Ahmed said, leaning forward and shaking hands with Ethan.
"Pleased to meet you... Sheikh, sir...", Ethan said awkwardly, after all Ahmed was the first sheikh he'd ever met.
Meanwhile, Teddy was discovering a great deal about what went on at the mosque as he silently and telepathically communed with the Sheikh's loudly purring cat - although most of the 'conversation' was about variations in brushing techniques.
"It is good that you finally were able to come and see me - although I am rather surprised as to how young you are...", Sheikh Ahmed commented.
"Well, appearances can be deceptive...", Faunus replied.
And as they began their rather awkward conversation, one of the many young men 'dancing in attendance' on the sheikh brought them each a glass of 'shai' on a small 'silver' tray.
"So, Sheikh Ahmed - I have come to ask for your assistance - I need a favour..." Faunus began.
"Strange... I thought that it was you who granted wishes...", Ahmed replied, making a veiled reference to the tale of 'علاء الدين'
"So what about اسماعيل عمرو (Ismail Am'r) - your new friend, he is an accredited guide - and, may I say, a very trustworthy boy.", Sheikh Ahmed suggested.
"I appreciate that, but for this task I need someone special...," Faunus said.
"And why ?...", Sheikh Ahmed asked.
"Well I'm looking for a cave, and this cave is not a tomb... or a natural cave...
It is more - in a sense - a metaphysical cave - almost hallucinatory...", Faunus explained.
"Meta-whaty ?...", Ethan inevitably asked.
Sheikh Ahmed looked at Faunus, and was just about to reply to Ethan... when...
"Oh... it's OK... your cat just told Teddy... so now I know...", Ethan said inexplicably.
"So... sometimes it's there... and sometimes it isn't... Yes, I know the feeling...", Ethan continued.
Ethan sounded confused, and in truth, for much of the time, since Faunus had precipitously transported him from 'another time' and 'another place', Ethan had indeed been confused.
However, since arriving in Egypt, while Ethan was still often confused, when dealing with the Egyptian people, particularly those on the West Bank, he had felt far more 'at home'.
When he had discussed this with Jim, Jim had suggested that it was perhaps because old ways had persisted in the village communities.
While such people had electricity, 'cell-phones', televisions, cars, motorbikes and many other modern conveniences, in many ways their lives had changed little from the time when the Ptolemies - the ancient Greek Pharaohs - had ruled the land - so that may have explained the strange sense of familiarity that some of the 'boys' had felt.
However, the ever increasing influences of the tourists, and the modern media were gradually changing things - and not always for the better.
"There is a young man, however, who may be able to help you.", Sheikh Ahmed said to Faunus, breaking into Ethan's reverie.
"He's a strange boy... and only came here recently.
He's not Egyptian - at least he doesn't look Egyptian.. he has pale skin and fair hair, like young Ethan here - and wears his hair in a strange style.
Usually such a young-man would be bullied by the local boys - but oddly they're all afraid of him.
He seems to have no family, and appears and disappears without any explanation.
He's normally only seen at night - and so he's been given the nickname 'Khonsu' - although what his real name is I don't know.", the Sheikh explained.
"Could be useful....", Ethan said, looking to Faunus.
"I could ask a couple of the young men here to see if they could find him - maybe in the coffee shop.
Otherwise, I could explain the situation to Ismail, and he could contact you when this young man is next spotted.", the Sheikh said, obviously trying to be helpful.
"Well we can see - that is if you don't mind sending someone to look for him.", Faunus said.
And it was no sooner said than done, and some of the young men from the mosque went over to the coffee shop opposite, while others asked around in order to see if anyone had spotted the young man.
Meanwhile, more 'shai' was served, while Sheikh Ahmed questioned Faunus regarding why Faunus was so interested in finding a cave.
Faunus cleverly passed the matter off lightly, saying that one of the group he was with had a strange experience at Karnak, and seem to think that there was some special cave on the West Bank - so Faunus was simply 'checking out' the situation.
Teddy, of course, realized that the Sheikh was not 'fooled', and had quite a good idea of what was really going on.
In a surprisingly short time the young men from the mosque were successful, and the strange boy, with the strange nickname of 'Khonsu' was brought into the mosque.
Interestingly, Sheikh Ahmed's favourite cat stop playing with Teddy, and ran up to the boy,
The very unlikely looking boy was, like Faunus, was wearing a white جلابية - galabeya.
Ethan - and Teddy - were shocked.
"Faunus... I'm sure I've seen that boy before..", Ethan whispered to Faunus.
"Less said the better, Ethan...", Faunus replied quietly.
"And at least the cat likes him...", Faunus added.
"Salaam-Alaikum, effendi !", the boy said nervously.
It was the first time that Sheikh Ahmed had met the boy, and he was understandably intrigued.
The Sheikh thought better than to interrogate the boy, however.
"Young man, this revered gentleman, 'Sheikh Ali', wishes to hire you to be his guide...", Sheikh Ahmed said.
"But effendi, I know nothing about the temples and tombs, and I have no government papers for such a job...", the boy said, sounding alarmed.
"No matter....
You will not be required to give any information about tombs or temples - the effendi only wishes to search for a 'special cave' - I think in the Theban Hills.", Sheikh Ahmed explained, and Faunus nodded.
"And you will have no problems with the authorities, as I can give you official papers for this special search.", the Sheikh continued.
Faunus then approached the young man.
"Perhaps 'Khonsu', if I may call you that, we could meet tomorrow morning at the ferry landing, and we could use a taxi to go on a search ?", Faunus asked.
"I'm sorry, effendi, but we could only make this search after the sun has set...", 'Khonsu' said, without further explanation.
"Well, if that is your way, but I would have thought it would be easier to search in daylight...", Faunus said.
"For most things, yes... but for this very special thing, the darkness of the night is best...", 'Khonsu' replied mysteriously.
"OK... so where do you want to meet ?", Faunus asked.
"Here, outside the mosque... just look for 'علياء' - the black cat, and I'll be there.", 'Khonsu' answered.
"And the time ?", Faunus asked.
"Effendi... that is obvious... sunset."
Ethan was not standing in the 'prayer hall', which was to one side, but was waiting in a area, with a colonnade opening onto the nearby road, which seemed to be used as a reception hall - hence the sitting around, 'tea drinking' and quiet chatter.
Suddenly doors opened at the end of the hall, and a number of young men entered, who appeared to be escorting an older figure, dressed in a white جلابية - gallabiyah, almost identical to that which Faunus was wearing.
"That's the sheikh...", Faunus said to Ethan.
"Oh... friendly looking old guy...",Ethan said.
In the same way that Ethan was carrying Teddy, the Sheikh was carrying a cat.
"What's the cat business - are they going to sacrifice it ?", Ethan whispered.
"No... don't be silly, Ethan.
Mohammed - the prophet, was very fond of cats, so cats are usually welcomed in mosques.", Faunus replied, equally quietly.
 |
| Cat in a Mosque |
The domestic cat is a revered animal in Islam. Admired for its cleanliness, as well as for being loved by the Islamic prophet Muhammad, the cat is considered the quintessential pet by Muslims. According to Islamic tradition, معزة - Muezza was Muhammad's favourite cat"I'm sure that the cats will like Teddy...
Now you just be very respectful to this gentleman - and remember, he won't understand your strange - to him - kind of humour, so try to be serious.", Faunus said.
"Of course... and I think he looks sweet...", Ethan said.
"Yes... well don't tell him that - just try to be grown up...", Faunus added.
"OK...", Ethan replied, just on the verge of sulking.
The older man approached...
"Salaam-Alaikum !"... ,the older gentleman said in a soft, gentle voice, putting his cat onto a nearby bench, and stretching out his hand to Faunus.
Faunus took the offered hand, and replied "Wa 'alaikum salam !".
Sheikh Ahmed, for that was who the older man was, patted the bench - inviting Faunus to be seated.
And so together they took their places, side by side.
"So you are the young man who calls himself 'Ali'...", the Sheikh said in English - with a strange accent that was tinged, possibly, with French.
Faunus wisely said nothing, but just nodded.
 |
| Faunus meets the Sheikh Ahmed - Qurnah - West Bank - Luxor |
"So, Sir.. do you mind talking to me in English...?", Faunus asked.
"Well... 'Ali'... Arabic is easiest for me, but also my French is quite good... (the Sheikh had studied for some years in Paris)", Sheikh Ahmed replied.
"I know, sir... but my friend Ethan here only speaks English, and I think he would feel a bit 'out of things' if we spoke in Arabic or French.", Faunus explained.
"Oh, I see...", Sheikh Ahmed said, leaning forward and shaking hands with Ethan.
"Pleased to meet you... Sheikh, sir...", Ethan said awkwardly, after all Ahmed was the first sheikh he'd ever met.
Meanwhile, Teddy was discovering a great deal about what went on at the mosque as he silently and telepathically communed with the Sheikh's loudly purring cat - although most of the 'conversation' was about variations in brushing techniques.
"It is good that you finally were able to come and see me - although I am rather surprised as to how young you are...", Sheikh Ahmed commented.
"Well, appearances can be deceptive...", Faunus replied.
And as they began their rather awkward conversation, one of the many young men 'dancing in attendance' on the sheikh brought them each a glass of 'shai' on a small 'silver' tray.
"So, Sheikh Ahmed - I have come to ask for your assistance - I need a favour..." Faunus began.
 |
| علاء الدين - 'Ala a din' |
علاء الدين - the story of 'Ala a din' is a folk tale of Middle Eastern origin. It is one of the tales in ألف ليلة وليلة - 'The Book of One Thousand and One Nights' (The Arabian Nights), and one of the best known. The tale originated with a Syrian Maronite storyteller known as Hanna Diyab."Well here, I am a 'stranger in a strange land' - and I need a guide.", Faunus continued.
"So what about اسماعيل عمرو (Ismail Am'r) - your new friend, he is an accredited guide - and, may I say, a very trustworthy boy.", Sheikh Ahmed suggested.
"I appreciate that, but for this task I need someone special...," Faunus said.
"And why ?...", Sheikh Ahmed asked.
"Well I'm looking for a cave, and this cave is not a tomb... or a natural cave...
It is more - in a sense - a metaphysical cave - almost hallucinatory...", Faunus explained.
 |
| Caves on the West Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
Sheikh Ahmed looked at Faunus, and was just about to reply to Ethan... when...
"Oh... it's OK... your cat just told Teddy... so now I know...", Ethan said inexplicably.
"So... sometimes it's there... and sometimes it isn't... Yes, I know the feeling...", Ethan continued.
Ethan sounded confused, and in truth, for much of the time, since Faunus had precipitously transported him from 'another time' and 'another place', Ethan had indeed been confused.
However, since arriving in Egypt, while Ethan was still often confused, when dealing with the Egyptian people, particularly those on the West Bank, he had felt far more 'at home'.
When he had discussed this with Jim, Jim had suggested that it was perhaps because old ways had persisted in the village communities.
While such people had electricity, 'cell-phones', televisions, cars, motorbikes and many other modern conveniences, in many ways their lives had changed little from the time when the Ptolemies - the ancient Greek Pharaohs - had ruled the land - so that may have explained the strange sense of familiarity that some of the 'boys' had felt.
However, the ever increasing influences of the tourists, and the modern media were gradually changing things - and not always for the better.
"He's a strange boy... and only came here recently.
He's not Egyptian - at least he doesn't look Egyptian.. he has pale skin and fair hair, like young Ethan here - and wears his hair in a strange style.
Usually such a young-man would be bullied by the local boys - but oddly they're all afraid of him.
He seems to have no family, and appears and disappears without any explanation.
He's normally only seen at night - and so he's been given the nickname 'Khonsu' - although what his real name is I don't know.", the Sheikh explained.
Khonsu' was an ancient Egyptian 'neter' who bore the title Pathfinder', he was thought to watch over those who travel at night
"I could ask a couple of the young men here to see if they could find him - maybe in the coffee shop.
Otherwise, I could explain the situation to Ismail, and he could contact you when this young man is next spotted.", the Sheikh said, obviously trying to be helpful.
"Well we can see - that is if you don't mind sending someone to look for him.", Faunus said.
And it was no sooner said than done, and some of the young men from the mosque went over to the coffee shop opposite, while others asked around in order to see if anyone had spotted the young man.
Meanwhile, more 'shai' was served, while Sheikh Ahmed questioned Faunus regarding why Faunus was so interested in finding a cave.
Faunus cleverly passed the matter off lightly, saying that one of the group he was with had a strange experience at Karnak, and seem to think that there was some special cave on the West Bank - so Faunus was simply 'checking out' the situation.
Teddy, of course, realized that the Sheikh was not 'fooled', and had quite a good idea of what was really going on.
In a surprisingly short time the young men from the mosque were successful, and the strange boy, with the strange nickname of 'Khonsu' was brought into the mosque.
Interestingly, Sheikh Ahmed's favourite cat stop playing with Teddy, and ran up to the boy,
 |
| 'Khonsu' - the Guide |
"Faunus... I'm sure I've seen that boy before..", Ethan whispered to Faunus.
"Less said the better, Ethan...", Faunus replied quietly.
"And at least the cat likes him...", Faunus added.
"Salaam-Alaikum, effendi !", the boy said nervously.
It was the first time that Sheikh Ahmed had met the boy, and he was understandably intrigued.
The Sheikh thought better than to interrogate the boy, however.
"Young man, this revered gentleman, 'Sheikh Ali', wishes to hire you to be his guide...", Sheikh Ahmed said.
"But effendi, I know nothing about the temples and tombs, and I have no government papers for such a job...", the boy said, sounding alarmed.
"No matter....
You will not be required to give any information about tombs or temples - the effendi only wishes to search for a 'special cave' - I think in the Theban Hills.", Sheikh Ahmed explained, and Faunus nodded.
"And you will have no problems with the authorities, as I can give you official papers for this special search.", the Sheikh continued.
Faunus then approached the young man.
"Perhaps 'Khonsu', if I may call you that, we could meet tomorrow morning at the ferry landing, and we could use a taxi to go on a search ?", Faunus asked.
"I'm sorry, effendi, but we could only make this search after the sun has set...", 'Khonsu' said, without further explanation.
"Well, if that is your way, but I would have thought it would be easier to search in daylight...", Faunus said.
"For most things, yes... but for this very special thing, the darkness of the night is best...", 'Khonsu' replied mysteriously.
"OK... so where do you want to meet ?", Faunus asked.
"Here, outside the mosque... just look for 'علياء' - the black cat, and I'll be there.", 'Khonsu' answered.
"And the time ?", Faunus asked.
"Effendi... that is obvious... sunset."
After thanking the Sheikh, and leaving the mosque, Faunus then took Ethan, with Teddy, over to the 'coffee shop' opposite, to pick up Mahmoud and Hassan.
It was then a simple matter of driving back to where Mahmoud had left his boat, paying off Hassan, and getting Mahmoud to take them back to the East Bank Corniche, and the Winter Palace.
Having 'paid off' Mahmoud, Faunus, along with Ethan and Teddy, then ascended the carpeted steps to the main entrance of the Winter Palace.
Somewhere, as they ascended the steps, Faunus dropped back, and promptly disappeared.
Ethan, of course was not particularly surprised.
Faunus was often in the habit of mysteriously disappearing when it suited him.
The first question that the 'boys' asked was - 'Where is Faunus ?' - to which Ethan gave the honest answer that he didn't know
The next question was - "Did you meet the Sheikh ?', to which Ethan could give the equally honest, but very short and simple answer - 'Yes'.
They then, at Jim's suggestion, all went to the bar hopefully hear the full story.
By the time Ethan and Teddy had got back to the hotel Glen had fully recovered, and he was the first to ask about the Sheikh.
Ethan decided that he should be careful with regard to what he said.
"Well, he was , I'd say, middle-aged, with a moustache, but very nice and polite, but I think very serious.
Faunus warned me not to joke with him - so I said nothing - just to be safe.
He spoke mainly in Arabic to Faunus - but, according to Teddy, with a bit of a strange accent - not Ṣa'īdi like most of the people here.
He also spoke a little in English and some French - so he seemed to be very well educated.
Everybody was very respectful to him, like he was some sort of a 'king', or something.
"So what about what Glen saw when he fainted when we were at Karnak - did he say anything about that ?", Josh asked.
"I don't know really - I don't speak Arabic...", Ethan replied, being very honest.
At that point Teddy interrupted - Teddy did speak and understand Arabic - which was unusual, to say the least, for a teddy-bear - but then, as you should know by now, 'Teddy' is no ordinary teddy-bear.
"Yes...Faunus did mention the 'cave' that Glen saw.
It seemed that it was not a 'natural cave', but something strange.
The Sheikh seemed to understand, and said there was a boy on the West Bank who might be able to find the cave." Teddy explained.
It was then that Jim became particularly interested.
"Go on, Teddy... what about this boy ?", Jim asked.
"Well that's where it gets really 'creepy'....", Ethan said, taking over from Teddy.
"It seems that this boy was easily found, as he was 'hanging about' near the mosque.
He was an odd looking boy, though....
Very good looking, but with one very long lock of hair which was braided.
And he didn't look like an Egyptian.
He was fair-haired, with blue eyes and very pale skin, although he was wearing one of those 'galabeya-thingys'.....
And he looked, at least to me,...very familiar !", Ethan concluded dramatically.
"Yes, and the other strange thing was the boy's name.
The Sheikh said he didn't know the boy's real name, but only his 'nickname' that he had been given in the villages.", Teddy added.
"And what name was that, Teddy ?", Jim asked becoming intrigued.
"Khonsu..., which, as you may remember from our visit to Karnak today, was the name of the son of Amon and Mut - who was known to the ancient Egyptians as the 'Pathfinder', and was thought to watch over those who travel at night....but it's a title similar to that of Upuaut - 'the Opener of the Ways'....", Teddy explained.
"And you said he looked familiar, Ethan....so where do you think you had seen him before ?", Jim asked.
"Well I know that you may think this sounds stupid, but I think it was when we met Upuaut....
He looked to me like Kha-met - Upuaut's sort of 'sidekick-thingy'.", Ethan said.
"So, perhaps we need to be a bit careful...", Zac said.
"Yes, and where's Faunus ?", Josh asked.
"He might be able to help us a bit more with this mystery." Max said.
"Don't worry, 'boys', he's probably off to do some more investigating.", Teddy said, apparently innocently, although Teddy well knew what Faunus was doing.
 |
| Nile Crossing at Night - Luxor |
Having 'paid off' Mahmoud, Faunus, along with Ethan and Teddy, then ascended the carpeted steps to the main entrance of the Winter Palace.
Somewhere, as they ascended the steps, Faunus dropped back, and promptly disappeared.
Ethan, of course was not particularly surprised.
Faunus was often in the habit of mysteriously disappearing when it suited him.
The first question that the 'boys' asked was - 'Where is Faunus ?' - to which Ethan gave the honest answer that he didn't know
The next question was - "Did you meet the Sheikh ?', to which Ethan could give the equally honest, but very short and simple answer - 'Yes'.
 |
| The Bar - Winter Palace - Luxor |
By the time Ethan and Teddy had got back to the hotel Glen had fully recovered, and he was the first to ask about the Sheikh.
Ethan decided that he should be careful with regard to what he said.
"Well, he was , I'd say, middle-aged, with a moustache, but very nice and polite, but I think very serious.
Faunus warned me not to joke with him - so I said nothing - just to be safe.
He spoke mainly in Arabic to Faunus - but, according to Teddy, with a bit of a strange accent - not Ṣa'īdi like most of the people here.
He also spoke a little in English and some French - so he seemed to be very well educated.
Everybody was very respectful to him, like he was some sort of a 'king', or something.
"So what about what Glen saw when he fainted when we were at Karnak - did he say anything about that ?", Josh asked.
"I don't know really - I don't speak Arabic...", Ethan replied, being very honest.
At that point Teddy interrupted - Teddy did speak and understand Arabic - which was unusual, to say the least, for a teddy-bear - but then, as you should know by now, 'Teddy' is no ordinary teddy-bear.
"Yes...Faunus did mention the 'cave' that Glen saw.
It seemed that it was not a 'natural cave', but something strange.
The Sheikh seemed to understand, and said there was a boy on the West Bank who might be able to find the cave." Teddy explained.
It was then that Jim became particularly interested.
 |
| 'Khonsu' - the Guide |
"Well that's where it gets really 'creepy'....", Ethan said, taking over from Teddy.
"It seems that this boy was easily found, as he was 'hanging about' near the mosque.
He was an odd looking boy, though....
Very good looking, but with one very long lock of hair which was braided.
And he didn't look like an Egyptian.
He was fair-haired, with blue eyes and very pale skin, although he was wearing one of those 'galabeya-thingys'.....
And he looked, at least to me,...very familiar !", Ethan concluded dramatically.
 |
| Khonsu - the 'Pathfinder' |
The Sheikh said he didn't know the boy's real name, but only his 'nickname' that he had been given in the villages.", Teddy added.
"And what name was that, Teddy ?", Jim asked becoming intrigued.
"Khonsu..., which, as you may remember from our visit to Karnak today, was the name of the son of Amon and Mut - who was known to the ancient Egyptians as the 'Pathfinder', and was thought to watch over those who travel at night....but it's a title similar to that of Upuaut - 'the Opener of the Ways'....", Teddy explained.
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"Well I know that you may think this sounds stupid, but I think it was when we met Upuaut....
He looked to me like Kha-met - Upuaut's sort of 'sidekick-thingy'.", Ethan said.
"So, perhaps we need to be a bit careful...", Zac said.
"Yes, and where's Faunus ?", Josh asked.
"He might be able to help us a bit more with this mystery." Max said.
"Don't worry, 'boys', he's probably off to do some more investigating.", Teddy said, apparently innocently, although Teddy well knew what Faunus was doing.
"Well, nothing we can do until tomorrow, so I suggest we have a good dinner, and the relax before we have an early night.", Jim said.
It was another one of those mornings in Luxor....
Not like in Greece, so long ago, and in a different world, where it could be cloudy or sunny, raining or dry - but always fresh and tingling with anticipation - as the world then seemed young.
And not like the mornings in the American Southwest - almost always bright and sunny, but dry and dusty.
In Luxor almost everyday was bright, sunny and cloudless - with the distinctive scent of the slow flowing Nile.
Apparently, there was nothing to do until the evening because of 'Khonsu' - or was it 'Kha-met's' - insistence on searching at night - which, to say the least, seemed a very strange way to try to find a hidden feature in the landscape.
Teddy, however, was keen to see more of what remained of 'ancient Egypt', and so he took Jim, and of course Ethan, back to Karnak.
Ethan, as Jim expected, insisted on making the relatively short journey from the Winter Palace to the Temple Complex at Karnak by Caleche, and he took a quantity of sugar lumps to feed the, what he called 'horsey', which remained a continuing obsession.
Glen, not surprisingly was not very interested in returning to Karnak, after what had happened on the previous day, and decide to spend his time with Max, lounging around the magnificent pool of the Winter Palace.
Zac and Josh went off to explore the byways of Luxor, and look at the shops, and perhaps even do some shopping.
Once again they all took their breakfast 'al fresco' in the beautiful gardens of the Winter Palace.
There was still some puzzled conversation about the possible identity of the boy Khonsu, and why he wanted to make his search at night, but no one had any convincing solution to the puzzle.
Teddy might have had some insights, but he was obviously not prepared to share them.
So at the conclusion of breakfast, they all went their separate ways, arranging to meet later in the day.
"So why do you want to go to Karnak, Teddy ?", Jim asked, as they made their way to the main entrance of the Winter Palace.
"Well, our first visit was cut short, and I would like to update my database with information about the areas of the temple that we missed....", Teddy explained.
Zac and Josh accompanied them to the Corniche, and then Jim hailed a passing Caleche.
"Is this caleche OK for you, Ethan ?", Jim asked.
"Very nice, Jim....
A handsome young driver, and a very pretty 'horsey'...", Ethan said.
And Ethan was right.
The driver was wearing a sparkling, pale blue, galabeya, and the horse was an equally handsome beast.
"So, Ethan, shall we take his cell-phone number, and make him our regular driver....", Jim asked.
"Yes Jim...a very good idea.
That one we had yesterday was smelly and dirty, but this is a fine looking horsey and driver...", Ethan said approvingly.
And Teddy agreed.
So Ethan took Omar's 'phone number - for Omar was his name - and he was obviously a very happy young man, having 'caught' some rich tourists, who might well be staying in Luxor for some time.
While they were making their way to Karnak, Jim phoned one of his chauffeurs in order to have one of the limos stationed in the car-park at the Karnak Temple Complex - just in case there were any problems, or they were needed back at the Winter palace in a hurry.
Apparently, there was nothing to do until the evening because of 'Khonsu' - or was it 'Kha-met's' - insistence on searching at night - which, to say the least, seemed a very strange way to try to find a hidden feature in the landscape.
Teddy, however, was keen to see more of what remained of 'ancient Egypt', and so he took Jim, and of course Ethan, back to Karnak.
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| Max - Winter palace Pool - Luxor - Egypt |
Glen, not surprisingly was not very interested in returning to Karnak, after what had happened on the previous day, and decide to spend his time with Max, lounging around the magnificent pool of the Winter Palace.
Zac and Josh went off to explore the byways of Luxor, and look at the shops, and perhaps even do some shopping.
Once again they all took their breakfast 'al fresco' in the beautiful gardens of the Winter Palace.
There was still some puzzled conversation about the possible identity of the boy Khonsu, and why he wanted to make his search at night, but no one had any convincing solution to the puzzle.
Teddy might have had some insights, but he was obviously not prepared to share them.
So at the conclusion of breakfast, they all went their separate ways, arranging to meet later in the day.
"So why do you want to go to Karnak, Teddy ?", Jim asked, as they made their way to the main entrance of the Winter Palace.
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| Caleche - Luxor - Egypt |
"Is this caleche OK for you, Ethan ?", Jim asked.
"Very nice, Jim....
A handsome young driver, and a very pretty 'horsey'...", Ethan said.
And Ethan was right.
The driver was wearing a sparkling, pale blue, galabeya, and the horse was an equally handsome beast.
"So, Ethan, shall we take his cell-phone number, and make him our regular driver....", Jim asked.
"Yes Jim...a very good idea.
That one we had yesterday was smelly and dirty, but this is a fine looking horsey and driver...", Ethan said approvingly.
And Teddy agreed.
So Ethan took Omar's 'phone number - for Omar was his name - and he was obviously a very happy young man, having 'caught' some rich tourists, who might well be staying in Luxor for some time.
While they were making their way to Karnak, Jim phoned one of his chauffeurs in order to have one of the limos stationed in the car-park at the Karnak Temple Complex - just in case there were any problems, or they were needed back at the Winter palace in a hurry.
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| Karnak Temple Complex - Luxor - Egypt - Reconstruction |
On their first trip to Karnak they had only got as far as the Hypostyle Hall - and it was there that Glen had collapsed.
On this return visit Teddy wanted to visit - not surprisingly - the 'Temple of Khonsu', and also the 'Inner Sanctuary'.
They began as they had the previous day, entering by the First Pylon.
Subsequently they turned right, through a rather insignificant passageway, and then across a vacant plot, to a rather isolated area where a relatively small temple was situated.
"This, Jim and Ethan, is the Temple of Khonsu - and I thought it might give us some hints as to the identity of the rather mysterious young man we met yesterday on the West Bank, ",Teddy said.
"So tell us about this temple ?", Ethan asked.
"This, as I said, is the Temple of Khonsu.
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| Temple of Khonsu - Karnak - Luxor - Egypt |
The building is an example of an almost complete New Kingdom temple, and was originally constructed by Ramesses III on the site of an earlier temple.
The gateway of this temple is at the end of the avenue of sphinxes that ran all the way to the Luxor Temple.
In Ptolemaic times - that's when the Greeks ruled Egypt as Pharaohs - Ptolemy III 'Euergetes' - 'the Benefactor' - constructed a great gateway, and an enclosure wall for the temple
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| Ptolemaic Gateway |
Now only the gateway remains.
Inscriptions inside the forecourt of the temple were made in the time of Pharaoh Ramesses XI.
The hypostyle hall was erected by the Pharaoh Nectanebo I - who also built the huge 'First Pylon' that leads to the whole complex.
The Hypostyle Hall is not of great size, unlike that in the Temple of Amun.
Inside the Hall were found huge statues of two baboons that appear to have been carved in the time of Pharaoh Seti I, probably belonging to an earlier building on the site.
Numerous blocks with un-matching, and in many cases inverted decorations can be seen, showing the amount of reconstruction and reuse of material from the surrounding temple complexes, especially in Ptolemaic times.", Teddy explained.
Ptolemy III built on the efforts of his predecessors to conform to the traditional model of the Egyptian Pharaoh. He was responsible for the first known example of a series of decrees published as trilingual inscriptions on massive stone blocks in Ancient Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and demotic - an example being the 'Rosetta Stone', which was important in later allowing for the translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics. - The earlier Ptolemies had followed the lead of Alexander the Great in prioritizing the worship of Amun, worshiped at Karnak in Thebes among the Egyptian deities.
There was no one else in the temple, so Jim and Ethan found some large masonry blocks to sit on, while Teddy wandered off on his little furry fat legs to get a closer view of some of the inscriptions.
"Well, at least this temple's not so 'crumbly' as some of the parts of this place...", Ethan commented to Jim, as he took a gulp from his bottle of now warm Pepsi Max.
"Yes...but you must remember that this place is very, very old - much older than we are...", Jim said, grinning.
At that moment Teddy came back and asked Ethan to find a small flashlight that he had put in the Walmart bag.
"Come with me, Ethan, I need you to shine some light on some wall paintings.", Teddy said.
"Wowy !....is that a real ancient wall painting ?", Ethan asked, surprised by the bright colors.
"Well - sort of.....
You see the Egyptian department of antiquities needs tourists to come here - so they want everything to look like something from one of our American movies - so they get 'artists', and not very good ones, may I say, to paint them up in all sorts of bright colors - and this is the result....but of course nobody knows if this is what it looked like originally, except maybe Faunus....", Teddy said disparagingly.
"So, if you don't approve, why are you looking at this ?", Ethan sensibly asked.
"Oh, just to read the hieroglyphics....", Teddy replied.
"And anything about Khonsu ?", Ethan asked.
"Well that's the odd thing......no...", Teddy replied.
"So...?", Ethan asked.
"Well I didn't think I would find much - this place has been so messed about with from the time it was built, up until you Romans took over.", Teddy said.
"Now then, Teddy, I'm no Roman.....I'm Greek...", Ethan said proudly.
"Oh yes, sorry, I forgot.
But if you look in my Walmart bag you'll find some laminated sheets showing how the temple originally looked, along with a plan.", Teddy said.
"Do you always bring neat laminated drawings with you everywhere you go ?", Ethan asked, very puzzled.
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| Reconstruction of an Egyptian Temple |
"Yes, of course,......'visual aids'....very useful.", Teddy replied.
"And when do you print all this stuff.", Ethan asked, mystified.
"When all you lot go to sleep....", Teddy said.
"Figures.....
You know, you never used to be like this...", Ethan said regretfully.
"I know...but then Faunus 'upgraded' me....it's not my fault...", Teddy said by way of explanation.
And so Ethan found the drawings, and handed one to Jim.
"Oh, and I've got a copy of a very old, photograph of how they thought the temple might have looked.
It's a very early color photo from about the time of Howard Carter.", Teddy explained, handing the photo to Ethan.
"Gee !, That's really good, Teddy", Ethan said, handing the photo to Jim.
"Yes...good....Now is there anything else you want to see in this temple, Teddy ?", Jim asked as he examined the photo.
"No...it's not helping very much, Jim...but I would like to go back to the main temple to see the sanctuary.", Teddy said.
So the they left the Temple of Khonsu, and made their way back to the Second Pylon.
They then walked through the Hypostyle Hall, where Glen had fainted the previous afternoon.
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| Second Pylon - Karnak Temple - Luxor |
"So what's so special about this Sanctuary, Teddy ?", Jim asked.
"Well.....it's all very strange.
The actual center of all these buildings, pylons and obelisks is a small room made entirely of dark granite.
It was constructed on the orders of Philip III Arrhidaeus, who reigned as king of Macedonia from after 11 June 323 BC until his death.
'Arrhidaeus' Sanctuary' was built on the site of the previous sanctuary that had been constructed long before by the Pharaoh Tuthmosis III.
Arrhidaeus was the elder half-brother of the Macedonian king, Alexander the Great.
Named Arrhidaeus at birth, he assumed the name 'Philip' when he ascended to the throne on the death of Alexander.
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| Philip III Arrhidaeus Wearing the Ram's Horns of Amon |
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| Alexander the Great |
Alexander was fond of Arrhidaeus, and took him on his campaigns, both to protect his life and to prevent his use as a pawn in any prospective challenge for the throne.
After Alexander's death in Babylon in 323 BC, the Macedonian army in Asia proclaimed Arrhidaeus as 'Basilaeus' (king).
As far as is known Arrhidaeus never visited Egypt, although there are reliefs, here at Karnak, showing him making offerings to Ammon, Mut and Khonsu.
Regardless, he was responsible for this sanctuary, which was one of the last parts of the Karnak Complex to be constructed.
"OK...but you still haven't explained why this 'sanctuary' is so special....", Ethan said, who continued to be puzzled by Teddy's interest.
"...'tell you when we get there...", Teddy said mysteriously, as they came to the forbidding looking granite structure.
And so they entered the Sanctuary of Philip III Arrhidaeus.
"Well....this is really 'creepy' !
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| Sanctuary of Philip III Arrhidaeus |
No windows, no pretty pictures on the wall - and just this funny looking table in the middle.....
Weird !", Ethan said, sounding none too happy.
"Yes....the 'table' - as you put it - in the middle is there to support the 'bark shrine'.....
You see the Egyptians imagined a river in the sky, like the Nile...
It was really the Milky Way, and they imagined the 'neteru' - the 'gods' - travelling along this river in boats - so the cult statues of the 'gods' were always placed on small model boats called 'barks' - usually made of gold.", Teddy explained.
"That's strange, Teddy...", Jim interrupted.
"With all these huge stone statues of 'gods' and Pharaohs, you would imagine that the statues of the 'gods' in the temples would be very large, but looking at the size of this plinth, it appears that they would be small."
"True, Jim - but then the actual 'cult statues' of the 'gods' would be made of solid gold.", Teddy replied.
The other thing that you must remember is that the sanctuary was not open to ordinary people.
Normally only the Pharaoh or the High Priest, or other senior priests were permitted access to the Sanctuary.", Teddy said.
"So what about the 'cleaning lady' ?", Ethan asked.
"That's a puzzle.....we don't really know about that...."., Teddy said.
Jim smiled.
'Just like Ethan to ask a question which none of the professors, and Egyptologists, writing their complicated books had ever thought to explain.' - Jim thought to himself.
"Well without the cleaning lady, I think it would get horribly dusty....but then with no windows and lights, I don't suppose the Pharaoh would notice....", Ethan continued, elaborating on his fantasy of a dirty, dusty sanctuary.
"No, I don't suppose so....", Jim agreed.
"So why is this place so important, Teddy", Ethan persisted.
"Well I think we should get some lunch, and then, when we have somewhere to sit and relax, Teddy can tell us all about it.", Jim suggested.
"Mm...., probably a good idea...", Ethan agreed.
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| Restaurant off the Sharia al-Mahatta |
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| Omar - 'Horsey' and Caleche |
So Jim 'phoned Omar and asked him to meet them at the entrance to the Karnak Complex, with his caleche.
They then made their way back through the Hypostyle Hall, and the Pylons.
Omar met them punctually, and then took them to the restaurant in the alleyway off the Sharia al-Mahatta, as Ethan was anxious to have some more roast water buffalo, and some ice-cold Pepsi Max.
Ethan then fed Ormar's 'horsey' with some more sugar lumps, before Jim 'paid off' Omar with generous baksheesh, and told him to be ready for a 'phone call the next day.
The owner of the restaurant was surprised, and also pleased to see them again, and Teddy had everything ordered - in Arabic - in next to no time.
Once the food began to arrive, which it did very quickly, Jim turned to Teddy, and once again asked him about the importance of this rather small, unimpressive structure known as the 'Sanctuary of Philip III Arrhidaeus'.
Before Teddy could begin his explanation, however, Ethan had a further question.
"So how is it that while I've heard of Alexander the Great, I've never heard of this Philip Arrhidaeus chappy ?".
"Perhaps you didn't have a very good education.....", Teddy suggested.
"Well, to be honest, I didn't really have any education, apart from a few things that 'Marcus' - I mean Jim - and Novius taught me...", Ethan admitted.
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| Macedonian Sunburst Emblem |
Jim looked embarrassed.....
Teddy wisely ignore the matter.
"Well, as I explained before, Arrhidaeus was the older half-brother of the person that is now known as Alexander the Great - but at the time was known as Αλέξανδρος Γʹ ὁ Μακεδών - who was a member of the Argead dynasty.
Alexander , of course, had a very good education, tutored by the philosopher Aristotle until aged 16.
During his campaigns in Asia, Alexander destroyed Tyre, and then, most of the towns on the route to Egypt.
Egypt then quickly capitulated.
Alexander advanced on Egypt in later 332 BC, where he was regarded as a liberator.
He was later pronounced 'Son of Amon' at the famous Oracle at Siwa.
Subsequently, Alexander is reported to have often referred to 'Zeus-Ammon' as his true father, and after his death, currency depicted him adorned with the horns of a ram as a symbol of his divinity.
During his stay in Egypt, he founded Alexandria, in the Nile Delta, which would become the prosperous capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom after his death.
Alexander, as far as is known, was not actually 'crowned' as Pharaoh of Egypt, but as ruler of Egypt was always awarded the title of Pharaoh.
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| Cleopatra - Ptolemaic Queen - Last of the Ptolemies John William Waterhouse - 1888 |
It was only after Alexander's death in 323 BCE that work was undertaken in Karnak by his Macedonian successor, Arrhidaeus.
Later, one of Alexander's senior generals, Ptolemy, made himself Pharaoh of Egypt, taking the Greek title Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ - 'Soter', meaning 'Ptolemy the Savior', and founded the very last Royal Egyptian Dynasty - of which Cleopatra was the last representative.
Born in 70 or 69 B.C., Cleopatra was a daughter of Ptolemy XII 'Auletes' - (the 'Flute Player' ?), a direct descendant of Ptolemy I 'Soter', one of Alexander the Great’s generals, and the founder of the Ptolemaic line in Egypt. Her mother was believed to be Cleopatra V 'Tryphaena', the king’s wife (and possibly his half-sister). In 51 B.C., upon the apparently natural death of 'Auletes', the Egyptian throne passed to 18-year-old Cleopatra, and her 10-year-old brother, Ptolemy XIII.
Alexander the Great, although he died in Babylon, was himself buried in Alexandria, in Egypt although all signs of the burial and the immensely elaborate tomb have since disappeared.
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| Temple of Hathor - Dendera - Egypt |
Many famous Egyptian Temples - which most people imagine were built by Egyptian Pharaohs, are in fact Ptolemaic, and designed by Greek architects - but you need to be an expert, like Teddy, to notice the stylistic differences.
The temple of Hathor at Dendera has been modified on the same site starting as far back as the Middle Kingdom, and continuing right up until the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. The existing structure began construction in the late Ptolemaic period, and the hypostyle hall was built in the Roman period under Tiberius.
And the Romans also built in the Egyptian style when they conquered Egypt, and Roman Emperors often styled themselves as Pharaoh.
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| Hellenistic Sculpture of Zeus-Amon |
Zeus-Amon, the 'god' who favored Alexander, is what is known as a 'syncretic' 'god', being a combination of more that one divine attribute.
Even before Alexander, Amun, was worshiped by the Greeks as 'Ammon', and had a temple and a statue, the gift of Pindar (d. 443 BC), at Thebes in Greece, and another at Sparta, the inhabitants of which, as Pausanias says, consulted the oracle of Ammon in Libya from early times.
At Aphytis, Chalcidice, Amun was worshiped, from the time of Lysander (d. 395 BC).
Pindar the poet honored the god with a hymn.
At Megalopolis the 'god' was represented with the head of a ram, and the Greeks of Cyrenaica dedicated a chariot at Delphi with a statue of Ammon.
All this shows a strong link between Greece and Egypt, and the great amount of tolerance that was shown with regard to differing religious beliefs.
That tolerance only broke down with the rise of the main later religions.", Teddy concluded.
"Well, Teddy, that was very interesting - even if I did not understand all of it - and so was the meal - a very good I mean.", Ethan said appreciatively.
"Yes indeed....", Jim added.
For your information, dear readers - from Teddy - Μακεδονία - was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, and later the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The kingdom was founded and initially ruled by the royal Argead dynasty, which was followed by the Antipatrid and Antigonid dynasties. Before the 4th century BC, Macedonia was a small kingdom outside of the area dominated by the great city-states of Athens, Sparta and Thebes, and briefly subordinate to Achaemenid Persia. During the reign of the Argead king Philip II (359–336 BC), Macedonia subdued mainland Greece and the Thracian Odrysian kingdom through conquest and diplomacy. With a reformed army containing phalanxes wielding the sarissa pike, Philip II defeated the old powers of Athens and Thebes in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. Philip II's son Alexander the Great, leading a federation of Greek states, accomplished his father's objective of commanding the whole of Greece when he destroyed Thebes after the city revolted. During Alexander's subsequent campaign of conquest, he overthrew the Achaemenid Empire and conquered territory that stretched as far as the Indus River. For a brief period, his empire was the most powerful in the world – the definitive Hellenistic state, inaugurating the transition to a new period of Ancient Greek civilization. Greek arts and literature flourished in the new conquered lands and advances in philosophy, engineering, and science spread throughout much of the ancient world. Of particular importance were the contributions of Aristotle, tutor to Alexander, whose writings became a keystone of Western philosophy.
Sharia al-Mahatta It was a pleasant afternoon, and so, after the meal, and Teddy's very full explanation... Jim, Ethan and Teddy then went for a quiet, relaxed walk along the Sharia al-Mahatta, and round the tourist area and سوق - souq of Luxor, before returning to the Winter Palace.
Jim, Ethan and Teddy return to the Winter Palace and meet up with Glen and Max, and Zac and Josh. Over a glass of 'shai' Jim describes Teddy's search for information at the Temple of Khonsu - which was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Regardless, they all agreed that their best bet, if they were to follow the 'communication' the Glen received, would be to search the West Bank with the boy called Khonsu.....
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
All Images - © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2021
Graphic Design - © Copyright Zac Sawyer 202