Things needed to be done in Luxor, as Tony was waiting to discuss matters with Jim, Teddy, Novius and possibly Faunus - if he could be found - and there was business to attend to in 'Vegas - for example, concerts and Brody's wrestling, and of course there were new ventures to be launched in Mexico - and there was still the very important matter of the Armant sarcophagus....
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| 'Lear Jet' |
So, after what seemed like a long walk, and in the hot sun, they eventually boarded the two 'Lear Jets' that were waiting for them on the tarmac at 'Abu Simbel' Airport.
This flight would take them to 'Luxor International Airport', where their convoy of Mercedes would be waiting to take them back to the 'Winter Palace'.
And at the same time, the 'Gezira Place Hotel' would be sending their luggage, by road, in the opposite direction, from Cairo to the 'Winter Palace' in Luxor.
And then the main part of the 'holiday', as such, would come to an end, as Jim and Josh would return to their 'business' responsibilities, using 'phone and email, while Jim, with Ethan, Teddy and Novius would hopefully be able to successfully attend to the matter of the 'Armant sarcophagus' with Tony.
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| Lear Jet Landing at Luxor International Airport - Egypt |
And then, all being well, it would be a welcome return to Las Vegas...
The take-off was easy, and the flight was uneventful, and the landing at 'Luxor International Airport' was smooth...
"Well, that's my holiday over..." Clare said regretfully, as they landed
"Yes, and my 'gap year'...", Sigi added, as they taxied towards the terminal for the local flights.
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| 'Estados Unidos Mexicanos' |
Once we get things sorted out in 'Vegas, you've got a 'holiday' in Mexico.", Jim said emphatically.
"Oh... I see, sir.
Well, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was complaining, but you never said anything about Mexico before.", 'Sigi' said apologetically.
"No... but if you'd been paying attention to what has been going on, you might have gathered that Mexico is the next thing on the agenda.", Jim explained.
'Estados Unidos Mexicanos' - the 'United States of Mexico' is the world's 13th-largest country by area, and with approximately 126,014,024 inhabitants, it is the 10th-most-populous country, and has the most Spanish-speakers. Mexico is organized as a federation comprising 31 states. Mexico City is the capital and largest metropolis. Other major urban areas include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and León. Mexico is the 6th most visited country in the world, and had the 15th highest income from tourism in the world. The vast majority of tourists come to Mexico from the United States and Canada.
And so, after a a short wait for the second Lear Jet to arrive, they passed through the brief formalities of the terminal building, and quickly found their waiting limos.
"And what, may I ask, will we be doing in Mexico ?", Ethan asked, as the limos made their way out of the airport, and started on the journey to Luxor town - (that liked to call itself a city).
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| Air West Logo |
"Checking out our newly acquired airline, for which you are supposed to be organising advertising material.", Jim replied.
"Oh that...", Ethan said.
"And what airline is that ?", Clare asked.
"It's called 'Air West', and I've got my 'advertising-thingy-guys' back in 'Vegas all working on really cool logos and posters.", Ethan said, not sounding very convincing.
"And ?", 'Sigi' asked, not sounding really enthusiastic about looking over an airline.
"Well, there's the hotels, casinos and restaurant-thingys, that Franklin is buying - or having built - for the tourists, who will fly in on 'Air West', and these hotels, casinos and restaurant-thingys are mainly in the the Yucatán Peninsula - where most of the famous Maya temples and such thingys are.", Ethan continued.
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| Mexican Jaguar - 'Balam' |
"Yes, but we need to put that out of our minds - and look to the future...", Jim said briskly - interrupting.
And that, of course, brings us back to the reason why this story is called 'Club Jaguar', and why the 'Boss', when he found the strangely familiar, but nameless boy in 'Vegas, decided to name him 'Jaguar Jim' .....
"And then there's all the mineral deposits...", Ethan added, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"And what sort of minerals are these ?", Clare asked - trying to make her question sound casual.
"Oh, fluorspar, graphite - boring things like that...", Jim replied, annoyed that Ethan had been so glib with such sensitive information.
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| 'Winter Palace' - Luxor - Egypt |
"Oh no - the Maya and the Spanish mined all of that a long time ago.", Jim replied, trying to be discreet.
The new mineral deposits that the 'Athena Corporation' had discovered in Mexico - gold, silver and lithium, however, were almost as significant as the discoveries that Jim and Tony had made in Egypt, and Jim was careful not to reveal this new source of revenue and industrial and financial 'muscle' - and hence, the 'cover' of expanding aspects of the tourist industry in central and eastern Mexico.
Fortunately for Jim, who was not really happy at the way the conversation was going at that point, they arrived at the 'Winter Palace'.
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| 'No Place Like Home'- 'Wizard of Oz' |
"Well, 'second home', if you count 'Vegas...", Josh added.
"...'suppose so, but then there's our real homes - before 'Vegas - and all this happened...", Ethan said.
"Yes, but that was a long, long time ago...", Jim said wistfully.
"And also this is not Kansas...", Teddy reminded Ethan.
In 'The Wizard of Oz' the message of ‘There’s no place like home’ is strongly conveyed. How we interpret it, however, can be very different, and whether we see Kansas or Oz as Dorothy’s real, true home can depend on how we see the relationships she has develop in both worlds. Even though we may not relate to the message that ‘There’s no place like home’, it is still easy to relate to Dorothy’s character in some way, as at some point we are all in a situation that is new and difficult and we miss the familiarity of home.
'The Wizard of Oz' is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Often seen as one of the greatest films of all time, it is the most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's fantasy novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. The film stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. According to the 'Library of Congress', it is the most seen film in movie history.
Zac and Brody were waiting to greet Jim and the other members of the 'gang' when they arrived at the 'Winter Palace'.
"So what about John Lewis ? - Did he turn up ?", Jim asked.
"No - I'm afraid not... no sign of him." Zac replied.
"Oh well... no matter.
Perhaps he'll turn up now that we have arrived,", Jim said.
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| Garden Entrance - 'Winter Palace' |
"Don't worry, the sarcophagus is safe - but we've hardly seen anything of Tony - 'keeps himself locked away in his workshop.", Zac explained.
"OK, well I'm going to see if I can find the kitties...", Ethan said, as he headed off to the large doorway leading to the gardens.
The kittens were there - in the garden - but just sitting and looking bored.
They had obviously missed Ethan (and maybe also Jim - although that should not be admitted, as Ethan would probably be jealous of that possibility - just a little bit).
"So I'm going to have a chat with Tony - but the rest of you can just get you things sorted out...", Jim said rather distractedly - and Jim followed Ethan - into the gardens, but rather than 'fuss' with the kittens, instead Jim headed for the workshops, in order to see Tony.
"So how did it go in Abu Simbel ?", Tony asked, barely looking up from his work.
"Oh - OK.
Just another ruined temple, I suppose...", Jim replied, sounding tired.
"But more to the point, how are you getting on with the sarcophagus ? ", Jim queried.
"Well we know what it's made of - although if it's really ancient Egyptian, then it seems to be showing no signs of ageing - which makes very little sense...
Ashraf has been helping me - translating many of the hieroglyphic texts, and these seem to be taken from what he calls 'The Book of the Dead'.", Tony explained.
The 'Book of the Dead' is an ancient Egyptian funerary text, usually written on papyrus, and used from the beginning of the New Kingdom (around 1550 BCE) to around 50 BCE. The original Egyptian name for the text, transliterated 'rw nw prt m hrw', is translated as 'The Book of Coming Forth by Day' or 'The Book of Emerging into the Light'. A number of the spells which make up the 'Book' were also separately inscribed on tomb walls and sarcophagi, as the spells from which they originated always had been. The finest extant example of the 'Egyptian Book of the Dead' from antiquity is the 'Papyrus of Ani'. Ani was an Egyptian scribe, and the scroll was discovered by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge.
Scroll of the Egyptian 'Book of the Dead'
"So what's this 'Book of the Dead' all about ?", Jim asked.
"It seems to be partly a description about what happens to a person after they die - with lots of weird magical spells and descriptions of various 'gods' and demons - but Ashraf is of the opinion that those parts of the 'Book of the Dead' are from an earlier, more 'primitive' time.
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| 'The Book of Emerging into the Light'. ('Book of the Dead') |
"So what are you saying, Tony ?", Jim asked - intrigued - and by this time Ethan and Teddy and Novius had arrived in the workshop.
"Well Ashraf told me that he was locked in the sarcophagus for a very long time, but the sarcophagus preserved him, alive - and he didn't age.
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| Sarcophagus 'Setting Rings' |
"Well the sarcophagus, as far as I can see, seems to affect time - but in relation to an individual's biology - so it is a 'time machine' - but not a machine to travel in time, in the usual way that we think of 'time travel'.
Instead, it can move an individual's biology, in time, so they can become younger, or older, or simply remain the same - in accordance with the indicators that you set on the dials on the lid of the sarcophagus." Tony said, indicating the gold 'setting rings'.
The problem, however, is learning how to adjust those settings in order to achieve the results that are required.", Tony added, sounding somewhat uncertain.
"So how do we discover the correct settings ?", Novius asked.
"Well Clare is supposed to be going on a 'tourist' trip to Dendera, and the Dahabiya is already moored close to Qena - so Ashraf, Ethan and Teddy, Novius 'Sigi' and Glen will accompany Clare - and 'Sigi', Glen and Ethan will take some photos of the 'Dendera Zodiac', so that we can compare the photos to the 'setting rings' on the sarcophagus, and then sail back to us in Luxor.", Jim said.
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| Mickey and Minnie - 'The Mice' |
"And what have 'mice-thingys' to do with all of this ?", Ethan asked, sounding very confused.
"Well mice have short life spans, so they are ideal for time experiments...", Tony replied.
"Yes... but you're not going to hurt them - are you ?", Ethan asked.
"Now that's a funny question - considering you have two cats and and an owl - all of whom eat mice if they get the chance...", Tony said.
"Well, that's part of nature - not an experiment.", Ethan replied.
"OK - well we won't do anything cruel to the mice.", Tony promised.
"And who's we ?", Ethan asked suspiciously.
"You, me and Ashraf...", Tony replied.
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| 'Dendara Zodiac' - 'Temple of Hathor' |
"According to Ashraf the setting rings are based on the 'Zodiac' to be found in the Temple of Hathor at Dendera - which is north of Luxor -
The 'Zodiac' at Dendera is a low relief sculpture, set into the ceiling of the temple.
Unfortunately it is very difficult to photograph because of the confined nature of the chamber, and the poor lighting, where it is to be found.
The 'Temple at Dendera' itself is Ptolemaic, and many of the features of the 'Zodiac' are decidedly Hellenistic." Tony explained.
"So, I think it's best if we do nothing, and wait until Ethan, 'Sigi' and Glen come back with some photos which we can study.", Jim suggested.
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| Street Scene - Qena - Middle Egypt |
Technically, Dendera is situated in 'Middle Egypt', and in this area of Egypt there is a great deal of 'religious' unrest - mainly between 'Copts', (Egyptian christians), and Muslims - although there is also a great deal of violence that can only be described as 'mafia' style vendettas.
Much of the violence, centred around Qena, however, is undoubtedly caused by the general level of deprivation and poverty in the area.
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| Luxor to Qena |
On the journey back, however, they would use the 'Hadeel' which was, at that time, moored close to Dendera.
"Now most of us have been to this place before - but we can't really let Clare and Novius leave Egypt on this occasion without then visiting Dendera.", Ethan announced over breakfast
"So, who's going to act as our guide ?", Novius asked.
"Teddy will, of course, and I will accompany you, after I've taken a few photos.", Ethan breezily replied.
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| Egyptian Security Vehicle at Luxor |
Widely regarded as one of Egypt’s most beautiful and best-preserved temples, Dendera was established during the Greco-Roman era, although construction was taking place at the spot since at least the 'Old Kingdom'. An inscription on-site, meanwhile, states that the temple plans date from a far older era, when Egypt was ruled by semi-divine beings known as the ‘Followers of Horus.’
So the convoy, somewhat noisily and blatantly, set off for Qena.
The journey itself took about one and a half hours through rather featureless scenery.
Qena is situated on the East Bank of the Nile while, oddly, the 'Dendera Temple', seemingly in the middle of nowhere, is situated on the West Bank, despite the fact that Hathor has no significant funerary associations.
For reasons of security (?) the limos were not allowed close to the Temple, so it was another one of those long walks in the sun, but once inside the well preserved temple, the magnificent interior made it well worth the journey and the walk.
So, in next to no time, Ethan, Teddy, Sigi and Glen had managed to find the incredibly famous 'Dendera Zodiac', while Clare and Novius wandered around in the spacious main 'Hypostyle Hall', gazing at the beautifully painted ceiling, and the capitals of the columns that were sculpted in the form of 'Hathor heads'.
Although Novius was no expert with regard to the ancient Egyptian religion, he was able to point out and explain some features to Clare, and this was made much easier for him because many of the features of the ceiling decoration were depictions of astrological figures with which he was familiar, because of their Hellenistic derivation.
And it was a problem - taking images of the 'Zodiac' - but after some considerable effort the 'boys' felt that they had a number of sufficiently informative images to be of some use to Tony and Ashraf.
"So. .. was it worth it ? coming all this way just to get some photos...", Clare asked.
"Well it wasn't very interesting - doing the photos - and it makes your neck ache, but it is nice to get a second look at this temple - after all, it is one of the best preserved in Egypt.", Ethan said, being remarkably amenable.
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| Ceiling and Columns of the Large Hypostyle Hall |
Now is Teddy going to give us a guided tour, as Novius and I haven't been here before, and I really don't know what I'm looking at, although Novius has been doing his best to explain some things to me.", Clare said - and it seemed that the heat may have been 'getting to her'.
"Of course Clare.
Just take it easy and sit yourself down -", Teddy said, indicating a conveniently placed stone block with his paw, as Ethan gave Clare the plan that the boys had used to guide themselves through the maze of halls and corridors that made up the Temple interior
So Teddy began, and this was to be his last little mini-lecture on this tour of Egypt.
"The 'Temple of Hathor' is located about one and a half miles south-east of the village of Dendera, Egypt.It is one of the best-preserved temple complexes in Egypt, and this area was used as the sixth Nome or Province of Upper Egypt, south of Abydos.
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| The Propylon at Dendera |
The whole complex covers some 40,000 square meters.
It seems that pharaoh Pepi I in about 2250 BC built on this site, and evidence exists of a temple in the Eighteenth Dynasty in about 1500 BC.
The features in the complex include the temple itself, the Temple of the Birth of Isis, a Sacred Lake, a Sanatorium, the Mammisi of Nectanebo II, a Roman Mammisi, a Barque shrine, Gateways of Domitian and Trajan, and a Roman Kiosk.
The main building, of course - in which we are now standing - is the 'Temple of Hathor'.
The temple 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.
This existing Temple was constructed in the late Ptolemaic period, at the time of Ptolemy Auletes, in July 54 BCE. and this Hypostyle hall was built in the Roman period under the Emperor Tiberius.
The Emperor Trajan also appears, together with Domitian, in offering scenes on the Propylon or gateway of this Temple."
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| Hathor |
"Dendera was the chief place for the worship of Hathor, who is variously seen as the patroness of earthly love, the goddess of healing, and the great feminine source of all nourishment.
As the source of divine nourishment, Hathor was often depicted as a cow, and many images and reliefs show pharaohs, and members of the royal family, drinking straight from a cow’s udder.
The great temple here was a venerated place of pilgrimage, where miraculous cures were effected by the goddess.
It was a sort of 'hospital', where various physiological, psychological and magical therapies were practiced, and it was also the scene of great processions and festivals throughout the astrological cycle.", Teddy explained.
After making their way through many smaller halls and sanctuaries, they eventually went up to the higher levels of the temple, and came to the 'Dendera Zodiac' that the 'boys' had been photographing.
Here Teddy did some more of his explaining...
"The 'Dendera Zodiac' is the only circular zodiac that has ever been found in Egypt.
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| Dendera Zodiac - Reconstruction |
The original carving is actually in the Louvre, in Paris, and what we see today here, at Dendera, is a replica.
Now Tony has some theories about the zodiac, as it relates to the sarcophagus", Teddy added quietly, "but we must wait until further 'experiments have been conducted before we have any results."
And so everyone strained to look upward.
"I must admit that this copy doesn't look much, but Ethan will hand out some reproductions of the most recent reconstruction of the 'Zodiac' - to give you an idea of how it originally looked.", Teddy said, trying to be helpful.
As they perused the computer generated images of the 'Zodiac' that Ethan had given them, Novius asked what was probably a very pertinent question...
"So, Teddy, do you know why Tony and Jim think this 'Zodiac' is so important ?"
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| Temple of Hathor at Dendera - Middle Egypt |
The 'boys' had completed their mission, and Novius seemed lost in thought as he surveyed the Ptolemaic ruins, but Clare seemed to be a little bored, and was probably looking forward to a pleasant lunch on board the 'Hadeel - therefore, Teddy decided to 'call it a day'.... or rather a morning.
"So, I'll leave you to wander around, and look at the exterior of the temple.", Teddy said.
"And can we climb up and go onto the roof ?, Glen asked.
"Well I don't see why not - but be careful - there are no guard rails - and it's a long way down to the stone paving below - a there have been some fatal accidents in the past...", Teddy warned.
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| Dahabiya 'Hadeel' Moored at Dendera |
The captain of the 'Hadeel' - Hossam - greeted Clare warmly, and then turned his attention to the 'boys', who he had met previously.
Once the usual formalities were over, Hossam led his guests to the 'sun-deck', where refreshments were served, while the crew of the 'Hadeel' 'cast-off', and the elegant dahabiya began it's stately journey down the Nile to the South, and to Luxor.
Very little was said on the journey back to Luxor.
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| Dining Room of the 'Hadeel' - Set for Lunch |
But it was equally obvious that those who knew about the sarcophagus - presumably Ethan, Teddy, Novius, and perhaps 'Sigi' were saying nothing.
So, with little of any significance to be said - the Nile cruise was accompanied by occasional 'chit-chat' about their previous visits to the numerous temples and monuments that they had visited during their 'holiday.
Lunch was then served in the air-conditioned comfort of the Hadeel's dining room.
So - by the time they returned to the sundeck they were approaching the bend in the Nile at the approach to Luxor.
Dendera Temple is unusual among ancient Egyptian temples, as far as can be ascertained, in that ceremonies were held on the roof. It has been suggested that 'cult statues' of Hathor were kept in the subterranean chambers, and were then ritually carried up the numerous staircases, until they reached the roof, where the goddess Hathor could bask and be rejuvenated in the rays of her 'father' - the 'sun god'.
for more images and more information about the 'Temple Complex at Dendera' go to
So, because Jim now owned the 'Winter Palace', he also had permanent access to the stretch of the Corniche in front the the 'Winter Palace', and because of that fact, there was always a reserved space for Captain Hossam to moor the dahabiya 'Hadeel'...
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| The Dahabyia 'Hadeel' Moored at the Winter Palace - Luxor - Egypt |
"So Clare - and Novius, did you enjoy your trip to the Dendera temple ?", Jim asked, as he gallantly took Clare's hand as she stepped onto dry land.
"Wonderful !", Clare replied - doing her best to be polite.
"And Novius ?", Jim added.
"Yes Marcus, (remember Novius always insists on using Jim's Roman (Latin) name), but I think a monument of that size needs more time to be fully appreciated...", Novius said.
"Well I'm sure that there will be other occasions when you can take such a trip - and maybe next time when you travel by dahabeayah to Cairo, you can stop off at Dendera, for another visit.", Jim suggested.
"Well I certainly hope so...", Novius said, as Zac and his security detail escorted the group across the busy road to the opening gates of the 'Winter Palace'.
Having entered the 'Winter Palace', everyone dispersed to their suites, while Ethan, Sigi and Glen took their cameras to Tony so that he could transfer the images that they had taken of the 'Dendera Zodiac' onto his hugely complex computer system.
Later Jim went to Tony's workshop.
"So have you had a chance to check out the photos ?", Jim asked.
"Yes, they're fine - and nicely confirm the images on the 'setting rings'...", Tony replied.
"So what do you want to do next ?". Jim asked, noticing the numerous lapis panels that had been removed from the sarcophagus, leaving a framework of gold supporting members, and exposing the glittering, crystal inner workings.
"I think it would be best if we transported this back to the US... this country doesn't strike me a being too safe.", Tony suggested.
"I think it would be best if we transported this back to the US... this country doesn't strike me a being too safe.", Tony suggested.
"Yes I think you're right Tony...", and Jim paused, looking at the half dismantled sarcophagus.
"So how shall we do this ?". Jim asked.
"Well we brought the transporter in by air, so if I continue to dismantle the sarcophagus, it can be concealed in various hidden compartments, and it would be unlikely that the Egyptian authorities would find it - and anyway they could hardly claim that we were smuggling out an 'antiquity', as it looks as new as it would if it had been made yesterday.", Tony said.
"True, but take Faunus with you anyway as, if there is any trouble, he will be able to deal with any awkward officials.", Jim said... and at that moment Jim's 'cell-phone' rang....
"So how shall we do this ?". Jim asked.
"Well we brought the transporter in by air, so if I continue to dismantle the sarcophagus, it can be concealed in various hidden compartments, and it would be unlikely that the Egyptian authorities would find it - and anyway they could hardly claim that we were smuggling out an 'antiquity', as it looks as new as it would if it had been made yesterday.", Tony said.
"True, but take Faunus with you anyway as, if there is any trouble, he will be able to deal with any awkward officials.", Jim said... and at that moment Jim's 'cell-phone' rang....
This chapter involves the solving of the problems posed by John Lewis - the transportation of the sarcophagus, and the return of the 'holiday group' to 'the good old US of A...'
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
All Images - © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2021
Graphic Design - © Copyright Zac Sawyer 2021