Ugly and never shown in profile this dwarf-like god looks very un-Egyptian, and indeed it is suspected that he was imported from somewhere else, maybe other parts of Africa.
Still, as a protector of homes and childbirth, Bes was quite popular although no temples were dedicated to him.
He also acted as god of war and music.
This high relief of Bes (also spelt: Bisu or Bez) is at the entrance to the Dendera temple of Hathor (near Luxor)

Everyday life goes on beside the ruins.

The Nubian museum in Aswan is one of the most interesting museums I have visited -much more inspiring than the famous, crammed Egyptian museum in Cairo.
Here, all items are shown in the best light - very similar to the equally beautiful Luxor museum.
Outside the museum itself, there are some traditional buildings to be seen, like the small mosque on the picture.
Wandering around the compounds at night is an almost magical experience.

seen in the beautiful Luxor museum.

This is a Greco-Roman building near the Kalabsha temple.
Actually, the kiosk now stands about 20-30 km from its original site - like many other archaeologic treasures it was moved before the Aswan dam was opened.

Yet another sunset over the Nile.
taken from the east bank of the river.

Medinet Habu is the mortuary temple of pharaoh Ramesses III.
It is located on the west bank of the Nile, not too far away from the Colossi of Memnon.
For some reason, this fabulous temple is not on the agenda of most tourists who prefer to spend the time in Karnak, Luxor temple and the valley of the kings.
However, missing out on the vivid colours of this temple really would be a pity!

The pharaoh and some baboons worshipping the god of the sun.

In a great temple such as this, there always are some restoration works going on.
All photos taken with a Minolta Dynax 9 on Fujichrome Velvia.

Not exactly beautiful: the high dam memorial was meant to celebrate Soviet-Egyptian collaboration on the dam project.

A small grave on the Fatimide Cemetery (Aswan, Upper Egypt).

Another photo from the Fatimide Cemetery.

Just about every evening you can see this sort of sunset over the Nile in Luxor and Aswan.
Similar shots on this site:
Aswan Sunset, Luxor Sunrise, Egypt: an evening in Aswan.

Museum reflections

How to take pictures when you are in a fascinating museum where only the bare minimum of light falls on the archaeological treasures, - achieving a truly mystical atmosphere?
Normally, I’d just use my tripod, - but this was forbidden as was the flash.
My only “high-speed” film was a 100 ASA Fuji Provia (I usually use 50 ASA Velvia).
So I was a bit apprehensive when I unfolded the small reflector I bought for portraits - sure enough, the wardens looked uneasy, but this was not expressly forbidden, - so I could shine at least a little bit more golden (or silvery, depending on the side of the reflector used) light on the pieces I found most interesting.
It sure seems to have worked!

12 years after my last visit, I was fortunate to see the temple under a full moon - again!
This is one of the sphinxes that belonged to the avenue of sphinxes that once connected Luxor temple and Karnak.
Today, only small parts of this avenue are visible, - it must have been wonderful when it was still 3 km long!
The head looks very much like the head of Ramesses II at the front Pylon, that I photographed twelve years ago.
click to see a larger version of the photo.

Right in the centre of Aswan, between the Nubian museum and the unfinished Obelisque, there is the Fatimide Cemetary with hundreds of graves, some of which date back to the 9th century (others are quite recent).
There are small children’s graves and big tombs for holy men. Hiring one of the “guides” at the entrance is well worth a small Baksheesh.

Seen from the park beside the Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan.

This whirling dervish was truly amazing - spinning forever his clothes being coloured wheels.
Here, I stopped his movement combining a fill flash with a relatively long exposure.
As to dervishes: this originated as a sort of Sufi-prayer in Turkey - but I guess such tourist performances do not really have a religious significance.
Still, a remarkable experience!
more Egypt pictures.

It is a good idea to be at the site even before the temples open. This gives you time to enjoy the atmosphere and take some shots of the temple walls in the red morning son.
Eventually, the temple warden (here seen wielding a huge key in the form of an “anch” will unlock the door to the temple.
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take pictures inside…

and another shot of dawn at Luxor.

A balloon rises from the west bank of the Nile, a few minutes before daybreak.
This photo was taken from the same position as the previous one (Tokina zoom at 400 mm + 1,7 tele extender).

I had to get up pretty early to get this shot.

The moon seen from our hotel room in Aswan.
For the technicall inclined: Minolat Dynax 9, Fujichrome Velvia, Tripod, Tokina 80-400 mm lens + 1.7* Tele extender (=680 mm focal length).

Nubian House at the first cataract, near Aswan.

There are several ways to see Abu Simbel:
you can take the convoy. This is the cheapest and most popular option, giving you, however, little more than an hour at the site!
The luxury way is to take one of the ships cruising lake Nasser.
We opted for the plane instead: this gave us time to visit the site at daybreak, before the big crowds.
A side-effect of this approach was that we also saw the sound and light show at night.
While we enjoyed the illuminated temple, the laser projections simply were too much!
The picture above shows the Ramses temple with laser beams behind it.
If the statues look a bit blurry: this is due to the fact that during the long exposure time several images were projected on them…

Even worse: The temples were (ab)used as an projection screen! Here you can barely discern the Nefertari temple under the projected image:

more photos of Egypt

Now, as always, one can only approach this temple by boat.
Looking at it, it is very difficult to believe that the whole complex was moved from one island to another one when the new Aswan dam was constructed. Even the shape of the new location, Agilika island, was changed to make it as similar to the original Philae island as humanly possible.

View from Elephantine island at Aswan.

This is the second gallery of pictures from Egypt in this weblog.
There also is another one with Egypt photos taken in 1992.
Also, there’s the Egypt section of Travel Photo Net.