Colossi

On my first visit to Egypt, in 1970, one of the sites that impressed me the most was that of the Colossi of Memnon, two enormous statues located on the west bank of the Nile close to the Valley of the Kings. These 60-foot tall statues represent the Pharaoh Amenhotep III and originally flanked the entrance to his mortuary temple, of which little now remains.

The Colossi of Memnon

Note:
In ancient times, one of the statues used to make a strange moaning noise when the wind blew through cracks in it. However, this noise stopped after the Roman emperor Septimius Severus repaired the statues in 199 AD.

Ibn Tulun Mosque, Cairo

Most people who visit Egypt understandably spend all of their sightseeing time looking at the pyramids, tombs and temples from the Pharaonic period. However, Egypt also offers some fascinating Islamic monuments, the most imposing of which is the Ibn Tulun Mosque.

Situated in Cairo, this mosque is oldest and the largest (in area) in all of Egypt. It was built in 876-879 AD and its notable features include a minaret with an external spiral staircase.

The mosque's minaret is visible in the background

The domed serbil in the central courtyard was added in the late 13th century.



The mosque, built of red brick plastered over with white stucco, is surrounded by a wall whose top is decorated with what looks almost like a string of paper-cut-out soldiers.

Looking out from the top of the surrounding wall

The graceful lines of the mosque's arches are supplemented by intricate carvings.