Family TravelEgypt Sabbatical We were stuck at the Esna dam which was closed for maintenance from 9 to 1, so they arranged alternative transportation for us to get to the temple ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240003 ( they let me drive the carriage back so it was quite an adventure ). When we arrived, there was the usual trip through the souk ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240004 The temple is very impressive ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240005 for its walls ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240006 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240007 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240008 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240011 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240013 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240014 which are covered with hieroglyphics that were Greek imitations of the Egyptian originals. The Greeks led by Alexander the Great conquered Egypt by imitating their religion in ways like this.

Also impressive were the columns which showed the Greco-Roman style ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240010 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240020 and the ceiling which among other things showed the signs of the Zodiac ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240009 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240021

A minaret in the background ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240012 provides a wonderful contrast to the temple.

While at the temple, we took the almost obligatory picture of Suzanne taking a picture of the rest of us ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240015 had Napoleon, our tour guide, take a picture of all of us ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240016 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240017 ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240018 but we forgot to tell him that the camera doesn't advance film and so got 3 and took a picture of Napoleon with the children. ../../../Sabbat/Pics/04.24.00Esna//P4240019