Inside an Egyptian temple

When we entered the Temple of Debod, we were given a short briefing on how to avoid damaging the temple. One of the instructions was to carry our bags in front of us, instead of on our backs. I had also read it somewhere before the visit (was it upon registration?) I’m not surprised…it is really easy to swipe something when turning around with our bag on our back.

We were first directed to a small chamber where a video was being projected, to tell us about the history of the temple.

audiovisual chamber

We watched for a short while (it was boring :P ) and then left to explore the rest of the temple.

This is in the area where we first enter the temple. The “reception” was on the right, and the audiovisual chamber right behind it.  

some drawings on the walls

some more

I have no idea what this is (the bright part on the left is the entrance)

Then we entered a chamber in the middle, with drawings on the walls. This chamber was dark, with a glass plate on either side to describe the drawings. There were buttons beside each explanation, that we could press to illuminate the drawing in question (for a short while, then the light would automatically go off). The problem was that the drawings were not very clear, and I could hardly make them out. 

This should correspond to the wall in the photo above

I can't really see anything here...

When I figured out that couldn't see the drawings properly, I first wanted to snap photos of everything and then look at them properly later. But after that we were no longer the only ones in the chamber, it became too difficult to take photos. In the end I just snapped more photos of some parts, and left. We only had half an hour to visit the whole temple, and I had already spent too long in this chamber... (I'm not posting all my photos; there's more than these.)

This is at the end of the left side of the chamber (the same side that was in the photos above). The drawings are in the picture below; see if you can see them.

And this is at the entrance/exit; on the right if we have just entered. Note that it is a mirror image of the first picture I posted of this chamber; that was on the left upon entering.

the bright part is the entrance/exit; beyond that is that bright area from earlier

After that we entered a few other chambers, on the left side of the entrance, I believe (but I can't really remember).

better view of the stone slab from the photo above

and the plaque beside it

After that, we went upstairs. The lady who welcomed us in was waiting to give us another short briefing: The wall on the right of the staircase (going up) was very very old, and we must not touch it. On the left, on the other hand, was a wall from Salamanca, and we could hold/lean on to it if necessary (since the stairs were narrow and steep).

So I had to take a photo of the stairs. :P (at the bottom is the lady who explained things to us)

Upstairs, there was a miniature depicting the Temple of Debod in the second century.

And then, another miniature scene showing the locations of multiple temples. Here, pressing a button on a temple's description will light up a small red light (LED bulb) at the temple, so that we can see which one it is.

There were a lot of stones on display, each with a plaque describing it.

and another video...I didn't pay much attention to it :P

And more stones...for each one, the description is in the picture after it.

Block with offering scene. I think we can see this one clearly.

This one, on the other hand, I can't really see the drawing...

block with royal names

block with royal titles

Done with this section, we made our way downstairs again, and out into the temple compound.

looking through the arches (this pic is not very pretty, but it shows what is directly beyond the arches :P )

the front of the temple (the entrance we went through)

Note: It is worth mentioning that we could also walk around the temple. I went to the back, but there was nothing worth taking a photo close up of. (and it was hot; so I did not dally...)

view through the arches, towards the temple

slanting view, towards the temple again

and a slanting view away from the temple

After we went outside, we each took a photo with the temple.