A Statue of Anubis in Tutankhamun s Tomb, Taken During Carter Expedition in 1922

The statue of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of mummification and the afterlife, was discovered inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter. Dating back over 3,000 years, the figure is a striking representation of Anubis, with the body of a man and the head of a jackal, embodying the god’s role in overseeing the embalming process and guiding souls to the afterlife. The discovery of this statue, along with countless other treasures in the tomb, helped to shine a light on the rich and elaborate funerary practices of ancient Egypt.

At the time of its discovery, the statue was an important find, as it provided an insight into both the religious beliefs of the time and the craftsmanship of ancient Egyptian artisans. Carved from wood and gilded in gold, the statue was not only a religious artifact but also a valuable piece of art that symbolized the divine protection of King Tut in his journey to the afterlife. Its presence in the tomb emphasized the importance of Anubis in the royal burial rituals and the belief in life after death that permeated ancient Egyptian culture.

Today, the statue of Anubis is housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where it continues to be an iconic piece of ancient Egyptian history. Preserved through careful conservation efforts, it stands as a testament to the skill of the artisans who created it and the fascinating mythology that shaped ancient Egyptian society. Visitors from around the world can still marvel at its detailed craftsmanship and its connection to one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in history, offering a lasting glimpse into the ancient world that continues to capture imaginations today.

Tourists Take Tea Atop the Great Pyramid, 1938

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, before stringent protective measures were implemented by the Egyptian government, it was common—and often expected—for visitors to climb the Great Pyramid of Giza. Tourists, who were primarily wealthy and aristocratic, were often assisted by local guides who made the ascent easier.

The specific photo shows a group, including what appear to be wealthy Western tourists and their Egyptian guide/attendant, enjoying a relaxed moment at the pyramid's flat summit. The man on the right is sunbathing, while the others are gathered around a small table for tea. This practice highlights the casual, almost picnic-like way some tourists treated the monument, viewing it as a sightseeing challenge rather than a strictly protected archaeological monument.

This kind of activity is strictly forbidden today. The practice of climbing the pyramids was eventually banned because of safety concerns, damage to the ancient stones, and to preserve the sacred nature of the site.

26 Stunning Portraits of Egyptian Women From Cairo in Traditional Dress From the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Egyptian culture has six thousand years of recorded history. Ancient Egypt was among the earliest civilizations and for millennia, Egypt maintained a strikingly complex and stable culture that influenced later cultures of Europe, the Middle East and other African countries. After the Pharaonic era, Egypt itself came under the influence of Hellenism, Christianity and Islamic culture. Today, many aspects of Egypt’s ancient culture exist in interaction with newer elements, including the influence of modern Western culture.

Egyptian women’s traditional dress from the late 19th and early 20th centuries reflected a blend of Ottoman, Mamluk, and local Egyptian influences, with regional and social class variations. Here are some key elements of their attire during this period:

1. The “Melaya Lef”: A large black shawl or wrap worn over clothing, particularly by urban women in Cairo and Alexandria. Often made of silk or cotton, it covered the body modestly and was sometimes paired with a headscarf. Some women added decorative elements like embroidery or beads.

2. The “Tarboush” and Head Coverings: Elite women often wore a tarboush (fez) with a long sheer veil (yaşmak), following Ottoman trends. The mandil (headscarf) was commonly used in rural areas. More conservative women used a “burqu” (face veil) made of fine netting or silk, especially in urban settings.

3. The “Yelek” or “Tob”: A long, loose-fitting dress, often with long sleeves. Made of cotton, linen, or silk, depending on the wearer’s wealth. Embroidered versions were popular among wealthier women.

4. The “Gallabeya”: A simpler, everyday dress, mostly worn by rural and lower-class women. Often brightly colored in contrast to the darker urban styles. Typically paired with a headscarf and simple jewelry.

5. Accessories and Jewelry: Women adorned themselves with silver and gold jewelry, including bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. Kohl was used for eye makeup, and henna for hand and foot decoration. Wealthier women wore fine embroidered shoes, while rural women often went barefoot or wore simple leather sandals.

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Princess Diana Posing Awkwardly in Front of the Pyramids in Egypt, 1992

During her visit to Egypt in 1992, Princess Diana refused to stand in front of the pyramids for a picture, feeling nervous and saying, “The picture will be boring, and I’ll look ridiculous!”

The photographer responded, “Madam, the pyramids are one of the seven wonders of the world, and you are the eighth. Can we take the picture?” She laughed and said, “How could I refuse your request?”

Standing awkwardly alone with her head slightly tilted to the side and her arms crossed, showing no intention of faking any pose for the media, Princess Diana was pictured next to the Great Pyramids of Giza – a photo that would later be regarded as one of the most iconic.

Known as the People’s Princess who broke with royal traditions, she often had a tradition of showing her mood in photos, whether she was happy or unhappy. It was that very reason which “drew the public” to her photographs.

The day before Diana was visiting the Pyramids, she told her personal photographer Anwar Hussein that she did not feel comfortable taking the photograph. “When people ask me to stand in front of places like the Pyramids, I feel awkward, especially when I’m on my own. I don’t like posing. But I will do it really quickly—and once—and you can grab the picture,” she had instructed.

Hussein ended up taking a number of pictures that captured a variety of different shots, and in each one she is seen to be absorbed in the moment. The British tabloids were disappointed with the photographs, photographer Norbert Schiller noted, not only because the poses were seen as boring and awkward, but also because the tan-colored outfit did not stand out with the desert scenery.

Photographs provide a rich glimpse of culture – telling stories about people, daily life, or a society. Princess Diana’s photograph, in this case, did not just show an awkward pose next to the pyramids, but a peek into the horrors of a celebrity-obsessed world that obsesses with the documentation of the lives of public figures that are often segregated from the world of the general public.

Photographer Norbert Schiller, who was also present taking photographs during the trip in 1992, recalled how Princess Diana’s visit to Egypt foreshadowed her death in 1997 as it showed the media’s obsession with capitalizing on her every move. These incidents revealed the level of insanity that Princess Diana was forced  to endure, no matter how hard she tried to protest it with an awkward pose.

“She was unable to escape the merciless pursuit which eventually led to her violent and tragic death,” he wrote.

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Cairo in the Late 19th Century Through Gabriel Lekegian’s Lens

Gabriel Lekegian (1853–1920), also known as G. Lékégian, was an Armenian painter and photographer, active in Constantinople and Cairo from the 1880s to the 1920s. Little is known about his life, but he left an important body of work under the name of his studio ‘Photographie Artistique G. Lekegian & Cie’.

With a large number of now historical photographs of Ottoman Egypt, he documented the country at the end of the 19th century. Among other collections, his photographs are held in the New York Public Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

These amazing photos were taken by Gabriel Lekegian that show everyday life in Cairo from the late 19th century.

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Vintage Photographs Depict the Moment a Group of Statues of King Menkaure Were Unearthed in Giza

In 1902 an Egyptological “summit” was held on the terrace of the Mena House hotel in Cairo. It had been invited by Gaston Maspero, director of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, and some of the great archaeologists of the time were invited.

The German Ludwig Borchardt (who in 1912 discovered the bust of Nefertiti) on behalf of the German archaeologist George Steindorff, the Italian Ernesto Schiaparelli (who in 1904 would locate Nefertari’s tomb), and the North American George Andrew Reisner, known as the “American Flinders Petrie” for the precision and meticulousness of his methods. The purpose of the meeting was to distribute the excavation areas on the Giza plateau.

Thus, the Germans were given the sector of the pyramid of Khafre; the Italians, part of the cemetery located to the north of the pyramid of Khafre, and the North Americans were lucky enough to have the entire funerary complex of Pharaoh Menkaure, the architect of the smallest pyramid of the three that stand in Giza.

Four years later, in 1906, archaeologist George Reisner began excavating in the vicinity of the Menkaure funerary complex, leading an expedition organized by Harvard University.

Statues everywhere

The pyramid of Menkaure had already been explored in 1834 by the British Richard Vyse, so Reisner focused on investigating other elements of the complex.

His inquiries soon bore fruit. Along the east face of the pyramid, Reisner located the upper temple – where fragments of a colossal seated alabaster statue of the pharaoh appeared – and the remains of the road that joined this building with the lower temple or the valley (which has not been found yet), where the purification rites of the king’s mummy took place. He also discovered the funerary chapels of the three satellite pyramids belonging to the wives of Menkaure and some tombs of funerary priests in charge of the royal cult.

In June 1908, Reisner, after carrying out some surveys, focused his attention on discovering the remains of the Lower Temple of Menkaure. It was a raw brick construction with a limestone foundation, which gave the impression of having been hastily finished, perhaps due to the unexpected death of the king.

At the eastern entrance, a hall with four columns – flanked by rooms that looked like warehouses – led to a large patio that gave access to the offering room, with six columns, and the sanctuary itself, next to which some rooms opened.

It was in these rooms that Reisner made a sensational discovery in July 1908. Joseph Lindon Smith, illustrator of the expedition, recounts the moment of the discovery: “I myself shared with Reisner the exciting opening of each of those rooms full of sculptures. Two alabaster portraits of the king, four complete statues, and the triad. Reisner could barely contain his excitement...”

Thus, to the amazement of the archaeologists, magnificent sculptural groups emerged from the rubble: eight sculptures of Greywacke (a type of sandstone) each composed of three characters: the pharaoh with the white crown of Upper Egypt; the goddess Hathor, with her characteristic headdress with two horns and the sun disk, and the personification of a nome or province of ancient Egypt.

Four of these sculptures, which received the name of triads, were fragmented and incomplete, but four others were found complete and in an excellent state of conservation.

Their function is uncertain, although they possibly had both a cult and a political component; a way of indicating that Menkaure was the lord of the whole country.

Masterpieces

When Reisner believed that the temple in the valley of Menkaure had already revealed all its secrets, on January 8, 1910 another complete sculptural group came to light: a representation of the pharaoh, wearing a nemes or royal handkerchief, accompanied by a woman who hugs him, possibly his wife, Queen Khamerernebty.

George Reisner recovered a large amount of material from the Menkaure funerary complex. Under the laws of distribution of archaeological finds in force at the time, Reisner took to the United States one of the complete triads and the group of Menkaure with his wife, in addition to some fragments and the colossal alabaster statue of the pharaoh from his high temple.

The rest of the triads that were complete stayed in Egypt.

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20 Wonderful Color Photos Capture Everyday Life in Egypt in 1976

Egypt’s culture in the 1970s was characterized by a rich variety of peoples, values, religions, ideals, policies, and customs that continue to shape the country today.

Egypt traditionally practices moderate Islam. Women were encouraged to study and work. Women's rights were recognized. In the mid-1970s, many Egyptians emigrated to the Gulf states for work when the price of oil shot up.

Coptic Christians during the 1970s suffered many attacks after the Islamic Revolution. In fact, since 647 C.E., Christians were the minority in Egypt, as many converted to Islam in order to avoid paying a tax to the Muslim government. The traditional teachings of the Koran allowed men to remain dominant within society. According to the Koran, men are the protectors of the women, who were weaker and needed care. Islamic Sharia (law) considers men to be greater than women.

These amazing vintage photographs capture street scenes of Egypt in 1976:

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The Ruins of Thonis-Heracleion, Ancient Egypt’s Greatest Lost City

Besides these features, Egypt is also famous as being an ancient city with a history of thousands of years deep under the ocean. That is the city Thonis-Heracleion, the city is likened to another version of the legendary Atlantis.

Reconstruction of the city of Thonis-Heracleion.

Located on present-day Abu Qir Bay, just 14,9 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of the Egyptian city of Alexandria, the city of Thonis-Heracleion dates back 2,700 years. At the time, it was a bustling city with a dotted network of canals. With harbors, wharves, temples connected to each other by ferries and pontoon bridges, this was really a city with the most maritime traffic in the world at that time.

Regarding its name, the city of Thonis-Heracleion is derived from a compound name of the Egyptians and Greeks. In it, the city owner called this place Thonis and the Greeks used Heracleion to refer to this place.

It is known that in the 5th century BC (BC), the Greek historian Herodotus was the first to mention the appearance of this city. Accordingly, before Alexandria was founded in 331 BC, Heracleion was present and was the place to trade goods from the Mediterranean.

Although one of the prominent cities of ancient civilization, in the past, Thonis-Heracleion was considered a city only in legends because of its spotless disappearance.

Although many people mentioned Heracleion, in the 19th century, no one could prove that it ever existed when it only appeared in a few ancient Egyptian and Greek books with traces of this city is still a mystery. Only in 2000, during a trip to search for a shipwreck, underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio and his expedition accidentally discovered the hidden underwater city under the Nile River.

In the depths of the ocean, the ruins of Heracleion are gradually revealed with excellent conservation status despite being buried for 1,200 years. In particular, the area of ​​this city alone has been sunk, 64 boats of all kinds have been discovered, and 700 anchors have been discovered. This also means that the bustling trade as well as the network of harbors mentioned in the ancient texts are completely accurate.

Besides the ships, people also found a lot of gold, copper, and stone coins. This was considered a means of exchange at that time. Along with that are many giant god statues and stone steles, or even stone sarcophagi containing animal mummies sacrificed to the gods.

After doing deep research, experts believe that the disappearance of this city is closely related to natural disasters. Accordingly, a giant earthquake and tsunamis of 100m caused all of them to sink to the bottom of the sea that no one could find until a thousand years later.

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30 Rare Color Photographs of the Kingdom of Egypt in 1937

The Kingdom of Egypt was the legal form of the Egyptian state during the latter period of the Muhammad Ali dynasty’s reign, from the United Kingdom’s recognition of Egyptian independence in 1922 until the abolition of the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan in 1953 following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.

Following independence from the United Kingdom, Sultan Fuad I assumed the title of King of Egypt; despite being nominally independent, the Kingdom was still under British military occupation and the UK still had great influence over the state.

The new government drafted and implemented a constitution in 1923 based on a parliamentary system. The nationalist Wafd Party won a landslide victory in the 1923–1924 election and Saad Zaghloul was appointed as the new Prime Minister.

In 1936, the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty was concluded and British troops withdrew from Egypt, except for the Suez Canal. The treaty did not resolve the question of Sudan, which, under the terms of the existing Anglo-Egyptian Condominium Agreement of 1899, stated that Sudan should be jointly governed by Egypt and Britain, but with real power remaining in British hands.

Below is a collection of 30 rare and amazing color photographs of the Kingdom of Egypt in 1937:

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32 Amazing Vintage Photos of Egyptians From the 1870s

These early photographs were taken by Émile Béchard in Cairo, Egypt during the 1870s. Portraits include ‘types’ such as shopkeepers, street merchants and dancers.

Béchard was active in Cairo from 1869 until 1880 where he specialized in photographing Egyptian subjects in an orientalist style. The name H. Bechard appears scratched into the negatives of a number of large format prints produced in Egypt in the 1870s.

Émile Béchard operated a studio during the same period in the Esbekiah Gardens in Cairo along with Hippolyte Delie and who won a gold medal at the International Exhibition of 1878 in Paris. It is believed that Delie was an alternate name used by Emile’s brother Hippolyte.

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The Relocation of Abu Simbel Temples, Egypt in the 1960s

The Abu Simbel Temple is an enormous rock temple complex located on Egypt’s border with Sudan. The two temples of this complex were built in the 13th century BC during the reign of the powerful Ramesses II. While this temple complex is known today as the Abu Simbel Temple, it was referred to in the past as the “Temple of Ramesses, Beloved by Amun.”

The Abu Simbel Temple was eventually abandoned, and was buried under millennia of desert sand. This monument was forgotten, and was only rediscovered during the early part of the 19th century. The re-discovery was allegedly made by the Swiss traveler and geographer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (most famous for his discovery of Petra, Jordan).

During the 1960s, the Abu Simbel Temple was threatened by the construction of the Aswan High Dam. It was decided that the monument should be saved, and proposals on how this should be done were accepted. In the end, it was decided that the temple be dismantled, and then reassembled at a new location.

This undertaking, which began in 1964, was completed in 1968, after eight years of international effort involving 1000 workers. The two Abu Simbel temples were cut into 1,035 blocks each weighing between 20 and 30 tonnes and the four colossal statues of a seated Ramses II, and six more of him standing up, were sawn into pieces. They were then hoisted to the top of the cliff, 64 meters (210 feet) from their original location and reassembled to reconstitute the two temples exactly as they were. Finally, artificial hills were built around the site as a protective barrier against the river. Here, some amazing vintage photographs show the Abu Simbel Temples being relocated, 1964-1968.

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