The historical sites of Egypt are among the most visited in the world. Travelers visit the historical sites of Egypt to see the remnants of the ancient civilization whose citizens referred to it as Kemet. There are hundreds of historical sites, museums, and monuments in Egypt that relate to Kemet. Very few travelers have decades to give serious attention to each of them. To maximize your understanding and to make your experience memorable, I will give 5 sites that I believe are essential to exploring the world of Kemet during your visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt. Honorable mention goes to Hatshepsut’s great temple “Djeser Djeseru”, or “the Most Select and Holiest of Places”, at Deihr el-Bahri.

5. Karnak Temple

Karnak is perhaps the largest temple in the world. The ancients referred to it as “Ipet-isut”, which means “The Most Select of Places”. It may have been in existence during the Old Kingdom but became more relevant during the Middle Kingdom. Spirituality was an important part of Kemetic life for royalty, priests, scribes, and every day folk. The temple, its features, and its inscriptions give a window into Kemetic spiritual life. The rise of this impactful temple was contemporaneous with the rise of the almighty god Amen. Amen had a wife/compliment named Mut and a son named Khonsu, both of which have temples attributed to them at the Karnak Temple. Karnak is THE spiritual center of a spiritual center.

4. Temple of Seti

The temple of Seti l at Abydos is extremely important, yet overlooked by tourists. If you travel to Egypt to educate yourself about the ancients, or to explore the life and culture of Kemet, I think you MUST see the King’s List at Abydos. The King’s list is one of the most important sites, and historical documents that is still intact, although it has experienced some damage. Proper socialization and knowledge of the ancestors was an important part of preparing Kemetic kings to be successful. This King’s List features Seti l teaching his son Ramses ll about the great kings of Kemet. Ramses ll is featured with a child with the side-lock of hair. This list is one of the resources that reveals the sequence of kings. The temple is about a 3 drive from Luxor, but it is well worth it for educational purposes. 

3. Abu Simbel

At Abu Simbel you will see Ramses ll’s temple, which is dedicated to gods Ptah, Ra-Horakhty, Amun, and the deified Ramses ll. It not only features his reverence for the deities like MA’AT, but historical accounts of his own life. Ramses ll was a part of the 19^th Dynasty, which emerged from military leadership. This reality is reflected in the iconography of this great temple. The beauty and exceptional craftsmanship are striking. Adjacent to Ramses ll’s temple is a temple to his great wife Nefertari who was from the region that is today Sudan. Her temple is dedicated to the goddess Het-Heru, who is often referred to by the Greek name Hathor. The temple is also astonishing in its beauty. It has important political significance as this marriage brought peace between two political entities. If you view these two temples with a good guide, you will have an excellent feel for the world of Ramses ll and Nefertari, and the spirit of the times in which they ruled.

2.  The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo

The Egyptian Museum is a must-see for anyone that visits Egypt to explore Kemetic History. The museum was first opened in 1902 and has faced a number of challenges ranging from theft to corruption. It has over 120,000 artifacts that range from the Pre-Historic era to the Late Period. What makes this museum special is not the number of artifacts, but the particular artifacts that you can see. There of several pieces from the rulership of Akhenaton. The Papyrus of Merer is an account of the process of transporting stone from the Sinai Peninsula to build Khafra’s pyramid. There is a small statue of Khufu, which is quite rare amongst all of the remaining artifacts from Kemet. I believe the most important artifact is the Narmer Palette, which is amongst the world’s oldest historical documents. This cosmetic palette is an indicator that it was Narmer that united the two lands. Through its symbology, it offers great insight into the priorities and culture of Kemet in the earliest era of unification of the two lands. The Grand Egyptian Museum and the National Museum can be interesting, however neither come close to the Egyptian Museum in regard to the range and significance of artifacts.

1. Giza Plateau

Of all the historical sites of Egypt, the most important and awe-inspiring is the Giza Plateau which the ancients referred to as “Kher Neter”. Egyptologist translate this as “the necropolis”. A necropolis is the land of the dead, like a cemetery for example. In the minds of the ancients, this would translate more like “The land of the reborn”. The 3 large pyramids are attributed to kings Khufu, Khafra, and Menkara of the 4^th Dynasty. They are father, son, and grandson. Khufu’s pyramids stood 481 feet high/146.5 meters at one time. In the 1^st century BCE a Greek scholar named Diodorus Siculus referred to Khufu’s pyramid as one of the 7 great wonders of the ancient world. Today it is the only one still standing, despite desecration over the hundreds of years. Each of the 3 major pyramids are unique in their own right. They represent a major step in the evolution of pyramid-building from the step pyramid of Djoser that was designed by Imhotep in the 3^rd Dynasty.

The Giza Plateau also includes Her Em Akhet, which translates as “Heru on the Horizon”. It is known today as the Sphinx. There is lots of conjecture regarding the origins and meaning of this large and mysterious monolith. 

There are many important structures on the Giza Plateau that are impressive but overlooked. For example, the satellite pyramids of Khufu’s and Menkhara’s pyramids. One of the satellite pyramids is attributed to Khufu’s mother Hetepheres, who was hugely influential. The tomb of Mersankh in the eastern cemetery of the Giza Plateau is intact, with hieroglyphs to aid her transition to the next realm. The western cemetery, just west of Khufu’s pyramid, has a pyramid that is attributed to Hemiunu, who is acknowledged as the primary designer of the Giza Plateau. 

No one knows what the future holds. These sites have been under threat of destruction for over 1500 years. To this day, many are offended by their presence. Delve into the world of ancient Kemet while you still can. If you would like to experience a trip of a lifetime, join an educational tour that will be led by Perry Kyles, PhD. If you would like a guided tour of the Giza Plateau only, click here for a wonderful guide that will educate you and protect you from the unsavory elements in Egypt.