The theme of this week’s FriFotos is COLUMNS. Thus, I wanted to share some photos of Middle Eastern sites and ruins as seen through my travels. Hope you like them!
Cairo’s minarets
Known as the city of the thousand minarets: I lived in Cairo for a full year study Egyptian and Modern Standard Arabic. Those beautiful Islamic structures remind me of columns:
Islamic Cairo minarets by Scott D. Haddow
“One of the tall minarets at Cairo’s al-Azhar Mosque” by Asim Bharwani
Roman columns and ruins at Beit She’an
Beit She’an in Israel is, hands down, one of my favorite sites in the Middle East. The sheer size, and preservation of some of the columns and the theater found here, are retreat.
Beit Shean Roman theater (Stellas mom, Flickr)
The Roman cardo in Beit She’an National Park (Israeltourism, Flickr)
The Nabatean city of Petra, Jordan
Do I really need to say more? I had a tear-jerking moment in Petra and even got to climb the monastery to the very top with Beoduin. Some of my most memorable Middle East travel experiences to date!
The Treasury at Petra by fellow traveler Bernard Gagnon
Philae temple, Aswan
One of my favorite temples in Upper Egypt, I got to visit Philae temple on my birthday back in the summer of 2009. it was one of the first ancient Egyptian temples I got to ever see, so I was extremely giddy that day! It probably shows in the pictures:
I was so happy! Even though the tourists completely ruined this shot…
Philae Temple from the Nile River
Just like a postcard! The Philae temple site is much bigger than it seems
Medinet Habu Temple, Upper Egypt
Now, if you were to ask me which is not only my favorite Middle East temple, but my favorite temple of all, I would probably say Medinet Habu. All the BRIGHT colors found all over the walls, ceilings, columns of this site are just AMAZING. Hard to believe they are THOUSANDS of years old! In my opinion, it is one of the most underrated ancient Egyptian sites in the entire country.
Medinet Habu columns. Impressive, no? (Jolianne, Flickr)
In my opinion, the most colorful of all ancient Middle Eastern sites! (Bob Gaffney, Flickr)
What Middle Eastern sites and columns have you visited?
December 15, 2012 at 6:02 am
You’ve captured some gorgeous columns here, Maria. Philae is one of my favourites, especially magical at night time.
December 16, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Thanks Sophie I visited during today (daytrip), so I couldn’t see it the night. Do you have any of those night pictures? Would love to see them!
January 21, 2013 at 12:35 am
Your pics are gorgeous. The pictures give a felling of actually being there. I enjoyed it so much. Thank you so much for this awesome post.