Egypt Reopens Ancient ‘Avenue Of Sphinxes’ Where Grand Carnivals Were Held
Photo ID 188738758 © Paul Vinten | Dreamstime.com
While Rome rebuilds its Colosseum floor, over at the city of Luxor, a 3,400-year-old road sees a rebirth to its past glory.
On November 25, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities held a grand reopening ceremony for a sacred road dubbed the ‘Avenue of Sphinxes’, also known as ‘The Path of God’. The 1.7-mile road of sandstone blocks connects two temple complexes—the Temple of Karnak and the Temple of Luxor—with more than 1,050 sphinx and ram statues lining its sides.
Keeping faithful to tradition, organizers recreated the ancient Opet Festival, an annual festival and carnival thrown in the presence of kings. CBS News details that the celebrations honored the River Nile and fertility. The modern-day reenactment imagined dancers in pharaonic attire practicing ancient rituals, per CNN.
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities describes the road as the “largest open museum in the road,” and sees history and archaeology as an opportunity to welcome visitors into the city.
Video screenshot via Experience Egypt
The Avenue of Sphinxes was buried beneath desert sands for thousands of years, and was only uncovered in the late 1940s. It is believed that, when the road was in use, it was actively developed throughout dynasties, with wine storage areas, a pottery-making facility, and baths being added over time.
Let the countdown begin!
— ExperienceEgypt (@ExperienceEgypt) November 24, 2021
On November 25th, 7:30PM CLT, (5:30PM GMT) witness the grand opening of the Sphinx Avenue in Luxor. pic.twitter.com/PWLyCRHJxr
Video screenshot via Experience Egypt
[via CNN Travel and CBS News, images via various sources]
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