This photo, and indeed it is a photo, not a real photo post card, was purchased last Friday at an estate sale for 50 cents. I think it's stunning and I wish I knew the history of it. I know it was taken at the Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt. Other than that, I know nothing. I'm imagining it is a tourist souvenir, but I can't be sure because nothing is written on the back to indicate its origins. So I'm hoping by posting it on the net someone someday will step forward and say they have one. Perhaps it was part of a series sold to tourists of various images at the temple.
I find it very romantic and mysterious. Has a nice Indiana Jones quality to it. There's an interesting story here if we could find out its history.
This is my submission for this weeks Sepia Saturday. For a change I actually have something sepia. Keep me posted if you ever see another one just like it.
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Here is a photo, taken by Steven Beikirch in 1992, of the same basic image, for a book called Ancient Egypt. You can see the photo in context on the web here.
Photo: © 1992 Steven Belkirch, Ancient Egypt
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That is indeed beautiful, romantic, and mysterious. It makes me want to go there. I hope you will let us know if you find out more.
ReplyDeleteI spent hours trying to find one like it online figuring if it had been part of a series it would certainly show up. Nothing even similar. I doubt it is one-of-a-kind.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, if I ever hear anything I'll post an update.
I just remembered that I have a packet of Egyptian ones but I don't think this is Egypt. It is an interesting view and one would think those columns would still be standing.
ReplyDeleteI very much believe this is indeed part of the Karnak temple in Egypt. You can go to the following website and see a photo taken from nearly the same place showing the columns with the obelisk in the background. So yes, it's still standing.
ReplyDeletehttp://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_egypt/seti_i.htm
It's so amazing and you have to wonder how old it is and how difficult it was to erect? When I looked at it I thought, "Is it Turkey?" but Egypt is just as intriguing. Great snap,
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic postcard.Its photographic quality is outstanding. It could well be that it was done for the souvenir market, as Egypt was then on the must see list of the well heeled!
ReplyDeleteIt's NOT a post card, that's why I'm so curious. If it were a card it would pretty much be a given that it was mass produced. This is a photograph. That's why I'm so very curious.
ReplyDeleteVery cool photo...it does seems mysterious..I am not sure I would want to stand on that street..:)
ReplyDeleteThat's one to spark the imagination, if ever I saw one...
ReplyDeleteA superb photograph that has left you with more questions than answers. Presumably the character with the staff, is a guide. What of the mysterious gent in the background, though? Very atmospheric.
ReplyDeletethanks!!
ReplyDeletei now have INDIANA's theme song playing in my head...
let's hope i won't be stuck with it the whole day...
:D~
lovely photograph. its origin is equally intriguing. let's hope you get an answer...soon!!
:D~
HUGZ
very interesting. It would be amazing to learn the date and original story about who and why...lacking that, we can wonder..thanks for posting
ReplyDeleteI am trying to imagine what it would be like to stand between those two walls, with such a narrow space between. Would I feel claustrophobic? Maybe.
ReplyDeleteI'm also interested in the tracks running between the walls. I wonder what ran on those tracks. They're not in the second, modern, photo.
I hope you somehow find out more about this fantastic photograph.
A very dramatic photo! And a bit mysterious to boot.
ReplyDeleteThat was a wonderful SS. I love things like that. I had some friends who went to Egypt on vacation a few years ago. I wanted to go so bad but could not work it out at that time. Great job.
ReplyDeleteQMM
It's odd that the later photo has that stone pavement. So somebody improved things in the time between the photos. The obelisk looks just like the Washington Monument.
ReplyDeleteI believe the tracks were there during archaeological digs. The stone floor might have been added later for preservation and for tourists. Then again, perhaps it was beneath the layers of dirt. I believe diggings and restoration is still going on.
ReplyDeleteThe little man in the pith helmet I imagine is English or French.
Yes, the obelisk does look like the Washington Monument.
I certainly hope someone someday sees this photo and fills us in on the photographer and history. We have our own little archaeological dig right here, for information.
The exact name of this is the Great Hypostyle Hall. According to Wikipedia:
The hall covers an area of 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m2). The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 columns in 16 rows; the 2 middle rows are higher than the others (being 33 feet (10 m) in circumference and 80 feet (24 m) high).
What a wonderful photo, it's quite a mystery to me though. I look forward to your update if you manage to find out more.
ReplyDeleteThe big name in 1920s photography of Egyptian ruins was (or were) Lehnert and Landrock. Their postcards can still be picked up pretty cheaply. Of course this is not a postcard but it has a look about it suggesting it was no mere amateur behind the camera.
ReplyDeleteI looked online for Lehnert and Landrock and didn't find this shot. I also contacted the gentleman who runs Luminous Lint and he'd never seen it. So, right now I'm at a dead end. I can only hope someday someone sends along some information. And I'll keep looking. It is a good mystery I would love to solve.
ReplyDeleteLove it. I always think that there is something of the voyeur about us collectors of old photographs, wanting to see into unknown worlds and by our insight connect with them. And well done getting the contemporary photograph for comparison.
ReplyDelete