1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,500 NARRATOR: The ruins of two colossal temples in Egypt, 2 00:00:06,500 --> 00:00:08,667 Karnak, 3 00:00:08,667 --> 00:00:10,033 and Luxor. 4 00:00:11,500 --> 00:00:16,066 Connecting them is an ancient road flanked by mythical beasts. 5 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:20,066 This is the Avenue of Sphinxes. 6 00:00:21,100 --> 00:00:21,934 It's remarkable these ancient structures 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,467 have stood for thousands of years. 8 00:00:25,533 --> 00:00:26,767 NARRATOR: The route is used by 9 00:00:26,767 --> 00:00:29,533 the most powerful pharaohs of ancient Egypt. 10 00:00:30,467 --> 00:00:33,066 The avenue lies buried beneath the sands 11 00:00:33,133 --> 00:00:35,367 for thousands of years. 12 00:00:35,433 --> 00:00:39,266 Now, a vast restoration project is returning 13 00:00:39,333 --> 00:00:42,233 this lost wonder to its ancient glory. 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,266 Today, we are bringing the Sphinx back to life. 15 00:00:46,333 --> 00:00:50,000 Nobody has seen it like this over thousands of years. 16 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,934 NARRATOR: Our cameras have unique access to follow experts 17 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,867 as they decipher ancient messages from the temple ruins. 18 00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:00,100 Despite centuries of investigations, 19 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,500 there are still many secrets. 20 00:01:02,500 --> 00:01:04,266 NARRATOR: What is the purpose of 21 00:01:04,333 --> 00:01:06,667 this extraordinary construction, 22 00:01:06,667 --> 00:01:09,533 and who are the ancient rulers who build it? 23 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,767 To solve these mysteries, 24 00:01:15,834 --> 00:01:18,467 we blow away the sands of time 25 00:01:18,533 --> 00:01:21,033 and unearth this mighty structure. 26 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:26,934 We explore sacred chambers of ancient ruins... 27 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:35,033 and digitally reconstruct the avenue in all its splendor, 28 00:01:36,867 --> 00:01:41,433 to decode the secrets of the Lost Sphinxes. 29 00:01:52,767 --> 00:01:53,834 Luxor. 30 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:57,567 This modern metropolis is home to 31 00:01:57,567 --> 00:02:00,433 the sprawling remains of an ancient city, 32 00:02:01,567 --> 00:02:04,033 the Egyptian capital Thebes. 33 00:02:05,100 --> 00:02:07,000 Thebes is where the pharaohs show off 34 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,066 their power by building their grandest structures. 35 00:02:11,500 --> 00:02:13,367 NARRATOR: In the center of the city are 36 00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:15,934 the two largest temples in all of Egypt... 37 00:02:17,867 --> 00:02:20,834 Karnak and Luxor. 38 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,667 Together, they cover an area the size of 60 football fields. 39 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:32,700 In the 1950s, 40 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:34,667 archaeologists make an incredible 41 00:02:34,734 --> 00:02:38,033 discovery outside the entrance of Karnak. 42 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:41,667 Buried beneath the sand, 43 00:02:41,734 --> 00:02:44,233 they unearth a road made of sandstone, 44 00:02:45,767 --> 00:02:49,767 and on either side, colossal statues of sphinxes. 45 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,467 Over 1200 of these mythological creatures once line 46 00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:58,767 the entire length of this 1.5-mile avenue. 47 00:02:59,867 --> 00:03:03,367 The route connects Karnak with another sacred temple 48 00:03:03,433 --> 00:03:04,834 complex, Luxor. 49 00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:08,567 What can these temples and this 50 00:03:08,634 --> 00:03:12,266 extraordinary avenue reveal about ancient Egypt? 51 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:18,367 In 2021, 52 00:03:18,367 --> 00:03:21,767 after a 70-year reconstruction project 53 00:03:21,834 --> 00:03:24,734 that cost more than $30 million, 54 00:03:26,367 --> 00:03:29,567 the biggest restoration endeavor in Egyptian history, 55 00:03:31,467 --> 00:03:35,767 the Avenue of Sphinxes is finally open to investigators. 56 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:40,266 A grand ceremony is held in Luxor 57 00:03:40,266 --> 00:03:43,634 to celebrate the resurrection of this ancient marvel. 58 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,100 Meredith Brand is on a mission to uncover 59 00:03:52,100 --> 00:03:54,567 the secret purpose of the Avenue of Sphinxes. 60 00:03:56,867 --> 00:03:58,667 MEREDITH: This avenue is massive. 61 00:03:58,667 --> 00:04:01,767 It's on a scale unlike anything in ancient Egypt. 62 00:04:02,700 --> 00:04:05,500 NARRATOR: Meredith starts her investigation at the southern 63 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,066 end of the Avenue at Luxor Temple. 64 00:04:09,266 --> 00:04:12,767 Luxor Temple is the seat of the Pharaoh's divine power, 65 00:04:12,767 --> 00:04:15,767 and it's a great place to start to look for clues. 66 00:04:17,667 --> 00:04:20,066 NARRATOR: Meredith ventures through the temple gateway 67 00:04:20,066 --> 00:04:23,767 and into a vast columned room called the Colonnade Hall. 68 00:04:25,500 --> 00:04:27,367 It is decorated with the statues of 69 00:04:27,367 --> 00:04:28,834 powerful Pharaohs. 70 00:04:30,367 --> 00:04:34,266 This statue shows the young King Tutankhamun. 71 00:04:34,266 --> 00:04:36,367 Based on the facial features, 72 00:04:36,367 --> 00:04:38,467 it looks like the boy king himself. 73 00:04:39,467 --> 00:04:41,934 NARRATOR: Luxor Temple is where the rulers of the most 74 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,266 powerful dynasties of ancient Egypt are crowned as Pharaohs. 75 00:04:46,266 --> 00:04:49,166 MEREDITH: Tutankhamun reigns for only nine years, 76 00:04:49,166 --> 00:04:51,166 in an era called the New Kingdom. 77 00:04:51,166 --> 00:04:53,567 This was a golden age for ancient Egypt, and it 78 00:04:53,567 --> 00:04:56,467 was a particular moment of prosperity and glory 79 00:04:56,533 --> 00:04:57,667 for Thebes. 80 00:04:58,767 --> 00:05:01,934 NARRATOR: Luxor Temple and the Avenue of Sphinxes are 81 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:03,867 vitally important to the Pharaohs 82 00:05:03,867 --> 00:05:05,333 of New Kingdom Egypt. 83 00:05:08,166 --> 00:05:10,767 More clues about the avenue could lie on 84 00:05:10,834 --> 00:05:13,467 the lavishly decorated walls of the Colonnade Hall 85 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:14,734 in the temple. 86 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,266 They are covered in reliefs of exquisite detail. 87 00:05:20,333 --> 00:05:24,567 Meredith inspects the images and ancient inscriptions. 88 00:05:24,634 --> 00:05:26,867 MEREDITH: These are fantastic carvings. 89 00:05:26,867 --> 00:05:29,767 They paint a scene of lively joy. 90 00:05:29,767 --> 00:05:33,100 There's singers and drummers, all kinds of musicians, 91 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:37,266 dancers and acrobats and piles and piles of food. 92 00:05:37,266 --> 00:05:41,066 This shows some kind of massive celebration, 93 00:05:41,066 --> 00:05:43,367 and it must have been so important that 94 00:05:43,367 --> 00:05:46,567 the Pharaoh wants to immortalize it in stone, 95 00:05:46,567 --> 00:05:47,600 in a temple. 96 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,467 NARRATOR: These beautiful reliefs suggest the temple 97 00:05:53,467 --> 00:05:57,233 and the Avenue of Sphinxes host a spectacular event. 98 00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:02,266 Meredith searches for clues that 99 00:06:02,333 --> 00:06:04,567 could reveal who creates this relief. 100 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,000 MEREDITH: This is a cartouche. 101 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,166 It's an ancient Egyptian symbol that provides protection 102 00:06:11,166 --> 00:06:12,967 for whatever is written inside. 103 00:06:12,967 --> 00:06:16,066 This cartouche above me seems to be from a king 104 00:06:16,133 --> 00:06:17,567 named Horemheb, 105 00:06:17,567 --> 00:06:20,834 but the closer I look, something unusual is happening, 106 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:23,667 and it seems like this cartouche has been altered. 107 00:06:24,767 --> 00:06:26,500 NARRATOR: The Pharaohs of ancient Egypt 108 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:29,667 are obsessed with power and legacy, 109 00:06:29,734 --> 00:06:33,033 sometimes to the detriment of the rulers who came before. 110 00:06:35,066 --> 00:06:37,767 Meredith identifies other cartouches, 111 00:06:37,767 --> 00:06:39,934 which also appear to have been changed. 112 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,233 She examines high-definition images of them. 113 00:06:46,266 --> 00:06:48,166 MEREDITH: It has the name Tutankhamun, 114 00:06:48,166 --> 00:06:49,834 but something's happening. 115 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:53,266 Another Pharaoh comes and inserts his hieroglyphs 116 00:06:53,266 --> 00:06:54,734 into the name of Tutankhamun. 117 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,266 What's happening in this image is 118 00:06:57,266 --> 00:07:00,367 the same thing that's happening in Luxor Temple. 119 00:07:00,433 --> 00:07:03,834 What this shows is that the images in this temple 120 00:07:03,900 --> 00:07:06,467 : of the grand celebration are actually made by Tutankhamun. 121 00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:11,667 NARRATOR: Tutankhamun's short reign means that only 122 00:07:11,734 --> 00:07:13,533 a few of his works survive. 123 00:07:15,266 --> 00:07:18,767 Evidence that he creates these reliefs and celebrates 124 00:07:18,767 --> 00:07:23,166 a huge event on the Avenue of Sphinxes is remarkable. 125 00:07:23,166 --> 00:07:25,500 There must be a reason why Tutankhamun 126 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:28,066 wants to immortalize the celebration in stone. 127 00:07:29,066 --> 00:07:32,166 NARRATOR: Tutankhamun constructs a majestic relief in 128 00:07:32,233 --> 00:07:34,066 honor of this grand celebration. 129 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:37,967 Horemheb, a Pharaoh who follows him, 130 00:07:37,967 --> 00:07:40,033 claims the work as his own. 131 00:07:43,166 --> 00:07:45,834 Meredith wants to know who or what 132 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:48,000 is at the heart of the celebration 133 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,433 and this magnificent sacred complex. 134 00:07:52,867 --> 00:07:55,266 She makes her way through Luxor Temple 135 00:07:55,266 --> 00:07:57,033 to the Avenue of Sphinxes itself. 136 00:08:00,567 --> 00:08:02,934 The Sphinx is the ancient Egyptians' 137 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,567 ultimate symbol of strength and protection. 138 00:08:06,767 --> 00:08:10,066 The most famous, the Great Sphinx, guards 139 00:08:10,066 --> 00:08:13,667 the pyramid tombs and temples of Giza. 140 00:08:13,734 --> 00:08:17,967 I'm on a path, and it's lined on both sides by Sphinx. 141 00:08:17,967 --> 00:08:20,066 And when I look at them, they're a bit different. 142 00:08:20,133 --> 00:08:21,600 They're not your average Sphinx. 143 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,100 This one has the body of a lion and the head of a ram. 144 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:27,967 This Sphinx makes me think that this area is 145 00:08:27,967 --> 00:08:31,066 set apart as a route of a sacred space. 146 00:08:33,367 --> 00:08:36,500 NARRATOR: The Sphinxes on the avenue protect the ceremonial 147 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:39,567 route between the temples of Karnak and Luxor 148 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,934 and make it a sacred place. 149 00:08:44,867 --> 00:08:46,166 This is remarkable. 150 00:08:46,233 --> 00:08:48,266 These hieroglyphs tell me exactly 151 00:08:48,266 --> 00:08:49,867 what's going on with the Sphinx. 152 00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:53,567 It reads Amun Ra, king of the gods. 153 00:08:53,634 --> 00:08:55,467 Amun Ra is the god of Luxor. 154 00:08:55,467 --> 00:08:57,767 He's the god of Karnak Temple. 155 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:02,000 The name Amun is on every single one of these Sphinx, 156 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:05,767 and it tells me that this area is for Amun. 157 00:09:05,767 --> 00:09:08,934 Amun is central to what's happening on this path. 158 00:09:10,767 --> 00:09:13,667 NARRATOR: Meredith makes her way more than a mile 159 00:09:13,667 --> 00:09:15,967 along the avenue to its northern end, 160 00:09:15,967 --> 00:09:19,333 the colossal temple complex of Karnak. 161 00:09:20,700 --> 00:09:23,166 MEREDITH: Karnak Temple is where the pharaohs demonstrate 162 00:09:23,166 --> 00:09:26,433 their power by building the grandest structures. 163 00:09:28,467 --> 00:09:30,066 NARRATOR: Thousands of years ago, 164 00:09:30,066 --> 00:09:33,433 Karnak Temple is a marvel of the ancient world. 165 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,500 It spans over 250 acres, and is filled 166 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:41,567 with chapels dedicated to the gods of ancient Egypt. 167 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:47,467 In the heart of the complex is the temple's most sacred shrine, 168 00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:51,467 the Holy of Holies. 169 00:09:51,533 --> 00:09:54,266 A solid gold statue of the god Amun 170 00:09:54,266 --> 00:09:56,333 is housed within this inner sanctum. 171 00:09:57,266 --> 00:10:01,667 His crown is topped with two feathers and a sun disc. 172 00:10:01,667 --> 00:10:04,266 Who is this mighty deity? 173 00:10:04,266 --> 00:10:06,600 And why is he worshiped at Karnak 174 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,133 and on the Avenue of Sphinxes? 175 00:10:13,367 --> 00:10:15,667 Meredith makes her way through 176 00:10:15,667 --> 00:10:19,066 the vast temple to the inner sanctuary. 177 00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:23,934 MEREDITH: This is where there was a golden statue 178 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:25,467 of the god, Amun. 179 00:10:25,533 --> 00:10:28,667 And the ancient Egyptians believed that Amun himself in 180 00:10:28,667 --> 00:10:32,467 the form of a spirit lived inside of the statue. 181 00:10:32,467 --> 00:10:34,567 The only people allowed in this space 182 00:10:34,634 --> 00:10:36,600 were the king and the high priest. 183 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:40,533 This is the most sacred location in Karnak Temple. 184 00:10:41,700 --> 00:10:45,066 NARRATOR: Meredith investigates the sanctuary exterior for 185 00:10:45,133 --> 00:10:48,166 more evidence of the mysterious god. 186 00:10:48,166 --> 00:10:49,500 This is Amun. 187 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:52,667 I know it's Amun because of his unique headdress. 188 00:10:52,734 --> 00:10:55,266 He has a crown with two feathered plumes 189 00:10:55,266 --> 00:10:56,567 sticking out of it. 190 00:10:56,567 --> 00:10:58,667 And I see this image of Amun all 191 00:10:58,667 --> 00:11:00,767 over the walls of the temple of Karnak. 192 00:11:00,834 --> 00:11:04,467 It seems that almost every New Kingdom Pharaoh came here 193 00:11:04,467 --> 00:11:07,767 and built a temple or a building dedicated to the god. 194 00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:12,433 NARRATOR: Amun is the mightiest of all the gods. 195 00:11:13,500 --> 00:11:17,266 He rises to power in Egypt's New Kingdom, 196 00:11:17,266 --> 00:11:20,567 from the 16th to the 11th century BCE, 197 00:11:20,567 --> 00:11:24,033 the time of Tutankhamun. 198 00:11:25,166 --> 00:11:27,467 Looking at the statue, I notice something else. 199 00:11:27,467 --> 00:11:29,934 It actually has the facial features 200 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:32,567 of the young boy king, Tutankhamun, 201 00:11:32,634 --> 00:11:35,567 So this statue is King Tutankhamun 202 00:11:35,567 --> 00:11:37,600 as the god, Amun. 203 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,266 He would want to do this, because if the king shows 204 00:11:41,333 --> 00:11:43,367 himself as the god, 205 00:11:43,367 --> 00:11:47,967 it links Amun and the king -- the king gets the benefit of 206 00:11:47,967 --> 00:11:50,934 the power, protection, and divinity of Amun. 207 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,934 NARRATOR: Amun's rise to power as the undisputed king of 208 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,066 the gods coincides with the rise of Thebes itself. 209 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,834 The royal capital moves nearly 500 miles 210 00:12:07,900 --> 00:12:10,467 south from Memphis to Thebes 211 00:12:10,467 --> 00:12:12,634 in the 21st century BCE. 212 00:12:15,767 --> 00:12:20,500 Pharaohs make Amun the supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon 213 00:12:20,500 --> 00:12:23,166 and merge him with the sun god, Ra. 214 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,467 Amun is the creator of the universe 215 00:12:29,533 --> 00:12:31,700 and is associated with fertility 216 00:12:31,700 --> 00:12:33,066 and the force of the wind. 217 00:12:36,266 --> 00:12:39,266 Karnak Temple becomes the center of a cult 218 00:12:39,266 --> 00:12:41,567 dedicated to Amun, 219 00:12:41,634 --> 00:12:44,266 and Pharaohs construct temples to show their 220 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:46,767 affiliation with the new king of the gods. 221 00:12:48,467 --> 00:12:52,600 A grand avenue guarded by elaborate Sphinxes is the focal 222 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,567 point of a celebration of Thebes' most powerful god, 223 00:12:56,567 --> 00:12:57,867 Amun. 224 00:12:57,867 --> 00:13:01,266 MEREDITH: This is the site of more than just a celebration. 225 00:13:01,333 --> 00:13:03,967 It's a festival vital for the king 226 00:13:03,967 --> 00:13:06,667 of the gods, Amun, and the Pharaoh himself. 227 00:13:07,767 --> 00:13:11,000 NARRATOR: What could be so vital to the god, Amun, 228 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,166 and the Pharaohs of the New Kingdom? 229 00:13:14,300 --> 00:13:19,433 Could clues lie in a restored chapel in the ruins of Thebes? 230 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,066 NARRATOR: The Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor, 231 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:35,266 a monumental road at the heart of 232 00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:38,233 the ancient Egyptian capital, Thebes. 233 00:13:39,467 --> 00:13:43,100 Meredith Brand is on a mission to uncover the secrets 234 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:45,867 of the avenue and a mysterious celebration 235 00:13:45,867 --> 00:13:47,066 that takes place here. 236 00:13:50,367 --> 00:13:52,867 Statues of Amun at Karnak 237 00:13:52,934 --> 00:13:55,934 suggest he is at the center of the celebrations, 238 00:13:57,367 --> 00:14:01,533 and throughout the complex are ruins that hold further clues. 239 00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:07,567 Archaeologists excavate Karnak 240 00:14:07,567 --> 00:14:09,000 and discover fragments of 241 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,066 a mysterious structure scattered across the site. 242 00:14:13,567 --> 00:14:16,667 They piece them together and reveal it is once 243 00:14:16,667 --> 00:14:21,333 a sacred chapel dedicated to the god of Thebes, Amun. 244 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:25,433 A plinth stands in the center of the chapel. 245 00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:29,467 A gold-painted wooden boat is 246 00:14:29,467 --> 00:14:32,433 placed on top during ritual celebrations. 247 00:14:33,367 --> 00:14:36,166 It holds a solid golden statue of Amun. 248 00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:40,433 Who builds this elaborate shrine? 249 00:14:41,367 --> 00:14:44,000 And what can it reveal about the celebration 250 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,834 on the Avenue of Sphinxes? 251 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,333 Modern engineers use the original 252 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,533 fragments to painstakingly rebuild the chapel. 253 00:14:57,700 --> 00:15:02,200 Meredith ventures inside to examine the surviving evidence. 254 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:06,266 This cartouche holds the clue as to who built this chapel. 255 00:15:06,333 --> 00:15:08,266 It says [speaking ancient Egyptian] 256 00:15:08,333 --> 00:15:10,000 Amun, Hatshepsut. 257 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,266 This cartouche belongs to Hatshepsut, 258 00:15:12,333 --> 00:15:13,634 a female king. 259 00:15:15,467 --> 00:15:17,767 She was around the 1400s BC, 260 00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:21,900 a powerful Pharaoh of Egypt, and this is her chapel to 261 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:23,533 the god, Amun. 262 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:25,867 NARRATOR: Hatshepsut 263 00:15:25,934 --> 00:15:27,967 constructs six chapels like this one 264 00:15:28,033 --> 00:15:30,333 along the route of the Avenue of Sphinxes. 265 00:15:32,667 --> 00:15:36,166 Meredith examines the chapel exterior for clues about 266 00:15:36,233 --> 00:15:39,066 what happens during the celebration on the avenue. 267 00:15:41,266 --> 00:15:43,266 Oh, look at that image! 268 00:15:43,266 --> 00:15:45,000 It's fantastic! 269 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,166 There's these dancers doing back flips 270 00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:50,333 and acrobats and a musician with a harp. 271 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:54,266 The whole procession seems lively, fun entertainment. 272 00:15:54,266 --> 00:15:57,767 It kind of reminds me of the image at Luxor Temple. 273 00:15:58,867 --> 00:16:00,533 NARRATOR: A procession depicted at Luxor 274 00:16:03,166 --> 00:16:05,333 is celebrated on the avenue, too. 275 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,333 Meredith searches for more reliefs 276 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,667 that could reveal further clues about this grand event. 277 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,867 MEREDITH: This scene is important. 278 00:16:17,934 --> 00:16:22,533 It shows the king, who is behind a procession of priests, 279 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,066 walking on a road or avenue, 280 00:16:25,133 --> 00:16:27,433 carrying a barque of Amun. 281 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:31,900 NARRATOR: The barque is a sacred vessel 282 00:16:31,900 --> 00:16:34,767 and a key feature of ancient Egyptian rituals. 283 00:16:37,567 --> 00:16:40,100 The relief reveals the statue and barque 284 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:42,667 are a vital part of a ritual procession. 285 00:16:43,567 --> 00:16:46,767 They're moving forward towards a building that's like 286 00:16:46,767 --> 00:16:49,967 a waystation or a stopping point in the procession. 287 00:16:50,033 --> 00:16:54,333 And inside is the barque, and outside, 288 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,367 there is the king, offering incense 289 00:16:57,367 --> 00:17:00,100 and doing rituals at this waystation. 290 00:17:00,100 --> 00:17:04,200 So this shows an entire ritual scene on an avenue 291 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,667 with key points of rest for the barque and ritual practice. 292 00:17:08,734 --> 00:17:10,166 NARRATOR: The procession rests 293 00:17:10,233 --> 00:17:12,967 at the six shrines built by Hatshepsut. 294 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,467 Priests perform rituals in honor of 295 00:17:17,467 --> 00:17:19,533 the god Amun in each shrine. 296 00:17:20,767 --> 00:17:22,967 Here it is -- the key. 297 00:17:23,033 --> 00:17:26,767 It says [speaking Ancient Egyptian], 298 00:17:26,834 --> 00:17:29,200 "his beautiful festival of Opet." 299 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:30,900 That's the name of the festival. 300 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:33,066 This is the Opet Festival. 301 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,867 NARRATOR: Meredith wants to know if the Opet 302 00:17:36,867 --> 00:17:39,767 Festival is just about honoring Amun. 303 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,333 She examines the structure of the chapel for clues. 304 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,867 Oh, this is fascinating! 305 00:17:48,867 --> 00:17:53,166 The entire bottom of this chapel is built 306 00:17:53,233 --> 00:17:56,667 with this black diorite stone -- to the ancient Egyptians, 307 00:17:56,667 --> 00:18:00,367 black represented the fertile Nile soil after the flood. 308 00:18:00,367 --> 00:18:03,967 It was the source of life to the ancient Egyptians, and 309 00:18:04,033 --> 00:18:07,433 ancient Egyptian kings were concerned with rebirth, 310 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:09,100 renewal, and regeneration. 311 00:18:09,100 --> 00:18:13,166 Fertility was their main earthly and spiritual goal. 312 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,166 NARRATOR: The black stone reveals the importance of 313 00:18:17,166 --> 00:18:19,767 the annual Nile flood to the festival 314 00:18:19,767 --> 00:18:21,533 on the Avenue of Sphinxes. 315 00:18:25,867 --> 00:18:30,767 The Nile Valley is inundated every year by monsoon rains. 316 00:18:30,767 --> 00:18:33,934 Millions of gallons of water pour into the river. 317 00:18:37,266 --> 00:18:41,000 Priests monitor the river's depth in special structures 318 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,767 called Nilometers 319 00:18:42,767 --> 00:18:46,533 and forecast the annual flood and the size of the harvest. 320 00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:52,834 The monsoon rainwater overflows the Nile's banks 321 00:18:54,467 --> 00:18:56,967 and leaves behind a rich layer of silt. 322 00:18:58,667 --> 00:19:02,867 Farmers plant their crops in this nutrient-rich soil 323 00:19:02,867 --> 00:19:06,834 and grow the food that powers Egyptian civilization. 324 00:19:09,567 --> 00:19:12,166 MEREDITH: The symbolism of the black stone is clear. 325 00:19:12,233 --> 00:19:15,467 The Opet Festival is about the Nile inundation. 326 00:19:15,467 --> 00:19:18,266 Everybody in ancient Egypt was concerned about the flood 327 00:19:18,333 --> 00:19:21,767 of the Nile, from the king to the commoner. 328 00:19:21,834 --> 00:19:24,867 NARRATOR: The Opet Festival is a grand celebration 329 00:19:24,934 --> 00:19:26,066 to honor the mighty Amun. 330 00:19:27,867 --> 00:19:29,266 Ancient Egyptians believe 331 00:19:29,333 --> 00:19:31,734 the ceremony ensures the annual flood. 332 00:19:33,100 --> 00:19:36,100 It is the Nile flood that allows all life 333 00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:37,834 in Egypt to thrive. 334 00:19:39,367 --> 00:19:40,867 The avenue and the temples are 335 00:19:40,867 --> 00:19:43,533 used for this ritual for 1,000 years. 336 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,634 But who builds the Avenue of Sphinxes? 337 00:19:48,867 --> 00:19:52,634 Could clues be found on the mythical beasts themselves? 338 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,834 NARRATOR: Luxor, Egypt. 339 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,166 The huge Avenue of Sphinxes is the site 340 00:20:07,166 --> 00:20:11,166 of a grand religious festival dedicated to god, Amun. 341 00:20:12,367 --> 00:20:14,834 MEREDITH: The Avenue of the Sphinx is central to 342 00:20:14,900 --> 00:20:16,266 the power of the pharaoh, 343 00:20:16,266 --> 00:20:18,367 and it's a marvel of ancient engineering 344 00:20:18,367 --> 00:20:20,066 and infrastructure. 345 00:20:20,066 --> 00:20:22,166 NARRATOR: The resources of ancient Egypt are 346 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:25,266 poured into this vast construction project. 347 00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:26,767 But the name of the Pharaoh who 348 00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:29,667 first builds it is shrouded in mystery. 349 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:34,333 Clues could lie in the design of the Sphinxes themselves. 350 00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:41,166 The Karnak end of the avenue 351 00:20:41,166 --> 00:20:45,066 features more than 100 exquisitely carved Criosphinxes. 352 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,000 They have the body of a resting lion, 353 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,266 the head of a ram, 354 00:20:51,333 --> 00:20:54,166 and a statue of a Pharaoh between the paws. 355 00:20:56,567 --> 00:20:59,166 The Luxor end of the avenue 356 00:20:59,233 --> 00:21:01,467 has hundreds of Androsphinxes. 357 00:21:03,266 --> 00:21:05,433 They also have the body of a lion, 358 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,834 but each has the same human head, 359 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,367 and they sit on a platform covered in hieroglyphs. 360 00:21:14,867 --> 00:21:17,600 Could these human-headed Sphinxes shed 361 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,567 light on who builds the avenue? 362 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:29,066 The Great Sphinx of Giza, 300 miles north of Luxor, 363 00:21:29,133 --> 00:21:32,467 also features the face of the Pharaoh who builds it. 364 00:21:35,767 --> 00:21:37,834 He is believed to be the Khafre. 365 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,467 It could be that the faces on the Sphinx 366 00:21:43,467 --> 00:21:46,834 here might be evidence of the builder of the avenue. 367 00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:53,133 Meredith searches for clues at the avenue's southern end. 368 00:21:54,767 --> 00:21:57,066 MEREDITH: This is the Sphinx of Luxor Temple. 369 00:21:57,133 --> 00:22:01,166 And when I look at it closer, it's got the royal headdress, 370 00:22:01,166 --> 00:22:04,867 a cobra from its brow, and a big false beard. 371 00:22:04,867 --> 00:22:07,667 Those are all hallmarks of kingship. 372 00:22:07,734 --> 00:22:09,834 So this clearly is the face of a pharaoh. 373 00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:13,166 NARRATOR: Meredith examines the base of one 374 00:22:13,166 --> 00:22:15,467 of the Sphinxes for more clues. 375 00:22:17,367 --> 00:22:20,166 Here it is -- this is the clue I'm looking for. 376 00:22:20,233 --> 00:22:23,266 This is the name of the pharaoh who builds 377 00:22:23,266 --> 00:22:25,600 the entirety of all the Sphinx 378 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,066 I see here, and it says, [speaking ancient Egyptian]. 379 00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:31,066 That's Nectanebo the First. 380 00:22:31,066 --> 00:22:35,066 He's the first king of the last great Egyptian dynasty, 381 00:22:35,133 --> 00:22:36,500 and his plans, 382 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:40,867 his grand design for Karnak and Luxor, shape what we call 383 00:22:40,867 --> 00:22:42,467 the Avenue of Sphinx today. 384 00:22:43,767 --> 00:22:46,066 NARRATOR: Nectanebo is a powerful 385 00:22:46,066 --> 00:22:48,867 and ambitious military commander. 386 00:22:48,867 --> 00:22:53,266 In 380 BCE, he overthrows the reigning Pharaoh 387 00:22:53,266 --> 00:22:56,834 in a military coup and proclaims himself as ruler. 388 00:22:58,166 --> 00:23:01,467 He is the last Pharaoh to build at the Avenue of Sphinx. 389 00:23:03,367 --> 00:23:06,467 MEREDITH: His plans and initiatives between Luxor 390 00:23:06,533 --> 00:23:10,533 and Karnak, his design, last to this day. 391 00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:18,767 NARRATOR: Meredith ventures deep into Luxor Temple to find 392 00:23:18,834 --> 00:23:21,233 out who is the first Pharaoh to build here. 393 00:23:23,066 --> 00:23:25,400 This is Amenhotep the Third. 394 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,467 His name is right up there -- Nebmaatre. 395 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:30,767 And he has a cobra on his brow, 396 00:23:30,834 --> 00:23:32,867 a sign of kingship. 397 00:23:32,867 --> 00:23:35,266 NARRATOR: Amenhotep is the grandfather of Tutankhamun. 398 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:41,166 His reign begins in around 1390 BCE, 399 00:23:41,166 --> 00:23:44,667 over 1000 years before Nectanebo the First. 400 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,767 Amenhotep the Third shapes the Theban infrastructure 401 00:23:49,767 --> 00:23:51,166 with his monuments, 402 00:23:51,233 --> 00:23:53,266 and he's instrumental to constructing 403 00:23:53,266 --> 00:23:54,467 the Avenue of the Sphinx. 404 00:23:55,667 --> 00:23:59,500 But Hatshepsut's cartouche in the Red Chapel of Karnak 405 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:01,266 proves that the construction 406 00:24:01,266 --> 00:24:04,934 of the avenue goes even further back than Amenhotep. 407 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:09,567 It is Hatshepsut who first builds 408 00:24:09,567 --> 00:24:13,233 the processional road in the 15th century BCE. 409 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,066 She constructs human-headed Sphinxes in her own likeness. 410 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:25,400 Decades later, Amenhotep the Third expands the avenue 411 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:28,033 and connects it to another temple complex. 412 00:24:31,867 --> 00:24:35,000 Amenhotep's grandson, Tutankhamun, picks 413 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,033 up the project once again and expands it. 414 00:24:40,467 --> 00:24:43,033 One thousand years after the boy king, 415 00:24:43,867 --> 00:24:46,467 Nectanebo the First adds the human-headed 416 00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:50,266 Sphinxes that flank the entrance to Luxor Temple. 417 00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:55,166 MEREDITH: The Avenue of the Sphinx is 418 00:24:55,166 --> 00:24:57,834 a vast construction project spanning generations 419 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:00,166 of Pharaohs over 1,000 years. 420 00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:02,066 NARRATOR: Ancient engineers craft 421 00:25:02,133 --> 00:25:05,266 the Sphinx with extraordinary detail and precision. 422 00:25:06,166 --> 00:25:10,834 Can modern engineers resurrect these ancient masterpieces? 423 00:25:20,266 --> 00:25:22,934 NARRATOR: Luxor, Egypt. 424 00:25:24,467 --> 00:25:27,233 The restored ruins of the Avenue of Sphinxes 425 00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:30,166 runs through the center of the ancient city. 426 00:25:31,467 --> 00:25:34,100 The avenue lies buried for thousands 427 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:36,333 of years beneath the desert sands. 428 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,567 Restorers begin the task of uncovering 429 00:25:40,567 --> 00:25:43,066 the avenue over 70 years ago. 430 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:45,900 MOSTAFA: This project is considered to be one of 431 00:25:45,900 --> 00:25:48,367 the biggest restoration projects all over 432 00:25:48,367 --> 00:25:49,567 the Egyptian history. 433 00:25:49,567 --> 00:25:51,967 Now, it's accessible for the first time for 434 00:25:52,033 --> 00:25:54,567 the investigators to come to study everything 435 00:25:54,567 --> 00:25:56,066 about the Sphinxes. 436 00:25:57,266 --> 00:26:00,767 NARRATOR: Now, restoration work helps investigators piece 437 00:26:00,767 --> 00:26:02,533 together what these magnificent 438 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,066 Sphinxes look like in their prime. 439 00:26:06,900 --> 00:26:09,233 Each Androsphinx is carved 440 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:11,333 from a monolithic block of sandstone. 441 00:26:12,667 --> 00:26:16,767 Stonemasons get to work on the finer details. 442 00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:19,100 They sculpt the lion's body 443 00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:21,066 and the human head 444 00:26:21,133 --> 00:26:22,967 with breathtaking precision. 445 00:26:25,367 --> 00:26:28,333 Artists decorated with a vibrant palette 446 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:29,834 of mineral-based paints. 447 00:26:32,867 --> 00:26:36,367 Finally, they carve mysterious hieroglyphs 448 00:26:36,367 --> 00:26:38,333 into the base of each Sphinx. 449 00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:42,967 How are modern experts 450 00:26:43,033 --> 00:26:45,934 reconstructing these ancient masterpieces? 451 00:26:52,567 --> 00:26:54,233 Mostafa Al-Saghir 452 00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:57,100 heads a team of excavators and restorers who 453 00:26:57,100 --> 00:27:00,667 work to return the Sphinxes to their ancient glory. 454 00:27:02,367 --> 00:27:05,767 This restoration project had been started more than 455 00:27:05,767 --> 00:27:08,767 70 years ago, when the first statue of the Sphinx is 456 00:27:08,834 --> 00:27:11,066 discovered in front of Luxor Temple. 457 00:27:12,367 --> 00:27:15,166 NARRATOR: Today, Mostafa and his team work to 458 00:27:15,166 --> 00:27:17,934 restore one of the human-headed Androsphinxes. 459 00:27:19,467 --> 00:27:21,166 MOSTAFA: Today is a very special day. 460 00:27:21,233 --> 00:27:23,367 We are now making the restoration for one of 461 00:27:23,367 --> 00:27:26,567 the Sphinxes that had been found here in this area. 462 00:27:26,567 --> 00:27:29,433 Only a few statues had been found, because during 463 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:31,934 the medieval period, many of them had been destroyed. 464 00:27:32,867 --> 00:27:36,166 NARRATOR: Mostafa's mission is to position the head 465 00:27:36,166 --> 00:27:38,734 back onto the body of the Sphinx statue. 466 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,166 MOSTAFA: This work is really important, because 467 00:27:42,233 --> 00:27:43,767 it's a real piece of the history. 468 00:27:43,767 --> 00:27:47,333 It really gives us good information about the work done 469 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:48,567 by Nectanebo the First here, 470 00:27:48,567 --> 00:27:51,667 especially in the immediate area of the Avenue of Sphinx 471 00:27:51,667 --> 00:27:53,433 between Karnak and Luxor Temples. 472 00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:57,000 NARRATOR: Nectanebo the First is obsessed 473 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,166 with the power of the Sphinx. 474 00:27:59,166 --> 00:28:03,233 He builds more Sphinx statues than any other Pharaoh. 475 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,767 The team start by clearing 476 00:28:07,767 --> 00:28:10,433 the Sphinx of years of dirt and debris. 477 00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:13,867 MOSTAFA: My team really are experienced with this, 478 00:28:13,867 --> 00:28:16,467 but they are dealing with a piece of the history. 479 00:28:16,467 --> 00:28:19,166 So they have to take care for every step they are 480 00:28:19,233 --> 00:28:20,867 doing today. 481 00:28:20,867 --> 00:28:23,767 NARRATOR: Next, the crew use a crane to lift 482 00:28:23,767 --> 00:28:27,433 the ancient head of the Sphinx into place over the body. 483 00:28:28,266 --> 00:28:30,867 MOSTAFA: We are bringing the Sphinx back to life. 484 00:28:30,867 --> 00:28:33,834 Nobody has seen it like this over thousands of years. 485 00:28:34,767 --> 00:28:37,467 NARRATOR: The slightest error will be a failure 486 00:28:37,467 --> 00:28:39,667 for Mustafa and his team. 487 00:28:39,667 --> 00:28:41,166 They know what to do, 488 00:28:41,233 --> 00:28:43,467 but they have to be really careful, because there is no 489 00:28:43,467 --> 00:28:45,066 chance for any mistake. 490 00:28:46,467 --> 00:28:48,467 NARRATOR: With the head in position, 491 00:28:48,467 --> 00:28:50,900 the key moment has arrived. 492 00:28:50,900 --> 00:28:53,166 So this is the most important moment. 493 00:28:53,166 --> 00:28:55,667 They have to be really accurate to put 494 00:28:55,667 --> 00:28:58,734 the head and to fit perfectly over the statue. 495 00:29:00,066 --> 00:29:01,900 NARRATOR: Inches at a time, 496 00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:04,934 they place the head delicately onto the body. 497 00:29:09,667 --> 00:29:12,533 The team maneuvers the head into perfect position, 498 00:29:13,467 --> 00:29:17,433 removes the crane, and brushes away the final debris. 499 00:29:19,266 --> 00:29:22,667 They use a special cement mix made with plaster and red 500 00:29:22,667 --> 00:29:26,834 brick to secure the head of the Androsphinx into place. 501 00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:30,867 MOSTAFA: This is the moment that we are waiting for. 502 00:29:30,934 --> 00:29:33,066 Now, the restoration work is complete. 503 00:29:33,133 --> 00:29:37,433 We really feel so satisfied to bring the Sphinx back to life. 504 00:29:38,367 --> 00:29:41,166 NARRATOR: All that's left is for the restoration team to 505 00:29:41,233 --> 00:29:43,767 make final checks on the quality of the work... 506 00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:46,567 [scattered applause] 507 00:29:46,567 --> 00:29:49,567 and celebrate the successful restoration 508 00:29:49,567 --> 00:29:51,333 of the ancient Sphinx. 509 00:29:53,567 --> 00:29:55,967 The original construction requires 510 00:29:56,033 --> 00:29:58,967 an enormous workforce of skilled craftspeople. 511 00:30:01,266 --> 00:30:05,166 Stonemasons cut sandstone in the quarries of Gebel el-Silsila. 512 00:30:06,767 --> 00:30:10,567 Sailors transport it 75 miles downriver 513 00:30:10,567 --> 00:30:12,166 to Thebes by barge. 514 00:30:13,767 --> 00:30:17,667 Skilled workers use copper tools to cut the sandstone 515 00:30:17,667 --> 00:30:19,233 into smaller slabs 516 00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:22,734 and assemble them to form the paving of the avenue. 517 00:30:24,767 --> 00:30:28,767 Stonemasons intricately carve blocks of sandstone 518 00:30:28,834 --> 00:30:31,767 and transform them into the Sphinxes that line 519 00:30:31,767 --> 00:30:33,634 the processional road. 520 00:30:35,667 --> 00:30:39,266 Finally, they inscribe hieroglyphs on the base 521 00:30:39,266 --> 00:30:40,967 to honor the Pharaoh 522 00:30:41,033 --> 00:30:43,934 and paint the Sphinxes with bright pigments. 523 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:48,533 MOSTAFA: There should be hundreds or even thousands of 524 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,100 engineers, stonemasons, 525 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:54,667 artists, who construct this magnificent Avenue of Sphinx 526 00:30:54,734 --> 00:30:56,934 from Luxor to Karnak Temples. 527 00:30:58,767 --> 00:31:01,767 NARRATOR: The engineers who construct this mighty Avenue 528 00:31:01,767 --> 00:31:05,266 of Sphinxes do so for a single purpose -- 529 00:31:05,266 --> 00:31:06,834 the Opet Festival. 530 00:31:08,467 --> 00:31:11,867 What is the grand finale of the Opet Festival? 531 00:31:12,867 --> 00:31:16,066 Can clues be found at a mysterious shrine 532 00:31:16,133 --> 00:31:18,233 in Luxor Temple? 533 00:31:26,767 --> 00:31:30,834 NARRATOR: The monumental temples of Karnak and Luxor 534 00:31:31,767 --> 00:31:34,934 are linked by the iconic Avenue of Sphinxes. 535 00:31:36,867 --> 00:31:38,834 In ancient times, 536 00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:42,266 a grand celebration of the annual Nile flood takes 537 00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:45,467 place here -- the Opet Festival. 538 00:31:46,567 --> 00:31:48,266 But the magnificent finale to 539 00:31:48,266 --> 00:31:51,066 the festival is shrouded in mystery. 540 00:31:51,066 --> 00:31:53,867 Luxor temple is the final destination 541 00:31:53,867 --> 00:31:55,000 of the Opet Festival, 542 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,166 and there must be more to discover inside. 543 00:31:58,767 --> 00:32:00,500 NARRATOR: Beyond the imposing walls 544 00:32:00,500 --> 00:32:03,066 and colonnades of Luxor Temple 545 00:32:03,133 --> 00:32:06,266 lies a mysterious structure that marks 546 00:32:06,333 --> 00:32:08,667 the end point of the procession. 547 00:32:10,867 --> 00:32:14,467 It is flanked by four towering columns 548 00:32:14,467 --> 00:32:17,266 that are shaped like lotus flowers, 549 00:32:17,333 --> 00:32:19,467 a symbol of life and creation. 550 00:32:21,567 --> 00:32:24,367 The shrine has three mysterious rooms, 551 00:32:25,867 --> 00:32:29,533 each seemingly built to house something of great importance. 552 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:32,867 Could this shrine hold clues about 553 00:32:32,867 --> 00:32:36,000 the grand finale of the Opet Festival? 554 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:37,767 And what can it reveal about 555 00:32:37,767 --> 00:32:40,934 the Pharaoh's obsession with this annual ritual? 556 00:32:43,166 --> 00:32:45,734 Meredith ventures into the shrine. 557 00:32:45,800 --> 00:32:49,433 She examines the walls and spots an important clue. 558 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:55,066 This room is clearly dedicated to the god, Amun. 559 00:32:55,066 --> 00:32:57,967 His image is on both sides of the door. 560 00:32:57,967 --> 00:33:00,767 It's on the door frame. 561 00:33:00,767 --> 00:33:04,367 And when I look through, I can clearly see the god, Amun, 562 00:33:04,433 --> 00:33:08,266 and even there's a picture of his sacred barque. 563 00:33:08,333 --> 00:33:09,867 So this is the place where Amun 564 00:33:09,867 --> 00:33:12,667 rests towards the end of the Opet Festival. 565 00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:16,867 NARRATOR: Two smaller rooms flank the chamber 566 00:33:16,867 --> 00:33:19,233 where Amun's barque shrine is kept. 567 00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:24,066 Meredith wants to find out who they could be dedicated to 568 00:33:24,967 --> 00:33:26,734 and what this could reveal about 569 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:29,333 the final stages of the Opet Festival. 570 00:33:30,500 --> 00:33:32,667 NARRATOR: She investigates the first chamber. 571 00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:35,266 This image is important. 572 00:33:35,266 --> 00:33:38,066 It has the symbol of the moon. 573 00:33:38,066 --> 00:33:40,600 There's the crescent-shaped moon underneath 574 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:44,567 the sun, and that's sitting on a sacred boat. 575 00:33:44,634 --> 00:33:48,667 This shows the symbol of the moon god, Khonsu, 576 00:33:48,667 --> 00:33:52,266 and it's his sacred barque that resided in this shrine. 577 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,066 Amun is not the only god worshiped 578 00:33:57,066 --> 00:33:58,734 during the Opet Festival. 579 00:34:00,166 --> 00:34:04,000 The god, Khonsu, is central to ancient Egyptian religion 580 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,934 and also to this celebration. 581 00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:09,867 Meredith enters the final chamber to 582 00:34:09,867 --> 00:34:12,367 find out which other gods reside here. 583 00:34:13,867 --> 00:34:17,266 This image is at the back of the shrine, and it shows 584 00:34:17,266 --> 00:34:19,166 the king offering to 585 00:34:19,166 --> 00:34:22,834 a goddess, and she has a vulture headdress 586 00:34:22,900 --> 00:34:25,266 and the crown of upper and lower Egypt. 587 00:34:25,266 --> 00:34:27,600 That's the symbol of the goddess Mut. 588 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:30,266 So this tells me, this shrine is 589 00:34:30,266 --> 00:34:32,834 dedicated to the barque of the goddess Mut. 590 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:38,500 NARRATOR: These three gods -- Amun, Mut, and Khonsu -- 591 00:34:38,500 --> 00:34:41,967 are each vital to the Opet Festival. 592 00:34:41,967 --> 00:34:43,500 Ancient Egyptians must perform 593 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:46,467 elaborate rituals to appease them. 594 00:34:46,533 --> 00:34:50,567 If they don't, the annual Nile flood might fail, 595 00:34:50,634 --> 00:34:54,734 and with it, the miracle of Egypt's life-giving harvest. 596 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,166 The Opet Festival is a celebration of 597 00:34:57,166 --> 00:35:00,166 the renewal of the divine power of the Theban Triad, 598 00:35:00,166 --> 00:35:02,467 Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. 599 00:35:04,767 --> 00:35:07,867 NARRATOR: The festival begins at Karnak Temple. 600 00:35:07,867 --> 00:35:09,834 High priests take the statues of 601 00:35:09,900 --> 00:35:13,667 the three gods and carry them on ceremonial barques. 602 00:35:17,467 --> 00:35:20,166 The Pharaoh accompanies the priests as they 603 00:35:20,233 --> 00:35:23,033 begin the procession along the Avenue of Sphinx. 604 00:35:28,166 --> 00:35:32,066 The procession stops at six waystations along the route 605 00:35:32,133 --> 00:35:34,834 and finally reaches Luxor Temple. 606 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:41,066 The ceremonial barques are taken into the shrine 607 00:35:41,066 --> 00:35:42,967 of the Theban Triad, 608 00:35:42,967 --> 00:35:46,233 and two weeks of feasting and celebration begin. 609 00:35:48,867 --> 00:35:53,934 The gods of the Theban Triad rest in place at Luxor Temple. 610 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:55,233 They are appeased, 611 00:35:56,166 --> 00:35:59,734 and the vital Nile flood is ensured for another year. 612 00:36:00,667 --> 00:36:03,600 MEREDITH: The annual Nile flood gives life to Egypt. 613 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,467 It brings in new soil and water to grow crops 614 00:36:06,467 --> 00:36:07,400 that everyone needed to survive, 615 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,867 and festivals like Opet ensured 616 00:36:10,867 --> 00:36:12,734 the flood would come. 617 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,066 NARRATOR: Why else is the Opet Festival 618 00:36:15,133 --> 00:36:16,867 important to the pharaohs? 619 00:36:16,867 --> 00:36:20,266 Could it be used to maintain their grip on power? 620 00:36:28,467 --> 00:36:31,166 NARRATOR: Two grand temples, 621 00:36:31,166 --> 00:36:33,266 Luxor... 622 00:36:33,266 --> 00:36:34,533 and Karnak. 623 00:36:36,100 --> 00:36:39,967 Mighty pharaohs pour resources into them for over a millennia. 624 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,533 They connect them with a ceremonial road, 625 00:36:44,467 --> 00:36:46,066 the Avenue of Sphinxes, 626 00:36:47,367 --> 00:36:51,166 built for the grand annual Opet Festival. 627 00:36:51,166 --> 00:36:53,000 MEREDITH: The Opet Festival celebrates 628 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,967 the renewal of the divine power of the Theban Triad, 629 00:36:56,033 --> 00:36:57,767 Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. 630 00:36:57,767 --> 00:37:01,333 It guarantees the life-giving waters of the Nile flood 631 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:04,767 and ensures the inundation for the prosperity of Egypt. 632 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,166 NARRATOR: Meredith wants to know why the Pharaohs 633 00:37:08,166 --> 00:37:10,967 are so obsessed with the Opet Festival. 634 00:37:12,667 --> 00:37:16,433 She heads into the heart of Luxor Temple to find out. 635 00:37:18,467 --> 00:37:20,567 This is a remarkable image. 636 00:37:20,567 --> 00:37:23,900 Amenhotep the Third inscribes on these walls 637 00:37:23,900 --> 00:37:27,000 the source of Pharaoh's divine power. 638 00:37:27,000 --> 00:37:31,333 Here, he depicts his mother sitting on a bed with the god, 639 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:35,100 Amun, and Amun is extending the key of life, 640 00:37:35,100 --> 00:37:37,100 the Ankh sign, to the mother. 641 00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:39,967 He is giving her divine essence. 642 00:37:40,033 --> 00:37:43,467 And from this moment, Amenhotep the Third is born. 643 00:37:43,467 --> 00:37:46,533 He is not just a mortal, he's also a god. 644 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:49,800 NARRATOR: Amenhotep portrays himself 645 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,000 as a direct descendant of Amun, 646 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,867 king of the gods and the focus of the Opet Festival. 647 00:37:57,000 --> 00:38:00,066 He engraves his claim in stone so that all 648 00:38:00,066 --> 00:38:03,900 who see it will know of his divine conception. 649 00:38:03,900 --> 00:38:05,967 This is a delightful image. 650 00:38:06,033 --> 00:38:09,166 It shows the god, Amun, and this small child 651 00:38:09,233 --> 00:38:12,567 is actually Amenhotep the Third, and he's sitting on Amun's lap. 652 00:38:12,634 --> 00:38:17,367 The intimacy in this image connects the Pharaoh to 653 00:38:17,367 --> 00:38:19,000 the gods. 654 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:21,567 NARRATOR: The Pharaoh Amenhotep's relationship with 655 00:38:21,567 --> 00:38:24,567 our moon is close and personal. 656 00:38:24,634 --> 00:38:28,333 So the Pharaoh's celebration of Amun at the Opet Festival 657 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,233 is also a celebration of the Pharaoh himself. 658 00:38:37,266 --> 00:38:40,233 Meredith heads to the most sacred part of the temple. 659 00:38:41,467 --> 00:38:44,367 This is the inner sanctuary of Luxor Temple. 660 00:38:44,367 --> 00:38:48,767 It is the holy of holies, and there's a special image here, 661 00:38:48,767 --> 00:38:53,233 and it shows the god, Amun, and the Pharaoh in an embrace. 662 00:38:53,300 --> 00:38:55,367 It demonstrates that the god Amun 663 00:38:55,367 --> 00:38:57,433 is the source of the Pharaoh's power. 664 00:38:58,867 --> 00:39:00,667 NARRATOR: The people of Thebes gather to 665 00:39:00,734 --> 00:39:03,667 witness the Opet Festival procession each year. 666 00:39:04,767 --> 00:39:07,000 They are surrounded by powerful images 667 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:09,433 of their god and their Pharaoh. 668 00:39:11,100 --> 00:39:14,433 The Opet Festival was an amazing chance for the people 669 00:39:14,500 --> 00:39:17,567 of Egypt to get a glimpse of the god, Amun. 670 00:39:17,634 --> 00:39:20,767 It solidified their personal connection with the god. 671 00:39:20,767 --> 00:39:23,967 It also allowed the Pharaoh to legitimize 672 00:39:24,033 --> 00:39:26,934 his reign through his intimate relationship with Amun. 673 00:39:30,166 --> 00:39:32,000 NARRATOR: The Pharaoh is at the center 674 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:33,367 of a ritual ceremony, 675 00:39:33,367 --> 00:39:37,734 staged and managed to affirm his divine right to rule. 676 00:39:42,166 --> 00:39:44,367 He leads the two-week celebration 677 00:39:44,367 --> 00:39:46,166 of the inundation of the Nile 678 00:39:46,166 --> 00:39:49,066 and a new year of his reign over Egypt. 679 00:39:51,166 --> 00:39:53,100 The entire population of Thebes 680 00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:55,333 takes part in the Opet Festival. 681 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,667 Dancers, singers, and wrestlers 682 00:39:58,734 --> 00:40:00,967 perform around the temple complex. 683 00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:03,800 When the celebration is over, 684 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:06,800 the priests float the statues and barque shrines 685 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:08,967 on barges back to Karnak, 686 00:40:09,033 --> 00:40:11,734 where they remain until the following year. 687 00:40:13,700 --> 00:40:18,000 After two weeks of celebrating, the spirits of Amun, Mut, 688 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:21,000 Khonsu, and even the Pharaoh are revived. 689 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,066 They emerge from Luxor temple rejuvenated. 690 00:40:24,133 --> 00:40:26,567 And after, the Nile will flood, 691 00:40:26,567 --> 00:40:28,900 the fertility will come back to the land, 692 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:30,433 and Egypt will prosper. 693 00:40:31,367 --> 00:40:33,667 NARRATOR: The vast megastructure of the Avenue 694 00:40:33,667 --> 00:40:37,066 of Sphinxes is built for a single purpose, 695 00:40:38,367 --> 00:40:41,433 a processional route for the Opet Festival. 696 00:40:42,367 --> 00:40:45,266 The rituals practiced here are vital to all 697 00:40:45,266 --> 00:40:49,367 of Egypt, from the Pharaoh to the common people. 698 00:40:49,367 --> 00:40:51,166 MEREDITH: The Avenue of the Sphinx is 699 00:40:51,166 --> 00:40:53,767 a vital link between the king of 700 00:40:53,834 --> 00:40:54,867 the gods, Amun, 701 00:40:54,934 --> 00:40:57,433 the Pharaoh, and the ancient Egyptian people. 702 00:40:58,467 --> 00:41:02,667 NARRATOR: Built by generations of Pharaohs over a millennium, 703 00:41:02,667 --> 00:41:06,867 the Avenue of Sphinxes is at the center of Egyptian culture. 704 00:41:08,867 --> 00:41:11,867 Buried beneath the sands of time, 705 00:41:11,867 --> 00:41:15,533 archaeologists uncover it thousands of years later, 706 00:41:17,166 --> 00:41:18,967 to reveal a vital connection 707 00:41:19,033 --> 00:41:21,433 between the temples of ancient Thebes, 708 00:41:22,667 --> 00:41:26,000 uncovering the secrets of the Lost Sphinxes.