Sun illuminates sanctuary of Egypt's ancient Queen Hatshepsut Temple

LUXOR, Upper Egypt, Jan 6 (MENA) - Many tourists witnessed on Monday morning a rare phenomenon when sunlight illuminates the sanctuary area of Deir el-Bahari, which was built by Queen Hatshepsut in the arms of the historic Qurna Mountain, on the western mainland of Luxor.

In statements, Ayman Abu Zaid, the head of the Egyptian Society for Tourism and Archaeology Development in Luxor city, Upper Egypt, said that this phenomenon comes among many astronomical events related to the sun and its orthogonal rays on ancient Egyptian temples and cemeteries.

He added that the sun shone on the area at 6:36:41 a.m. after arising from the horizon line by an arc length and poured its brightness after nearly five minutes. Then, the phenomenon of orthogonality began as the rays sneaked through the main gate of the Hatshepsut Temple (Deir el-Bahari).

On Sunday, December 22, a shaft of sunlight illuminated the usually dark sanctum of the Karnak temple, an ancient complex in the southern city of Luxor, in an also rare astronomical phenomenon that happens twice a year to mark the summer and winter solstices.

Luxor governor Moustafa Alham attended the ceremony along with a number of archaeologists, astronomers, and Egyptologists.

Tourists gathered to watch the spectacle that has endured for thousands of years of Egyptian history.

The religious complex of Karnak, in Luxor, is the largest ancient religious site in the world.

Egyptologists say the solar alignment at the God Amun sanctum at Karnak coincided with the illumination of his sanctum at the Hatshepsut's temple near the Nile town of Luxor.

The event marks the beginning of winter solstice, an astronomical event that occurs in the northern hemisphere marking the longest night and shortest day of the year.