pixinsight,luminar neo

prehistoric artistry
The stones are silent guardians of time, chronicling the untold narratives of Egypt’s grandeur from before the time of the Pharaohs. Nestled within the Eastern Egyptian desert, venerable stones divulge the enigmas of antiquity with petroglyphs etched by prehistoric inhabitants. Unearthed across the desert’s expanse, these carvings are enduring records of the everyday lives and cultural rituals of those early peoples. The petroglyphs illustrate scenes of daily existence, such as hunts and communal rites, mirroring the intimate bond between humanity and nature. Notably, the carvings portray hunters armed and accompanied by their loyal hounds, chasing after beasts like the wild goats and Arabian oryx. These images hint at a time when the Eastern desert flourished with verdure and waterways, teeming with fauna and providing sanctuary for hunter-gatherers. They also shed light on the hunting armaments and the role of canines in the hunt, showcasing the ingenuity and adaptability of those ancient desert dwellers.
The backstory: I have ventured repeatedly into the remote southeastern reaches of Egypt’s vast Eastern desert, aspiring to chronicle the celestial dome alongside the relics of prehistoric artistry. This ambition was kindled by the tales of James Bruce, a Scotsman born in 1730 who forsook his legal studies to immerse himself in Arabic and set forth on a quest to discover the Nile’s origins, reaching Egypt in 1765. There, he commenced an odyssey across Egypt, later penning “Travels between 1765 and 1773,” wherein he recounted the enigmatic petroglyphs scattered throughout the desert. Thus began my quest to immortalize this breathtaking vista. The locale near Edfu, just south of Luxor, is steeped in history. Upon these very stones, one finds a tapestry of prehistoric etchings, interspersed with hieroglyphic texts and Arabic inscriptions in the styles of Andalusian and Thuluth calligraphy. Even more remarkable is a stone commemorating the visits of royalty such as King Farouk and King Fouad, adding layers of history to this already storied landscape.