On eBay Now...1950s American Tourists Karnak Temple Luxor Egypt Original Photo Sphinxes For Sale
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1950s American Tourists Karnak Temple Luxor Egypt Original Photo Sphinxes:
$9.99
Original 1950s black-and-white photograph showing a group of American tourists visiting the ancient Karnak Temple complex in Luxor, Egypt.
The visitors are walking through the temple grounds near Karnak’s famous avenue of ram-headed sphinxes. Several of the ancient criosphinx statues can be seen resting on stone pedestals behind the group, while an Egyptian obelisk rises above the ruins in the background. The tourists wear distinctly mid-century travel clothing, including sun hats and sunglasses, and several carry period cameras and travel bags.
Karnak was the principal religious center of ancient Thebes and was developed over many centuries by successive Egyptian pharaohs. The ram-headed sphinxes represented the god Amun, the principal deity worshiped at Karnak, and once bordered ceremonial approaches within the enormous temple complex.
This is a particularly engaging example of postwar American international tourism, capturing ordinary travelers encountering one of Egypt’s most important archaeological sites during the 1950s. The photograph combines ancient Egyptian history, mid-century fashion, early tourism and candid human interest.
This listing is for an original period photograph, not a postcard or modern reproduction.
CONDITION
Good vintage condition with expected age and handling wear. The photograph has light corner and edge wear, minor surface marks, scattered specks, faint soiling and general age toning. The upper-right corner is slightly softened, and the white border shows mild discoloration. The central image remains clear with good contrast and considerable architectural and human detail. Please examine the scan carefully for the complete condition.
ITEM SPECIFICS
Type: Original photograph
Format: Black-and-white photograph
Decade: 1950s
Subject: American tourists at Karnak Temple
Location: Karnak Temple complex
City: Luxor
Historic city: Thebes
Country: Egypt
Continent: Africa
People: Group of American tourists
Visible monuments: Ram-headed sphinxes and obelisk
Statue type: Criosphinx
Associated deity: Amun
Photographer: Unknown
Caption: None visible on image Original vintage photograph
Theme: Egyptology, archaeology, international travel, tourism and ancient history
Features: Mid-century clothing, hats, sunglasses and Temple photograph, Luxor Egypt photo, American tourists Egypt, 1950s travel photograph, ancient Thebes, ram-headed sphinxes, criosphinx statues, Avenue of Sphinxes, Egyptian obelisk, Temple of Amun, ancient Egyptian ruins, Egyptology collectible, archaeological site, mid-century tourism, vintage travel snapshot, Americans abroad, African travel photography, original black and white photo and historic Egypt