Egypt hosted a historic number of tourists last year —15.7 million, despite regional challenges — surpassing records set in 2023 and 2010. Around the city of Luxor, Cairo-based photojournalist Hamada Elrasam captured newly unearthed antiquities showcased this month. Captions by Elle Kurancid.
With tourism booming, Egypt showcases new discoveries from its ancient past
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Travelers fill the lobby of one of Luxor’s hotels. The city is a hotspot for domestic and international tourists. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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Inside the 3,500-year-old funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass says his team’s new findings reveal that Egypt’s first female pharaoh died of cancer. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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These bas-reliefs, excavated in the vicinity of the temple, are rare examples of sculptural art from the approximate time of Queen Hatshepsut’s reign. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
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The unveiling ceremony for the site’s recovered stone-cut tombs, burial shafts, and assortment of personal and cultural artifacts draws in hundreds of people, from journalists to tourists, diplomats to scholars. (Hamada Elrasam/VOA)
