'Helicopter' Hieroglyphs

High on a ceiling beam in the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, a set of overlapping hieroglyphs has become an internet legend: to some eyes the shapes resemble a helicopter, a submarine and other modern machines, fuelling 'ancient astronaut' theories. The reality is more elegant — the illusion comes from one inscription being re-carved over another, the old and new signs blurring together over 3,000 years.

Debunked mystery aside, the real reason to stand here is the temple itself: Seti I's shrine holds some of the finest, most delicately carved and still-coloured reliefs in all of Egypt, plus the famous Abydos King List.

Abydos, sacred to Osiris, pairs beautifully with nearby Dendera as one of the country's most rewarding and least crowded day trips.