Luxor Temple - Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Luxor, Egypt
17.10.2023
Luxor-Tempel, located in the city of Luxor in Egypt, is a magnificent ancient temple complex that has stood for over 3,000 years. It was built during the New Kingdom period, between 1390-1352 BCE, and is dedicated to the god Amun. The temple served as the center of religious and political life in ancient Egypt, and was used for important ceremonies and rituals.
The temple complex is made up of several structures, including the main temple, the court of Ramses II, and the colonnade of Amenhotep III. The entrance to the temple is marked by two massive statues of the pharaoh Ramses II, standing at 15 meters tall. The intricate carvings and hieroglyphs on the walls and pillars of the temple depict scenes from ancient Egyptian mythology and historical events.
One of the most impressive features of Luxor-Tempel is the Avenue of Sphinxes, a long path lined with over 1,000 sphinx statues. This avenue once connected Luxor-Tempel to the Karnak Temple, another important religious site in ancient Egypt.
Visitors to Luxor-Tempel can also see the remains of a mosque and a Coptic church that were built within the complex during the Islamic and Christian periods. This is a testament to the temple's significance and continuous use throughout history.
Today, Luxor-Tempel is a popular tourist attraction, drawing in visitors from all over the world to marvel at its grandeur and learn about ancient Egyptian culture and history. Its well-preserved structures and stunning architecture make it a must-see destination for anyone interested in ancient civilizations.
In addition to its historical significance, Luxor-Tempel also offers a breathtaking view of the Nile River and the surrounding landscape. Visitors can take a stroll through the temple complex, admiring the intricate details and imagining the grand ceremonies that took place within its walls.
Luxor-Tempel is not only a testament to the ancient Egyptian civilization, but also a symbol of its enduring legacy and impact on the world. A visit to this remarkable temple is a journey back in time and an unforgettable experience for all who visit.
Thebes, the city of the god Amon, was the capital of Egypt during the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms. With the temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Thebes is a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height.
The Luxor Temple (Arabic: معبد الأقصر) is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was constructed approximately 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language it was known as ipet resyt, "the southern sanctuary". It was one of the two primary temples on the east bank, the other being Karnak. Unlike the other temples in Thebes, Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of the pharaoh in death. Instead, Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the pharaohs of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually (as in the case of Alexander the Great, who claimed he was crowned at Luxor but may never have traveled south of Memphis, near modern Cairo).
To the rear of the temple are chapels built by Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, and Alexander. Other parts of the temple were built by Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the home of the Roman government in the area. During the Roman period a chapel inside the Luxor Temple originally dedicated to the goddess Mut was transformed into a Tetrarchy cult chapel and later into a church.
Along with the other archeological sites in Thebes, the Luxor Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
Thebes (Arabic: طيبة, Ancient Greek: Θῆβαι, Thēbai), known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset (Arabic: وسط), was an ancient Egyptian city located along the Nile about 800 kilometers (500 mi) south of the Mediterranean. Its ruins lie within the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Thebes was the main city of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome (Sceptre nome) and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was close to Nubia and the Eastern Desert, with its valuable mineral resources and trade routes. It was a religious center and the most venerated city during many periods of ancient Egyptian history. The site of Thebes includes areas on both the eastern bank of the Nile, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor stand and where the city was situated; and the western bank, where a necropolis of large private and royal cemeteries and funerary complexes can be found. In 1979, the ruins of ancient Thebes were classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
