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Luxor
is the world's greatest open-air museum, filled with awe-inspiring
monuments of ancient civilization. It was part of ancient Thebes,
and was the seat of power for 1,350 years - from 2,100BC to 7,50BC.
During this time the Egyptians constructed several architectural
works of art, and the city is thus extremely rich in relics that
tell a story about Ancient Egypt's glorious history - palaces,
monuments, temples and tombs. Today, you can walk through history;
past statues with heads of gods and animals, beneath pillars carved
with lotus buds and papyrus. Ride in a horse-drawn caleche, sail
in a felucca, take a sunset cruise or see the city from a hot-air
balloon.
Luxor is part of ancient Thebes: 'The Hundred-Gated City' as the
renowned Greek historian called it, Homer, because of its buildings
and large gates. The city grew over the years, and the Arabs,
impressed by its beautiful palaces and huge edifices, re-named
it 'Luxor': City of Palaces. Luxor remained the seat of power
from 2,100 to 7,50B.C.
That is why the visitor is awed by the city, made immortal by
its huge pillared-monuments along both banks of the Nile. In the
City of the Living, in the east, where the life-giving sun rises;
and in the City of the Dead, in the west, where the sun, in its
never-ending orbit, bids farewell to life!
Temples of Luxor and Karnak:
Found on the East bank of the Nile, in the city of the living,
they are the largest place of worship ever built. On the West
Bank are the Colossi of Memnon, the tombs of the Valleys of the
Kings and Queens, and a number of commemorative temples and tombs
of important officials.
The Sacred Lake:
The Sacred Lake, used for purification, lies outside the main
hall of the Temple of Luxor, where there is a large statue of
a scarab, dating to King Amenhotep.
The Tombs of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens:
These are the two tombs, ordered by the kings and queens of the
New Kingdom to be carved in the rock-faces of the valley so as
to safeguard them against grave robbers. The tomb is composed
of several rooms and corridors leading to the Burial Chamber.
The Tomb of Mena:
Mena was a scribe of the fields of the Two Lands, during the reign
of Tuthmosis lV.
The Tomb of Ramose:
Ramose is one of the state officials during the reign of Amenhotep
lll and Akhnaten. The tomb contains inscriptions depicting Akhnaten
and his wife, Nefertiti.
The Colossi of Memron:
The Colossi towering 19.20 meters are the only remnants of a temple
commemorating Amenhotep lll. When they suffered cracks, and where
said to sing, the Greeks named them after Memnon, the legendary
hero killed at the Trojan Wars. It is said that each morning,
he called his mother Eos, the Dawn goddess, who bewailed him,
shedding tears that were the dewdrops.
Deir el Bahari Temple:
This temple was built by Queen Hatshepsut to perform the rites
of the nether world. Deir el-Bahari is a fairly recent nomenclature
from the 7th century B.C. when the Copts used it as a monastery.
The Temple is composed of three impressive rising terraces, split
by a road.
The Ramesseum:
Built in commemoration of Rameses II, its murals record the Battle
of Kadesh.
Madinet Habu Temple:
Built in commemoration of Ramses III, characterized by its well-preserved
religious and military scenes. The paintings still retain their
vivid colours.
Temple of Dendera:
This Graeco Roman temple lies about 60kms north of Luxor. Ptolemy
III first initiated the temple with numerous additions by subsequent
Roman Ptolemaic rulers. It houses a famous painting of Queen Cleopatra,
and Caesarean, her son from Julius Caesar. The temple is renowned
for its horoscope inscriptions.
Temple of Esna:
Located south of Luxor, the temple has a hypostyle hall with pictures
and texts telling of the Roman emperors who came to Egypt and
offered sacrifices to its deities.
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