Luxor Temple

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Luxor Temple

This beautiful temple was built on the east bank of the Nile by Amenhotep III, "The Magnificent'. With his wife Queen Tiy, whom he dearly loved, he ruled Egypt during the peaceful and stable 18th Dynasty. The temple was dedicated to the Theban triad: the great god Amon-Ra, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu.

Luxor temple suffered some damage in the reign of Amenhotep's son Akhenaten, when the name and figure of Amon were erased, but it was reconstructed in the reigns of Tutankhamon and Haremhab. In the 19th Dynasty, Ramses II carried out major work there, particularly when he constructed a new court and entrance.

In front of the Entrance Pylon of Ramses II, he placed six colossal statues of himself, four standing and two seated. He also erected two granite obelisks inscribed with his names and titles - one is now in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The vertical grooves in the front section of each tower of the pylon were for the insertion of standards. The square openings above them held braces. Both towers were decorated with reliefs of Ramses' Battle of Kadesh. They are not in good condition and are somewhat difficult to see. On the right-hand tower (a) are reliefs of the Egyptian camp with Ramses II consulting with his military commanders. On the lefthand tower (b) he charges the enemy, managing to keep them engaged until reinforcements arrive.

The Court of Ramses II (A) is entirely surrounded by a double row of smooth-shafted papyrus columns with bud capitals. Colossi of Ramses, some usurped, stood between the columns of the first row on the rear half of the court. The shrines to the right, which were built by Hatshepsut, usurped by Thutmose III and restored by Ramses II, were dedicated to Amon (centre), Mut and Khonsu. The Fatimid Mosque of Abu el Hagag, to the left, was part of the mediaeval village built on the ruins and rubble that had accumulated in the temple.

On the right-hand rear wall of the Court is an interesting representation (at c). It shows the facade of the temple of Luxor, with one seated and two standing colossi and one obelisk on each side of the entrance gateway. The flag-staffs are in position and pennants flutter. Approaching (from the right) are some of Ramses II's sons. Behind them are fattened sacrificial animals being led by nobles. Some of the bulls have decorated horns; one has metal tips in the form of hands. Queen Nefertari is shown shaking two sistra. Behind her are princes and princesses. Ramses II had at least 111 sons and 67 daughters.

The Colonnade (B) was designed by Amenhotep III and decorated by Tutankhamon and Haremhab. Seti I, Ramses II and Seti II also recorded their names there. It comprises seven pairs of majestic columns with calyx capitals. The walls are decorated with Scentes of the great Opet festival when the sacred barges of Aman were taken in splendid procession from Karnak to Luxor temple.

This took place during the second month of the season of N inundation, at the height of the flood. After twenty-four days of 24 celebration, the barges would be returned to Karnak.

The reliefs that give a full picture of this joyous festival are in rather poor condition. The procession begins on the right-hand wall at Karnak temple, where the white-robed priests bear the sacred barge of Amon out of the gate of Karnak (d) and down to the river's edge (e). The people clap their hands in unison, acrobats perform (f); there are priestesses with sistrums (rattles), people dancing and some kneeling in adoration. The procession makes its way upstream; the king's chariot is on a boat, which is towed like the sacred barge of Amon (f). Finally, there is a sacrifice of slaughtered animals (g) and offerings to Amon, Mut and Khonsu at Luxor temple (h) with great fanfare. 9 On the opposite wall the return procession is shown: sacrificial bulls are led by soldiers, standard-bearers, dancers and Nubian slaves (i). The barges float downstream (), and the final sacrifice and offerings are made to Amon and Mut at Karnak temple (k).

The Court of Amenhotep III (C) is a fine example of the architecture of the 18th Dynasty. The double row of columns have clustered papyrus-bud capitals and are in a good state of preservation. There were originally roofing blocks across the architraves, but the spacious central part of the court was open to the sky. The side colonnades end, in the south, with a group of columns arranged in four rows of eight, which is usually called the Hypostyle Hall (D). Immediately to the rear is that part of the temple that was converted into a Roman shrine after the removal of some columns; the doorway leading to the Sanctuary was walled into a curved recess; the reliefs were covered with plaster and painted over with the figures of Roman emperors.

Several small storerooms and priestly chambers surround the sanctuary. They are of little significance apart from what has become known as the Birth Room (E). Though in poor condition, the reliefs are of special interest. They depict the birth Amenhotep III, who was not of direct roval descent, but claimed legitimate rule due to his descent from the god Amon-Ra miraculous birth. The story is told in relief in three rows on the hand wall (I):

In the bottom row (left to right) Amon converses with Thoth, of wisdom, the pharaoh and his queen, in turn. Then he brings the Key of Life to the nostrils of the queen, and Khnum moulds two infants, representing Amenhotep and his guardian spirit or ka on a potter's wheel. In the middle row (right to left), Thoth foretells the birth of her son to Amenhotep's mother. She is conducted. pregnant, to Isis and Khnum; she is seated on the birth couch, with the birth deities, Bes and Tauret beside and beneath her; to the left Amon holds the child in his arms. Beside him are Hathor and Mut. In the top row are reliefs of the suckling of the infant king and his presentation to Amon.

The inside of the Sanctuary (m) was rebuilt by Alexander the Great, who removed the four original columns to do so. The outer walls are decorated with reliefs that are in good condition, bearing traces of the original colour. Inside the Holy of Holies stood the gold-plated statue of the great god, which was only brought out to be viewed by the populace on special occasions like the Opet festival.

LUXOR TOURS AND CRUISES

Luxor is a magic place, where you can enjoy ancient treasures, breathtaking Nile valley’s nature and adventurous activities at the same time. Here you have a possibility to visit East bank with its famous Karnak complex with giant pillars and Luxor temple, West bank with mysterious Valley of KingsHatshepsut Temple. Also from Luxor you can make small Egypt tours to AswanAbu SimbelCairoNile cruise and many more. So doesn’t matter is Luxor your permanent destination or it’s just point on the route - incredible memories, it’s something what you will definitely get here!

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  • 4 Day Cairo & Luxor

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  • 8 Day Pyramids & Nile Cruise by Air

    Bask in the timeless majesty of ancient Egypt on an immersive journey through the land of the pharaohs, exploring its quintessential archaeological treasures with an expert tour guide, and cruise...
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  • Day Tour to Luxor from Cairo by Plane

    Day trip to Luxor from Cairo by plane to discover the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the west bank Then see the Temples at Karnak on the...
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  • Hurghada Luxor Day Trip

    Day Tour to Luxor from Hurghada, Discover Luxor Tour From Hurghada to see Egypt’s ‘open-air museum’. See Karnak Temple on the east bank of the Nile, as well as Hatshepsut Temple...
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  • Luxor Airport Transfers to Luxor Hotels & Nile Cruises

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  • Luxor East And West Bank Tour

    See the most famous sites around Luxor on both sides of the river in one day. Visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East bank and then see the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple on t...
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  • Tour to Karnak & Luxor Temples

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FAQ

Q- IIs Luxor worth visiting? A-Luxor and Cairo are exceedingly different places and yes Luxor is well worth visiting. If you want to see iconic sites such as the Valley of the King's and Karnak Temple, then you have no choice.


Q-How many days do you need in Luxor? A-Two days- Luxor requires a minimum of 3 days IMO. There is so much to see and do so you will be on the go the whole time. I'd say the minimum time needed to visit Luxor is two days, but you can easily spend longer as there are so many sites, and it's worth taking the time to enjoy the atmosphere.


Q-How long is the train ride from Cairo to Luxor?A-Departs Cairo Ramses Station 10 hours.


Q-Is it safe to travel from Hurghada to Luxor?A- There is no FCO advice against travel to Cairo, Alexandria, the tourist areas along the Nile, and the Red Sea resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. The section of the country between the Nile and the Red Sea is also considered mostly safe.


Q-What can you buy in Luxor?A-Some of the best souvenirs to bargain for & buy in Luxor are Egyptian cotton, alabaster vases & other products from alabaster factories, mouldings and carvings of Pharaohs, queens & gods, glass scent bottles, leather, silver, gold to name a few.


Q-Is Aswan worth visiting? A-“Aswan itself: the town is worth a visit” ... With its great market, connection to Nubian people and culture, its easy cross Nile ferry trip and a great place to stay, Aswan is a much more enjoyable place than any other place in the world.


Q-How long is a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan? A-The Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan takes 5 days and vice versa from Aswan to Luxor 4 days.