Temple of Luxor

The modern town of Luxor is the site of the famous city of Thebes, (Waset in ancient Egyptian) the city of a hundred gates. It was the capital of Egypt from the 12th dynasty (1991 BC) and reached its zenith during the New Kingdom. In ancient times, the city was known as home to the god Amun, a deity who became associated with Egyptian royalty.

Dating back to 1392 BCE, the temple was built on the east bank of the Nile River and is dedicated to the deities Mut, Khonsu, and Amun. The temple was built between the reigns of Amenhotep III (Eighteenth Dynasty) and Ramesses II (Nineteenth Dynasty), although there is evidence that a structure existed at the site during the earlier Eighteenth Dynasty reigns of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.

During the Christian era, the temple’s hypostyle hall was converted into a Christian church, and the remains of another Coptic church can be seen to the west.

The Temple of Luxor is perhaps the least known major monument in the Theban area. Excavations begun there in 1885 were carried put sporadically until 1960.
Temple of Luxor