Instead of the former capital of Ancient Egypt, Thebes, the city of Luxor is located, which is considered to be the largest open-air museum. Since here are the most important archaeological sites of Egypt, then long to think about what to see in Luxor is not necessary. Luxor can be conditionally divided into 2 parts: "City of the Dead" and "City of the Living".
"City of the Living" is a residential area on the right bank of the Nile, the main attractions of which are the Luxor and Karnak temples, previously connected by the Alley of the Sphinxes.
Luxor Temple
The temple in Luxor is dedicated to Amon-Ra, his wife Nun and their son Khonsu - the three Theban deities. This building was erected in the 13th-11th centuries BC. during the reign of Amenhotep III and Ramses III. The road to the temple goes along the alley of the Sphinxes. In front of the north entrance of the temple in Luxor are the obelisk and statues of Ramses, as well as two pylons (70 m long and 20 m high), one of which depicts scenes of the victorious battle of Ramses. Next are: the courtyard of Ramses II, a colonnade of two rows of columns, to the east of which stands the Abu-l-Haggah mosque. Behind the colonnade opens the next courtyard, which belongs to the construction of Amenhotep. 32 columns in the south of the hypostyle hall lead to the inner sanctuary, from which you can get to the temple of Amon-Ra, built by Alexander. In the evenings the complex is illuminated with spotlights.
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Karnak Temple in Luxor
Karnak Temple was the most important sanctuary of Ancient Egypt. And now it is one of the greatest architectural complexes of the ancient world, including buildings erected by different pharaohs. Every pharaoh left his mark in this temple. In the largest hall of this complex 134 richly decorated columns were preserved. Countless courtyards, halls, colossi and a huge sacred lake - the size and complexity of the structure of the Karnak temple are surprising.
The temple premises consist of three parts, surrounded by walls: in the north - the Mentou temple (in ruins), in the middle - the huge temple of Amun, in the south - the temple of Mut.
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The largest building of the complex is the Amon-Ra temple with an area of about 30 hectares and 10 pylons, the largest of which is 113m x 15m x 45m. In addition to pylons, there is a huge column hall.
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In the "City of the Dead" on the left bank of the Nile, there are a few settlements and the famous Theban necropolis, including the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Tsars, Ramesseum, Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon and much more.
Valley of the Kings
In Luxor in the Valley of the Kings more than 60 tombs were found, but only a small part is open to tourists. For example, the tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramses III or Amenhotep II. On the long tangled corridors, the traveler enters the funerary arch, at the entrance to which are quotes from the Book of the Dead. Tombs with different decorations, skillfully decorated with bas-reliefs and wall paintings, all of them are united by one - the treasures that the pharaohs took with them to the afterlife. Unfortunately, because of these untold treasures, most of the tombs were looted before they were discovered. The most famous find in the 20th century from the tombs of the pharaohs is the tomb of Tutankhamun, which was found by the English archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922.| | |
Valley of the Tsaritsa
The women of the pharaohs and their children were buried in the Valley of the Tsarits, south-west of the Valley of the Kings. Here, 79 tombs were found, half of which have not yet been identified. Surprisingly colorful wall paintings depicting gods, pharaohs and queens, as well as plots and inscriptions from the Book of the Dead. The most famous tomb is the tomb of the first legitimate and beloved wife of Pharaoh Ramses II - Queen Nefertari, whose restoration was recently completed.
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Colossi of Memnon
These are two statues 18 m high, depicting the seated Amenhotep III (about the 14th century BC), whose hands are kneeled and the gaze facing the rising sun. These statues are made of blocks of quartz sandstone and stood guard in the Memorial Temple of Amenhotep, from which there is almost nothing left.
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Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Queen Hatshepsut is the only female pharaoh in history who ruled Egypt for about 20 years. The temple consists of three open terraces, which rise one after another along the slope, decorated with bas-reliefs, drawings and sculpture, introducing the life of the queen. The sanctuary of the goddess Hathor is decorated with columns with capitals in the form of the head of a goddess. On one of its walls there is even an ancient fresco on a military theme.
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To visit the ancient Luxor you will need a passport and a visa to Egypt .