Highlights in Luxor
Luxor is considered the greatest outdoor museum in the world, it contains nearly one third of the world's antiquities. There is hardly a place in Luxor which has not a relic which reflects the greatness of the ancient Egyptians and their civilization and that dates back to seven thousand years ago. Luxor is part of ancient Thebes that the renowned Greek poet Homer described as the city of one hundred gates. The Arabs call it Luxor, the city of palaces because they were impressed by its magnificent edifices and huge buildings. Luxor is 670km south of Cairo.
East Bank Sites
The Temple of Luxor: It was
constructed for the ancient god Amon Ra. The entrance of the temple
is a huge pylon constructed by Ramses II. Two obelisks precede the temple,
one of them is present while the other is erected at Concorde Square in
Paris.
Karnak Temples: The greatest sanctuary of worship in ancient history. It includes several temples among which is the temple of Theban Triad. At the end of the tour, one reaches the sacred lake which lies outside the main hall where a big statue of a scarab dates back to King Amenhotep III which was used for purification.
Sound & Light Show at KarnakTemple
(three daily shows held in various languages.)
Luxor Museum: Located between Karnak and Luxor temples, it houses pharaonic relics discovered in Luxor and nearby sites.
Mummification Museum: The museum has been recently inaugurated in the visitors center in Luxor. It is the only one of its kind in the world housing 150 relics of mummies, coffins, mummification tools used by the ancient Egyptians and paintings representing the religious funerary rituals.
West Bank Sites
The Colossi of Memnon: Ruins of the funerary tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III.
Temple of Queen Hatchepsut: Known as Deir el Bahari, it was established by Queen Hatchepsut, the only woman who ruled Egypt in Pharaonic history.
The Ramesseum: It is the funerary temple of King Ramses II. On its walls is recorded the famous battle of Qadesh.
Medinet Habu Temple: It is the funerary temple of King Ramses III with military and religious motifs.
Tombs of the Valley of the Kings: The tombs of Tut Ankh Amon, Ramses III, Seti I, Ramses VI, Amenhotep II, Hur Moheb, Thutmosis III.
Toms of the Valley of the Queens: The finest of the tombs is that of Queen Nefertari, wife of Ramses II.
Tombs of the Nobles: Nakht, Menena, Ra Mes, Ramuza, Senefru and more.
Temple of Dendra: 60 km north of Luxor, it is one of the Greco-Roman temples that was built for the ancient goddess Hathor. The ceiling of the hypostyle has an astronomic decoration with the symbolic representation of the sky.
Temple of Esna: constructed for the worship of god Khnum. It is one of the Greco-Roman temples within the hypostyle hall constructed by King Ptolemy VI and completed by the roman emperors. Nearby is a Christian monastery.
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