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Luxor, also known as Thebes

Why Luxor?

This town that has landed the jackpot of the World’s history. Can you visualize, imagine, that one town around the globe can contain more than 30% of all the antiquities, history. You heard right, it is the town of Luxor.

Once you get to the town of Thebes, your mind starts to wonder, how this city was laid out for centuries as the capitol of the Old Egyptian Kingdom. Famous for its wealth, called the city where rich homes are treasures, the city called “Thebes of the One Hundred Gates”. Luxor started to gain momentum during the Xth dynasty for geographical reasons, then it eventually became the capital of the pharaohs during the New Kingdom. God Amon, was worshipped here. Each time there was a victory, this was celebrated by the ancient Egyptians constructing more temples that are build to impress to the gods. The small canal joins the temple of Luxor with a long avenue of the Sphinxes with ram’s heads that was later substituted for human heads.

The entrance to the spectacular Luxor Temple is flanked by two gigantic granite statues. Originally the two colossi stood next to four huge statues made out of pink granite, one of them represented Queen Nefertari, and the second one represents her daughter Merit-Amon. In the courtyard, you will find a little temple of Tutmose the III, possessing three chapels dedicated to the trial of Amon, Mut and Khonsu who used to be worshipped in the sanctuary of the Luxor temple.

The temple of Luxor exterior also never lacks luster or beauty. The walls has several doors leading to side chapels which depicts scenes from battles that has taken part against the Syrian Hittite forces. Luxor name is driven from the Arabic language, a word called “Al Qosouur” meaning “The Palaces” in English.

The One of a Kind Temple of Karnak

The Greeks used to call Karnak as Hermonthis. This temple is dedicated to the god Amon, there is sanctuary of Montu, who is the god of war, an area that is close to two acres of land. This temple bring awe and amazement just by its sheer size. It is by far the largest temple of its size, just supported by columns. One of the most amazing things at that temple is the hypostyle hall, which is about 450 feet long, 6-fet wide, and 75-feet high. The top of each column, at the very top opens up in the shape of a papyrus plant. Temple of Karnak was built by almost 82,000 workers. King Ramses I initiated the decorations of the columns, and it was continued by Seti I, and Ramses II. Next to the hypostyle hall, there is an Obelisk of Tutmose, that stands 70-feet high.

The temple of Karnak has a sacred lake that is 400-feet long which was used by priests to carryout their nocturnal rituals. Nowadays, you can see the entire temple reflection in the lake. It is so amazing, and intriguing, it takes you back in time, and makes you wonder. The spectacular Sound and Light performance at Karnak Temple is a must see for anyone visiting Luxor, it brings the ancient Thebes come back to life.

Madinet Habu, Luxor

The complex of Habu contains a temple for Ramses III, and across from it, the temple of Tutmose. The bas-reliefs on the walls depicts war-like scenes, while they sacrifice prisoners, where the pharaoh brings enemy captives before the god Amon. Temple of Ramses III is considered a perfect piece of architecture, that the Egyptians has left behind. The temple have plenty of decorations stressing war scenes. It also has a hypostyle hall packed with several statues of Ramses III meeting with the god Thot.

The Ramesseum, Luxor

The last temple complex built by Ramses II, was called the Ramesseum. The structure has plenty of pillars, and they have inscriptions of Osiris, that is why the pillars has been called or given the name Osiriac pillars. The sons and daughters of Ramses are depicted in two files lined according to the order of succession to the throne. The mortuary temple of Ramses II, sometimes is also named as the Ramesseum.

The Valley of the Kings, Luxor

We can’t cover each and every tomb in the Valley of the Kings, since this will require writing a history book. However, we will focus on important one’s and attempt to cover the highlights of the Valley of the Kings.

Tomb of Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut

King Tut, also called the boy King, became king at the age of 9-years old, and died when he was 18-years old. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter during one of discoveries. The tomb became one of the most famous World discoveries due to the fact that the tomb was untouched, and also had a huge amount of treasures that was undisturbed in his burial chamber. The pharaoh sarcophagus is amazing and in mint condition, the King Tut golden sarcophagus is one of the greatest masterpieces of all times. It contains 442 pounds of pure solid gold. Myth has it, that the King Tut tomb has had a Pharaoh’s curse, since everyone that has worked in finding the tomb, suffered a violent and in some cases, an unexplained death

Tomb of Amon Ofis II

This Tomb, has a long hallway with very steep steps, gets you at the end to a large hall, that is supported by six decorated pillars. It was in the chamber that sarcophagus was found. Mummy found intact in this tomb accompanied by long papyrus depicting scenes in the afterworld.

Tomb of Tutmose III

This tomb is hard to get to, it does have paintings, known for their accurate style graphics. It is considered to be one of the impressive and colorful tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Tutmose the III was the illegitimate son of Tutmose the second. When his father died, he was dethroned by his aunt, the famous Queen Hatshepsut, who claimed the throne. Tutmose was victorious is all the wars he led, through Syria, Euphrates River and Phenicia.

The Beautiful Tomb of Seti I

Tomb of Seti has several steps, several galleries and rooms supported by large pillars. In one of these rooms the pharaoh’s sarcophagus has been discovered, it is carved from one single piece of alabaster. When the tomb was opened, the mummy was not there. No one knows why his mummy is.

Deir El-Bahari

Queen Hatshesut ordered her architect to build a funerary large monument for herself and for her father Tutmose I, and she picked a valley for the complex, that was assigned for the goddess Hathor but was neglected. The complex has a very long impressive and wide ramp that leads to a sanctuary, once at the terrace, you are greeted by an avenue of sphinxes and several obelisks, followed by a second ramp and terrace that has walls with beautiful painting showing the birth place of the queen and numerous animals.

Valley of the Nobles, Luxor - Egypt

This valley hold all the VIP’s and dignitaries from the time of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. The are more simplistic in comparison to the tombs located in the Valley of the Kings. The valley sheds light on how tombs in the valley used to be utilized. How they used to run businesses and their court system.

Ramosis Tomb

Under the pharaoh Akhen Aton, Ramosis had the rank of governor of the city. All indications hint that he was buried in the town of Tel El-Amarna, but so far, it can not be located. He also built another one in Thebes. The reliefs and colors are still amazing, particularly the human interaction and faces.

Valley of The Workmen, also known as Deir El-Medina

This is where all the workmen that built, decorated, help with the upkeep of the royal tombs in Thebes, including the stonecutters, sculptors, and painters who made there way to the Royal valley of Deir El-Bahari. The workmen with their supervisors were to give commands to artists and painters for their daily schedules. House of those workers were simple and humble, built of dried brick mud, homes had very small entrances, and with one room.

Tomb of Inherkha

Inherkha was a deputy master, he had two tombs built for him simultaneously. One near the lower part of the valley, and it depicts family life, family living, how they dressed, and how affectionate families were. This tomb was built during the era of Ramses III and Ramses VI.

Tomb of Sennedjen

Severe damage impacted this tomb. The painting at this tomb are of vivid colors, and beautiful. One of the paintings it shows Sennedjen with his bride, working in the fields, sowing and harvesting seeds. Also, it shows him and his wife worshipping the afterlife gods. You will also find paintings of Osiris.

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