Luxor Temple - Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis
Luxor, Egypt
17.10.2023
The Luxor Temple: A Testament to Ancient Egyptian Architecture
The Luxor Temple, located in the city of Luxor in Egypt, is a magnificent structure that has stood the test of time. This ancient temple, also known as the Temple of Amun-Ra, was constructed during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, between 1390 and 1352 BC. It is dedicated to the god Amun-Ra, the most powerful deity in the Egyptian pantheon.
The Luxor Temple is situated on the east bank of the Nile River, facing the Karnak Temple on the opposite bank. The two temples are connected by a long avenue lined with sphinxes, creating a grand entrance to the sacred site. The main entrance of the Luxor Temple is adorned with colossal statues of pharaohs, including Ramses II and Amenhotep III, who were responsible for the construction of the temple.
The temple complex is divided into three main sections: the outer courtyard, the middle colonnade, and the inner sanctuary. The outer courtyard features a large open space with a double row of columns and various statues of gods and pharaohs. The middle colonnade is lined with 14 papyrus-shaped columns, each standing at an impressive 21 meters tall. The inner sanctuary is where the main sanctuary of Amun-Ra is located, along with smaller chapels dedicated to other deities.
The Luxor Temple has undergone several additions and renovations throughout its history, with different pharaohs leaving their mark on the structure. One of the most notable additions was the construction of the obelisk by Ramses II in front of the main entrance. This obelisk, which stands at 25 meters tall, is the oldest standing obelisk in Egypt.
The Luxor Temple is not only a remarkable example of ancient Egyptian architecture, but it also holds significant historical and cultural value. It was the site of the annual Opet Festival, a celebration of the union between the god Amun-Ra and his wife, the goddess Mut. It was also the focal point of many important religious and political ceremonies during the New Kingdom period.
Today, the Luxor Temple is a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world who are fascinated by its grandeur and historical significance. It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, along with the Karnak Temple and other ancient sites in Luxor.
Weiterführende Links:
- Thebes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thebes,_Egypt)
- Amenhotep III (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenhotep_III)
- Opet Festival (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opet_Festival)
Thebes, the city of the god Amon, was the capital of Egypt during the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms. With the temples and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Thebes is a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height.
The Luxor Temple (Arabic: معبد الأقصر) is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was constructed approximately 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language it was known as ipet resyt, "the southern sanctuary". It was one of the two primary temples on the east bank, the other being Karnak. Unlike the other temples in Thebes, Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of the pharaoh in death. Instead, Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship; it may have been where many of the pharaohs of Egypt were crowned in reality or conceptually (as in the case of Alexander the Great, who claimed he was crowned at Luxor but may never have traveled south of Memphis, near modern Cairo).
To the rear of the temple are chapels built by Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, and Alexander. Other parts of the temple were built by Tutankhamun and Ramesses II. During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the home of the Roman government in the area. During the Roman period a chapel inside the Luxor Temple originally dedicated to the goddess Mut was transformed into a Tetrarchy cult chapel and later into a church.
Along with the other archeological sites in Thebes, the Luxor Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
Thebes (Arabic: طيبة, Ancient Greek: Θῆβαι, Thēbai), known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset, was an ancient Egyptian city located along the Nile about 800 kilometers (500 mi) south of the Mediterranean. Its ruins lie within the modern Egyptian city of Luxor. Thebes was the main city of the fourth Upper Egyptian nome (Sceptre nome) and was the capital of Egypt for long periods during the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom eras. It was close to Nubia and the Eastern Desert, with its valuable mineral resources and trade routes. It was a religious center and the most venerated city during many periods of ancient Egyptian history. The site of Thebes includes areas on both the eastern bank of the Nile, where the temples of Karnak and Luxor stand and where the city was situated; and the western bank, where a necropolis of large private and royal cemeteries and funerary complexes can be found. In 1979, the ruins of ancient Thebes were classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
