The city of Luxor is one of the most famous and popular architectural and historical monuments of Egypt. Here are the most interesting excursion routes.
Luxor, whose photo can be seen in all Egypt's brochures, is known, first of all, for being located on the site of the capital of ancient Egypt - Thebes. Over the centuries, many pharaohs left their memory here in the form of unique architectural structures richly decorated with bas-reliefs, sculptures and frescoes. This is of great value to historians and researchers. Tourists from all over the world are eager to get here to touch the great treasures.
The ancient capital of Egypt
Thebes was first mentioned in written sources of the third millennium BC. e. So the city was called by the Greeks, and the inhabitants of Egypt called it Waset. Over the course of many centuries, the city developed and grew and became the greatest capital of all of Ancient Egypt.
After that, it began to be actively built up with temples and palaces. All the pharaohs contributed to the creation of an unusually beautiful city - they rebuilt something, added something.
The city of Thebes reached its heyday in the 16th century. BC. Later, the capital of the ancient state was moved to Alexandria. However, for a long time the city remained a major cultural and religious center of the country.
Luxor (Egypt), whose sights are well-known far beyond the borders of the country, can be conditionally divided into two parts - the “city of the dead” and “the city of the living”.
The latter is located on the right bank of the Nile. This is a modern residential area. Its main attractions are the Luxor Temple and Amon Ra Cathedral in the village of Karnak.
"City of the Dead" occupies the left bank of the Nile. It includes the Theban necropolis, consisting of the Valley of the Queens, Valley of the Kings, Medinet Abu, Hatshepsut Temples, Ramesseum.
At the end of the 70s of the XX century, a museum of antiquities began to operate in Luxor. It exhibits the latest finds of archaeologists. These and many other attractions are included in the excursion routes. We hope that in the near future you will make an exciting trip to Luxor (Egypt). The sights of this historical place will not leave indifferent even a sophisticated tourist.
Sphinx Alley
This attraction, unique in its beauty and historical value, recently opened after restoration. It was equipped with modern high-quality lighting, which favorably emphasizes each object.
In antiquity, the avenue of the sphinxes played an important role in conducting numerous processions of the kings to the Luxor temple, as well as during traditional rituals.
She numbered 1350 sculptures. In the XV century BC e. the queen, the magnificent Hatshepsut, built six chapels in the city, which became part of the famous alley.
Restoration
Now 150 meters of the alley are open for tourists. Its restoration took place over five years. Today, tourists can see it in a restored form. This is an ideal opportunity to get in touch with history for anyone interested in the culture of Ancient Egypt.
At this place there are 350 sphinxes. They have the heads of people and the bodies of lions. Scientists claim that there are 1000 more sculptures, but now excavations are underway, which will be completed in a few years, and the sphinxes will appear before tourists in full force.
The alley was built during the reign of the pharaoh Nektenebo. Initially, it was 2.7 km long and 70 meters wide.
Temple of Ramses II
Monuments preserved in this ancient city are amazing. For example, this amazing temple in Luxor is the main building, consisting of two pylons carved from stone. The construction is dedicated to the mysterious burial cult. Pylons lead tourists inside the temple. Behind the small courtyard are 28 columns surrounding the sanctuary.
The temple in Luxor has courtyards and halls connected by stairs. The victories of the pharaoh are depicted on its walls and inscriptions about his devotion to the gods are carved, there is information about kinship. The names of 118 cities he conquered are listed here.
Amon Ra Temple
Arriving in Luxor (Egypt), you will meet the sights at every step. In the capital of Ancient Egypt, Thebes, on the banks of the deep Nile, is the temple of Amun. It is considered the most pompous temple of ancient Egypt.
The length of this monumental building is 260 meters. He began to build it in Luxor Amenhotep III. Ramses II completed the construction, attaching a huge pylon to the temple.
Historical reference
During the reign of Amenhotep, this sacred place could be reached through the elegant lobby, decorated with 32 columns in the form of papyrus, interconnected. It connected to the courtyard, inside which were majestic columns made in the form of a sacred reed. This plant is very popular in Luxor.
It was possible to enter the temple sanctuary through the utility rooms located in the alcove of the lobby.
The pylon attached to the building by Ramses is expertly painted with scenes of military campaigns on the Hittites. The Temple of Amon in Luxor is composed of numerous painted pillared halls and courtyards. At the very end of the courtyard there are pharaoh sculptures made of granite by the best sculptors of that time. Their height is 7 meters.
Karnak complex
This temple ensemble is famous far beyond the borders of the country. In ancient times, there was the legendary city of Thebes. It occupies the largest area. With the Luxor temple it is united by the alley of the Sphinxes. Karnak is the largest complex of Luxor. It testifies to the achievements of ancient Egypt.
It consists of three main buildings - the temples of Amun, Montu and Mut. It occupies approximately 100 hectares of land. The distance from the city of Luxor to the complex is three kilometers. Ramses I began to build this unique structure, continued Seti I, and completed the construction of Ramses II.
The Temple of Amon is the main building in the Karnak complex in Luxor. It is located in its very center. To the north of it is the Montu Temple. Next to it are the cathedrals that were dedicated to the goddess Mut and the deity Ptah.
Not far from the complex are small churches and very small Christian chapels. Inside the temple of Amon is another magnificent cathedral - Hekadzhet.
Obelisks
An obelisk was discovered on the territory of this unique complex of Luxor. Its height is 21 meters. Weight - 43 tons. It was erected by Thutmose. The obelisk remained in its original form, today you can see ancient inscriptions on it.
There is another similar design. This is an obelisk dedicated to the Queen of Egypt Hatshepsut. In height, it reaches 29 meters, and its weight exceeds 320 tons!
When Queen Hatshepsut passed away, the throne of Ancient Egypt was taken by Thutmose III, who ordered to enclose the obelisk with a huge wall. Thus, he tried to destroy the memory of his predecessor. He believed that this method would cost him less, because in this case he did not have to destroy the magnificent structure. The huge obelisk was made of pink granite.
Luxor (the photo of which you see in our article) and Karnak in particular are invited to see the temple in this complex, built by Philip Archidaus - brother of Alexander the Great.
Colossi of Memnon
For more than 3,500 years, these statues have silently sat on their pedestals, guarding the entrance to the magnificent funeral cathedral, which was built by the powerful ruler of Egypt, Amenhotep III. The city of Luxor (Egypt) carefully preserves these greatest treasures. Two huge statues - this is the ruler himself - are seated on a throne, facing towards the sun. His hands are folded on his knees, and at the feet are the figures of two beautiful women - a mother and a wife. The area of this complex is 35 hectares. The sons of the great ruler could not surpass their father and create something more perfect.
Somewhat later, the Colossi of Memnon began to “sing”, due to structural damage. This phenomenon began to attract thousands of curious travelers from all over the world who want to hear and see this miracle. But the emperor of Rome, Septimius Severus, intervened in this process, and in 199 gave the order to fasten the damaged parts, "to please the oracle." After that, “singing” stopped forever.
The city of Luxor (Egypt), tours of which must certainly be included in the tourist list, if your plans include visiting this country, not only surprises visitors. It would seem that everything is already known about the Colossi of Memnon. However, this is not so; they continue to amaze. An Egyptologist from Germany, Rainer Stadelmann, while carrying out restoration work, discovered polychrome murals on headdresses of statues, a preserved eyeliner of his eyes that had been broken by then.
In a small article, it is impossible to describe the city of Luxor. Egypt, whose attractions are famous all over the world, attracts many tourists to its ancient lands. Come and you - the trip will be unforgettable.