Luxor temple is the reason of the fame of Thebes (modern Luxor)and It is located in the heart of Luxor. Like Karnak temple it was dedicated to god Amon Ra and his family, dates back to the new kingdom 18th dynasty 1500 BC.
Luxor temple was built by 2 great pharaohs, the inner oldest part was built by Amenhotep 3rd while the outer part was built and finished by king Ramses II.
Although Luxor temple is not as big as Karnak but the complexity and richness of the structure is obvious there. Luxor temple includes some of the finest relief carving and it’s very well preserved as much of it was buried under the sand and mud.
The temple’s façade is reaching a height of 21 meters, it’s walls are decorated to announce the victory of king Ramses II over his enemies at the battle of Kadesh as the carving show Ramses II riding his chariot and shooting his enemies then captives are being offered to him after the big victory.
There were once six statues of king Ramses II, Two massive seated statues guard the huge gateway sill in position while the rest 4 standing statues were badly damaged.
There were once six statues of king Ramses II, Two massive seated statues guard the huge gateway sill in position while the rest 4 standing statues were badly damaged.
One of the tow 80 foot (25m) granite obelisks is still in place while the other obelisk is now in plaza de la Concorde, Paris known as “Luxor temple obelisk” as it was given to the French during the time of Mohammed Ali.
Facing the facad to the other side you will find the sphinx avenue that connected both of Karnak and Luxor temples together for a distance of 2 miles (3km)
Beyond the pylons there is an offering court that has a little granite alter and 3 chapels built by queen Hateshepsuit for Amun Ra, Mut his wife and Khonso their son. This court has few statues of king Ramses II again, tow seated statues like at the beginning of the temple and few very well preserved standing ones.
Once you enter the hall of columns, this is the inner old part of the temple that was built by king Amehotep III, its columns are similar to the ones of Karnak. There is a statue of god Amun Ra and king Tutankhamun as he ordered the decoration of the walls of this hall of columns.
The hall of columns is followed by an opening court, where few statues were found buried under the ground and all were taken into Luxor museum. That’s why this court is also called the cachette of luxor.
Beyond Luxor cachette, you will find a Roman fresco on the walls of Luxor temple as it was added above the original inscriptions of the temple when the Romans converted it to be a military camp during the 4th century.
And finally the holly of the hollies which is dedicated to Amun Ra, originally built by king Amenhotep III but the actual one of now a days was rebuilt by Alexander the great to be able to get closer to the Egyptians and rule Egypt, Fortunately he did not remove the relief’s on the walls that represent the one originally built it, king Amehnhotep III