Luxor Temple
Ipet-resyt · Southern Sanctuary · Thebes Luxor Temple
New Kingdom to Greco-Roman (c.1400 BCE–300 CE; main 1390–1225 BCE)·Egyptian New Kingdom / Roman / Islamic layer·🇪🇬 Luxor Governorate, Egypt
About
About Luxor Temple
New Kingdom temple built by Amenhotep III (1388–1350 BCE), Tutankhamun, Horemheb and Ramesses II on Nile east bank. Pylon of Ramesses II with two seated statues and one standing (obelisk pair: one in Paris Place de la Concorde since 1836), peristyle court of Amenhotep III with 14 papyrus columns, hypostyle and birth room of Amenhotep. Later Mosque of Abu Haggag (13th c) atop ruins, Roman fortress camp of Diocletian. Connected to Karnak by 2.7 km sphinx avenue (Avenue of Sphinxes).
Why it mattersOpet festival locus and model New Kingdom temple evolution
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Transport of second Luxor obelisk to Paris Luxor Obelisk convoy 1830–33
- 02Orientation of Amenhotep III court vs Ramesses pylon 15° skew due to earlier shrine
Theories
- 01Temple grew episodically reflecting Opet procession distance from Karnak
- 02Abu Haggag mosque preservation indicates continuous sanctity notion
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Amenhotep III core c.1390–1352 BCE; Ramesses II pylon 1250 BCE
- Period
- New Kingdom to Greco-Roman (c.1400 BCE–300 CE; main 1390–1225 BCE)
- Culture
- Egyptian New Kingdom / Roman / Islamic layer
- Purpose
- Opet festival temple where Amun's barque visited Luxor to reconfirm kingship; coronation cult
- Excavation
- Excavated
Amenhotep III core c.1390–1352 BCE; Ramesses II pylon 1250 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1243 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
25.7006° N · 32.6394° E · 90 m · 3 mapped features
First Pylon of Ramesses II
pylon24 m high pylon with 2 seated plus 1 standing Ramesses colossi and pink granite obelisk (mate in Paris)
25.7008° N · 32.6390° EPeristyle Court of Amenhotep III
courtPeristyle with 14 papyrus-cluster columns 16 m high
25.7000° N · 32.6398° EAvenue of Sphinxes
avenue2.7 km processional way with 1,000+ sphinxes linking Luxor to Karnak
25.7055° N · 32.6455° E
Gallery