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Pictures herein were taken in the Temple of Luxor and vicinity.
Built during the Middle Kingdom Period (c. 2050 - 1652 BCE) of Egyptian history.
The temple of Luxor is close to the Nile and parallel with the riverbank. King Amenhotep III who reigned 1390-53 BC built this beautiful temple. It is a graceful piece of architecture. It was originally joined to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes. It sits on the site of an older sanctuary dedicated to Theban triad of Amun, king of the gods, his consort Mut, and their son Khons.
Amun, one of the gods of creation, was the most important god of Thebes. As Amun-Ra, the fusion of Amun and the son god Ra, he was also a state deity worshipped in many parts of the country. Once a year from his great temple at Karnak the images of Amun and the other two gods in the local triad - Amun's wife, the-war-goddess Mut and their son, the moon-god Khons - would journey down the Nile To Luxor Temple for Opet Festival, a celebration held during flood season.
Amenophis rededicated the massive temple as Amun's sacred "harem of the south", and retained what was left of the original sanctuary built be Tuthmosis III and Hatshepsut 100 years ealier. Additions on the temple were made over the centuries by Tutankhmun, Ramses II, Alexander the Great and various Romans. At one point the Arabs built a mosque in one of the interior courts, and there was also once a village within the temple walls. Excavation works has been going since 1885, and has included removing the village and clearing the forecourt and first pylon of debris, and exposing parts of the avenue of sphinxes leading to Karnak.
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