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The temple at Thebes, now modern day
Luxor, was built in the heart of the ancient city, and was dedicated to
the god Amun. It was known in the time of the New Kingdom as Ipt-Rsyt
which means the southern shrine. Luxor temple was built by Amenhotep III.
The temple was constructed on the site of an older temple built in the
12th dynasty. Ramses II completed the temple. Many additions were made by
subsequent rulers including Merenpetah, Seti I, Ramses III, Ramses IV, and
Ramses VI. Later Alexander the Great rebuilt the Sanctuary. During
Christian times the inner section was converted into a church. Later a Mosque named Abou el-Hagag was built on the site. Today the temple is a
major attraction, with tourists from the cruise boats almost forming a
continuous chain as they walk from their mooring points, along the road
that runs along by the river, to the temple site. |
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The approach to the temple is known as the Avenue of Sphinxes, which in
ancient times stretched all the way to the temple at Karnak. Directly in
front stands the entry Pylons of Ramses II. To one side stands an obelisk,
this is one of a pair, the other can now be found in the Place de le
Concorde in Paris, France. At the base of the Pylons are statues of the
Pharaoh Ramses II in a seated position. Once through the Pylons, look up
to your left and you will see the Mosque of Abou -el Hagag. To the right are the remains of a
shrine built by Hatshepsut and Tothmusis II and dedicated to the Theban
triad. The triad consists of the sun god Amon-Ra, his wife the goddess Mut,
with the third being their son Khonsu. Walking forward you leave the open court of Ramses II and walk
along a processional Colonnade originally built by Amenhotep III, and
consists of two rows of columns and decorated walls. This leads through to
the Court of Amenhotep III with a double row of papyrus-bud columns on
three of the four sides. The forth side leads into a Hypostyle hall with
32 columns. Deeper into the temple
you get to an area that in later times the
Christians used as a church. At the far end of the temple is the Sanctuary
of Amon-Ra, this area was restored in the time of Alexander the Great.
Egyptian temples were usually built in straight lines, but looking at the
plan you can see that Luxor temple has been built completely off line.
This is due to Ramses II who when planning his Court, wanted to include
the older Temple to the Theban Triad.
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Luxor Temple at Night |
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