Luxor Attractions

Luxor Attractions. The City of Luxor which once came under the Qena Governate was separated in 1989 from the Qena Governate to become a City of Special Character. Luxor has many names i.e. City of 100 Gates, City of the Sun, The Cioty of Light and the City of the Scepter, in Arabic Luxor means Plural Palace. Luxor contains more than 800 Archealogical Areas and Shrines and includes most of the Ancient Monuments. Luxor which is referred to as The Worlds Largest Open Air Museum is a mix of Modern Day and Ancient Kingdom. The Modern City is located at the same site as Ancient Thebes which was built upon the Treasures of the Old Kingdom which are still being discovered to the present day. Two of Egypt s most spectacular Sites are Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple Complex. There are many other Tombs and archealogical Sites and Ruins surrounding Luxor and can take several days to explore the significant archealogical Sites. Being made wealthy by Military success the Pharaohs that ruled the Kingdom extended their influence West along the Meditteranean, South into Nubia and east into Syria. Great Building projects were undertaken by the New Kingdom Pharaohs because of the wealth and vast workforce they had at their disposal. The efforts of their worl is immortalized in Luxor today with the Great Temples and Funerary Complexes which are still standing on bothe sides of the River Nile. Luxor also has the highest Temperatures in the Summer Season , and is considered one of the least polluted Areas. All in All the City of Luxor offers Visitors so much to see , explore and enjoy in this most beautiful Ancient City. KARNAK TEMPLES Karnak Temples known as Ipetsut by the Ancient Egyptians which translates into Most Select of Places, is a hughe Complex. The Complex was the Centre of the Ancient Faith while the power was in Thebes known now as Luxor. Built in honor of the God Amon-Ra some 80,000 Servants and slaves were assigned to serve Amon-Ra showing his importance and power. Plus 5,000 Statues were built in his honor. Karnak Temples were constructed over a period of 15,000 years by generations of Pharaohs. Many military exploits adorne the walls of Karnak Temples but a lot of the beautiful colors have now worn away by time. In addition to the Religious significance it was also used as a Treasury and Administrative Centre and Palace for the New Kingdom Pharaohs. LUXOR TEMPLE. The beautiful Luxor Temple is one of the most well preserved of all Ancient Monuments with many of the carvings and structures still apparrant today and is built on the Ancient Egyptian Capital of Thebes, The Temple was built by Amenhotep III and in Ancient times Luxor Temple along with Karnak Temples which both lie of the East Bank of the River Nile were connected by an Avenue of Sphinx. Luxor Temple is visible even when it is closed and if you walk through Downtown Luxor or along the Corniche you will see its precence. Luxor Temple is great to visit anytime but if you visit around sunset time the Temple is illuminated and takes on a rare beauty against the Night Sky. TEMPLE OF HATSHEPSUT The stunning Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatchepsut is built into a surrounding half circle of Cliffs, and has three levels leading up to the Temple. Queen Hatshepsut was the only Female Pharaoh to rule in Ancient Egypt. She was a very strong ruler and her mind was set for business as she started the first Trading between different Countries and dealt with the first Peace Treaty giving Egypt a very profitable and booming economy during her reign which was also one of the most peaceful in the history of Egypt. Queen Hatshepsut Tomb is not in the Valley of the Queens where all the other Queens are buried but she is buried in the Valley of the Kings making her the only female to be buried with the Kings. MEDINET HABU. The Temple of Medinet Habu which means House of a Million Years was built by Ramses III, to hold Funeral Rites and worship the Idol Amun. The Temple was built in the style of the Temples in the Ancient region of Syria, and combining the Ancient Pharaonic architecture with the charm of Human Civilization makes it one of the most beautiful archaeological areas in existence. Medinet Habu is not among the well travelled sites of the West Bank but is considered by many Tourists to be one of the most impressive Sites they see in Luxor. Many of the walls of the City of Medinet Habu are still intact and the original Paintin still visible on the carved surfaces. Functioning as a Walled City with the Temple and administrative Centre inside protected the Inhabitants of the area. VALLEY OF THE KINGS The Valley of the Kings which lies on the West Bank of the River Nile near Luxor is one of the most famous sites in the World. It was made famous by the discovery of King Tutankhamun Tomb including all of his treasures by Howard Carter in 1922. The Valley contains many Kings who are buried there and there are many secrets and myths which surround the Valley of the Kings. Ramses II Sons are buried in the Valley which was discovered in 1825, with 120 Burial Chambers found inside and work is still ongoing to the present day. More than 10 Royal Mummies were found inside the Cemetary i. e. Thutmose IV, Amenhotep III, Merenptah, Set II, Ramses IV,V and VI. The Tomb of Ramses IV is one of the most beautiful Tombs in the Valley of the Kings, at the top of the entrance there is the Golden Sun Disc that represents God Ra the symbol of Power, on either side of the Disc is Isis and Nephthys. The Cemetary includes Pharoanic drawings and inscriptions which represent the Sun Journey in the Underworld, there are also Coptic views on the right wall of the entrance showing some Copts used the Tombs as a shelter during the days of Religious Persecution. THE COLOSSI OF MEMNON The Colossi of Memnon are twin statues which stand at 59 feet tall each statue, they Guard the Entrance to the Temple of Amenhotep III, and are visually stunning. Approx. 1,300 years after it was erected some parts of the statues cracked and as the Morning air passed through the cracks which were satuated with the Morning Dew a whistling sound could be heard like singing, so it was claimed that the Statues sang at Sunrise, although there was another Magic Story which said that Ghosts were inside the statues. Visitors love to see the Colossi not only for the stunning statues but also because it gives them the opportunity to take same amazing photographs.