Luxor, Egypt
Town and archaeological site in Egypt
About 20 km south of Luxor, in the middle of the village of El-Tod, stand the remains of a temple to Montu, the falcon-headed war god of Thebes. It is one of the oldest cult sites in the region: the earliest find is a granite pillar of the Fifth Dynasty king Userkaf, the Eleventh Dynasty rebuilt it, Senusret I of the Twelfth Dynasty raised a new temple, and the Ptolemies added the walls and reliefs you see standing today. Egyptologists know El-Tod for its treasure: copper chests buried under the temple foundations in the reign of Amenemhat II, packed with silver vessels and lapis lazuli from far-off lands. Pieces are now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Louvre. This is a very different visit from the big Luxor temples. The site is small and hemmed in by village houses, with Ptolemaic walls, carved reliefs, column bases and the outline of the sacred lake, and you are likely to have it to yourself.
You need a taxi or driver from Luxor, about half an hour each way; pair it with Armant or a drive south towards Esna. An hour on site is plenty. There are no facilities, so bring water. Go in the morning, and be considerate: the temple sits among people's homes.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionLuxor, Egypt
