Luxor, Egypt
Mortuary temple of Ramses III in Egypt
Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramesses III, is the best-preserved temple on Luxor's West Bank and one of the least crowded. Built early in his reign (about 1186 to 1155 BC), it sits inside a massive mud-brick enclosure entered through a fortified gatehouse modelled on a Syrian-style migdol tower, unlike any other temple gate in Egypt. The pylons and outer walls are covered in the king's campaigns, most famously the reliefs of his defeat of the Sea Peoples in the Battle of the Delta, a key historical record of the era. In the second court the original paint survives on columns and ceilings in deep blues, reds and yellows. The enclosure also holds an earlier temple of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III and the remains of the royal palace beside the main temple. Copts later lived inside the walls for centuries in a town called Djeme, which is where the modern name comes from. It is spacious and calm, and many people rank it above the busier sites.
Allow one and a half to two hours. Late afternoon brings fewer visitors and warm light on the outer reliefs. Do not skip the second court for the colour, and walk round the outer wall for the battle scenes. Simple cafés face the gate. It pairs easily with Deir el-Medina, the Valley of the Queens and the Colossi of Memnon.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionLuxor, Egypt
