Luxor, Egypt
Ancient Egyptian tem
Right in the centre of town, a short walk from the corniche, Luxor Temple was founded around 1400 BC and known to the ancient Egyptians as Ipet-resyt, the southern sanctuary. It was one of the two great temples of the East Bank with Karnak, and was devoted to the renewal of kingship; many pharaohs were crowned, really or symbolically, here, and Alexander the Great claimed the same. Most of what you see is the work of Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. At the entrance stand Ramesses' colossi and a single obelisk; its twin has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836. Beyond come the court of Ramesses II, the long colonnade of Amenhotep III and his wide court of papyrus columns. Further in are a shrine built in Alexander's name and Roman wall paintings from the centuries when the temple was a legionary fortress. Above the first court sits the Mosque of Abu al-Haggag, built when sand had buried the temple, so it still stands at the old ground level, a vivid picture of how the eras stack up in one place. The Avenue of Sphinxes to Karnak starts at the front.
Come for sunset and stay until the floodlights come on: the colonnades at night are a different sight. An hour to an hour and a half is enough. Much of it is visible from the street over the low wall. The Abu al-Haggag Mosque is entered from its own street door; modest dress, and avoid prayer times. It is walkable from most corniche hotels.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionLuxor, Egypt
