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Ancient temples
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple, or
The Temple of Luxor, is among the most beautiful Temples in
Egypt.
It was known in the New Kingdom period as Ipt-Rsyt, which
means the southern shrine. This was to differentiate between this
Temple and Karnak Temple, which was the northern house of Amon Ra.
Amenhotep III built Luxor Temple. The architect and overseer of the
works of construction was the genius Amenhotep, son of Habu. The
Temple run close and parallel to the river Nile from north to south.
It was constructed on the site of a small Temple of Amon, built by
kings of the 12th dynasty. At the time of Amenhotep III the Temple
was only 190m in length and 55m in width. Basically, Luxor Temple
was consecrated to Amon Ra in his fertility aspect.
Ramses II, with the help of his architect Pak-in Khonso, added the
front part and completed the Temple. He also added the present large
forecourt, and a Pylon at the (northern) front of the Temple. Kings
Merenpetah, Seti I, Ramses III, Ramses IV and Ramses VI built many
more small additions. Alexander the Great rebuilt the Sanctuary.
During the Christian era, the inner section was converted to a
church. The Muslims built a Mosque in the 10th century, which is
known as the Mosque of Abou El-Hagag.
King Nektanebo
built the Sphinx Avenue in front of the Temple that leads to the
entrance. In front of the Great Pylon of Ramses II, there once were
2 obelisks. Only one of them remains standing! The other was
transported, in 1819, to La Place de le Concorde in Paris, as a gift
to King Philip Louis of France by Mohamed Ali (who ruled
Egypt
1805-1850 A.D), after he was given a French clock, which has never
worked properly - even to this day!
There were 6 standing statues in front of the Pylon, only one of
them, on the western side, is still in place.
Flanking the gate of the first pylon, which is 24m high, there are
two seated colossi representing King Ramses II, seated on his
throne, with all the royal features. Both towers of this pylon were
once decorated with relief’s depicting the Battle of Kadesh, fought
between the armies of
Egypt and the Hittites, in present day Syria.
The 1st open court has double rows of 32 papyrus bud columns.
To the right side of the open court there is an old triple shrine
made by Queen Hatshepsut and Tuthmosis III, dedicated to the sacred
boats of the “Triad of Thebes”. To the left is the Mosque of Abou
El-Hagag.
The open court of Ramses II leads to the Colonnade, which was built
by Amenhotep III, and decorated by Tutankhamen and later, Horemheb;
Seti I, Ramses II, and Seti II all recorded their names there. It
consists of two pairs of large open papyrus columns, which are
arranged to make a long processional avenue. The walls of this
colonnade are decorated by scenes of the Opt Festival, special
ceremonies for the visit of the “Triad of Karnak” to the Temple of
Luxor. This feast lasted for about 24 days, including the return to
the Karnak Temple.
The Karnak Temple
-
Luxor Temple
-
The Temple of Deir El-Bahri
-
The Temple of
Abydos -
Temple of Dendera
-
Temple of
Madinat Habu -
The Temple of Edfu
-The
Temple of Kom Ombo -
The Temple of Philae
-
The Temple of
Isis -The
Temples of Abu Simbel -
Temple of The Ramesseum
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