The Luxor Temple Facts

Why the Luxor Temple is Important?

Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was constructed nearly 1400 BCE. In the Egyptian language, it is known as, "the southern sanctuary".

Luxor Temple was one of the most powerful temples in Ancient Egypt, the Temple deity being Amun or Amun-Ra. Beginning in the New Kingdom period, the power of Amun’s priesthood rivaled that of the Pharaoh. Luxor was also an important temple because of its location in the middle of the ancient city of Thebes, on the east bank of the Nile. It is near the river bank. Luxor Temple is a little over a mile from the temple complex of Karnak. Unlike most other Egyptian temples, Luxor has a north-south orientation because the temple faced Karnak.

The Development of it's building

Amenhotep III was a New Kingdom pharaoh, and he rebuilt the temple’s core, which included the Inner Sanctuary. Amenhotep III also added a sun court to the front of the temple and a colonnade to the front of the sun court. Pharaoh Ramesses II built the Great Court at the front of the colonnade. It was orientated to face Karnak. Nectanebo II built a forecourt in front of the Great Court. He also rebuilt the sphinx statue.

Pharaohs Era

In contrast with the other temples in Thebes, Luxor temple is not dedicated to a cult god or a deified version of the king in death. Instead, Luxor temple is dedicated to the installation of kingship; it may have been where many of the kings of Egypt were crowned.
The Importance of the Temple

The Roman era

During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the center of the Roman government in the area. After Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the Romans built several churches in or near Luxor. They built one of these churches inside the Great Court.

Muslims era

In the 13th Century, Muslims built a mosque over the church in the Great Court. This mosque is still in use today and it is called Abulhaggag. Scholars have determined that Luxor has been an active religious center for at least 3,000 years.

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