Luxor, Egypt
Once the capital of Middle Egypt for 1,500 years, Luxor rose to prominence in the 21st century BCE as Thebes. It remained the capital of Egypt until 661 BCE, when it was attacked by the Assyrians. Despite this, Luxor continued to be an influential center until Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire following the defeat of Cleopatra VII in 30 B.C.E. Luxor is considered one of the world's first tourist destinations. The acclaimed Greek poet Homer famously described it as “the city of a hundred gates.” Its modern Arabic name is Al-Uqsur, which translates to “the palaces,” “the fortified,” or “the forts” likely derived from the Latin term castrum, meaning camp or fortress.
Geography
The geography of Luxor is comprised of three areas: the City of Luxor itself on the eastern bank of the Nile; Thebes (or Waset) just across the river; and Karnak to the north. The modern city serves as a market town for the surrounding agricultural district. Over time, the city has expanded to the north, south, and east of the Temple of Luxor.
The major Theban sites were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979 and include iconic monuments such as Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and the Valley of the Queens. Today, the city is surrounded by two vast ancient monuments: Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple.
Climate
Luxor has a subtropical desert climate characterized by very mild winters and hot, sunny summers. Average temperatures vary by season, with January, the coldest month, averaging 58° F, and July, the hottest month, averaging 92° F. Nights can be quite chilly without the intense heat from the desert sun, and the region experiences virtually no rainfall throughout the year due to its desert climate.
The summer season typically begins in June and ends in September. The best months to visit Luxor are April and October when the weather is more moderate and comfortable for exploration.
Population and Economy
With a current population of 422,407 people, nearly half of Egypt’s population live in rural areas, with 57% living outside of the major city. Tourism is one of the main driving forces of Luxor’s economy. The government has made significant efforts to revitalize tourism after political turmoil deterred visitors.
Currently, there is an ongoing mission to turn Luxor into the world’s largest open-air museum, a project in collaboration with UN-Habitat to support economic development throughout the process. Agriculture also plays a vital role in the region's economy, with sugarcane being the primary crop.
Attractions in Luxor
Valley of the Kings
On the western side of the Nile, across the river from the ancient city of Luxor, lies the Valley of the Kings. The final resting places of the Pharaohs from the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties, as well as for some royal family members and high-ranking individuals.
The Valley of the Kings is divided into two sections: the Eastern and Western valleys. The Eastern Valley is the most iconic and frequently visited of the two, while the Western Valley is much smaller. The Valley of the Kings is home to over sixty tombs, including that of Tutankhamun (KV62), Ramses IV (KV2), and Seti I (KV17).
Valley of the Queens
Also on the western side of the Nile is the Valley of the Queens, the burial site for queens of the 19th and 20th dynasties, as well as many of the royal children. The Valley of the Queens holds more than 90 tombs, typically featuring an entrance passage, short halls, and a sarcophagus chamber.
The most notable tomb in the Valley of the Queens is Nefertari’s (QV66), the favorite queen on Ramses II. Of all the tombs in the valley, only four are open for public viewing, including Nefertari’s that is exquisitely preserved.
Temple of Luxor
One of the last surviving remnants of the ancient city of Thebes, the Temple of Luxor features a large peristyle court with a complex of halls and chambers beyond. One of the temple's most distinctive features is its Avenue of Sphinxes, which once connected Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple.
Built by Amenhotep III (1390-1352 BC) and later completed by Tutankhamun (1336-1327 BC) and Horemheb (1323-1295 BC), the temple sits parallel to the Nile riverbank and has remained in almost continuous use as a place of worship to the present day. Notably, the ancient Obelisk in the Place De La Concorde in Paris was originally part of a set from the Temple of Luxor.
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
Considered a masterpiece of ancient architecture, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple was built during the 18th dynasty by Pharaoh Hatshepsut, the iconic queen who assumed the throne after her father, Thutmose I, designated her as his heir. Dedicated to the god Amun, the temple features three levels, each with a colonnade and a courtyard on the upper level.
Directly across the Nile from Karnak, the temple’s walls are covered with beautiful and intricately painted reliefs that depict temple rituals, religious festivals and even of the transportations of obelisks from the quarry to Karnak Temple.
Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple, the largest religious building ever constructed, dates back to 2055 BC to around 100 AD. Dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu, it is not a single structure but a sprawling complex— a city of temples built over the course of 1,500 years.
Spanning 200 acres, Karnak includes a sacral enclosure for Amun and the renowned Hypostyle Hall, the largest room of any religious building in the world. The complex also features several smaller temples and a sacral lake, surrounded by storerooms and living quarters for the tending priests.
Ramesseum
Famous for its 57-foot statue of Ramses II, the Ramesseum is the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Dedicated to the god Amun and the deceased king, its walls are decorated with reliefs of the Battle of Kadesh, the Syrian Wars, and the Festival of Min.
The Ramesseum is the second-largest temple in Egypt, featuring vast courtyards, intricate carvings, and hieroglyphs telling stories of the gods and the afterlife. Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great, ruled Egypt for 66 years, achieving significant military conquests, architectural marvels, and an immortalizing legacy showcased through the Ramesseum.
Carter House
On the West Bank of Luxor is the former home of the famous British archaeologist Howard Carter. Preserved as a snapshot of his time in Egypt, the house is frozen in time just as Carter left it, as he made the groundbreaking discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of Egypt’s most famous pharaohs.
Visitors can wander through the halls of Carter’s home, explore a replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and imagine the world that discovered the past. Dr. Zahi Hawass, a prominent figure in Egyptian archaeology, spearheaded the houses revival with the goal to connect travelers to Carter’s legacy, and through him, to Egypt’s remarkable past.
