Luxor Things to Do Tips by uglyscot

A temple of Ramses III. It is believed there were once living quarters above the gate.
There are shady colonnades with scenes of Battles against the Assyrians. Ramses III rides into battle in his chariot.
There are smaller courtyards with chapels to gods,.
Many of the decorations still have their original colour.

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Address: west bank of the Nile.

It is a must to walk along the Nile. There are so many boats to see. There are the huge cruise shops with paddle wheels. You can only envy those who can afford the time and money to see Egypt this way. Friends who have 'done' the trip enjoyed it- having a guide, the dressing up and fun and games, the belly dancers etc.
But none of this is necessary to enjoy the Nile. Small boats and feluccas are within most people's pockets, and more enjoyable.
And if not, just walking along and enjoying the view of the pink hills of the west bank is a pleasure in itself.

An interesting book with nice illustrations is "Letters from Egypt" by Florence Nightingale. Yes, the same Florence Nightingale who made nursing a respectable profession. This is one book I do not regret having bought here in Egypt.

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Address: The promenade at Luxor

The tomb of Queen Tawsret and Siptah in the VAlley of the Kings is an easy one to visit as it does not involve climbing or steps. The walls are brightly painted and there is a sarcophagus.
The photo shows Ra , the hawk headed sun god, and Maat the goddess of Justice with an ostrich feather[ symbolizing the feather against the dead's heart is weighed]. Horus is carrying a lotus blossom and an ankh [the symbol of life].

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Address: valley of the kings
Directions: after leaving the main valley, it is in a right hand fork at the end of the valley.

This is a large tomb with excellent paintings. It is usually crowded, so that photography was difficult, and the paintings are protected by glass or plastic. Nowadays photography is forbidden in all tombs.
The long straight corridor is typical of the tombs from the late Ramesside period.

The main photo shows the scarab in a solar barque between two uadjet eyes, sailing on the snake representing Time.

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Address: Valley of the Kings
Directions: This tomb is near the entrance to the valley on the left hand side.

When visiting tombs, don't forget to look up as even the ceilings can be decorated . From the earliest times [eg IVthe Dynasty] ceilings were often painted blue or black with 5 pointed yellow stars. In later times an actual zodiac was found. In this tomb there is an astronomical ceiling in the middle corridor.

In the photo taken in the tomb of Ramses IX, the god Bes [ the only god represented full face] sits above a lintel. Other gods and goddesses walk above him.

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Address: Valley of the Kings
Directions: just past the entrance to the main valley, on eastern side.

If your legs and lungs can manage the steep long climb up the wooden steps to the tomb near the top of the cliff, it is interesting to see the simple decoration of the pharaoh called the Napoleon of Egypt. He inherited the throne from his father when only a child. His stepmother and wife Hatchepsut acted as Regent and eventually claimed the title of Pharaoh. When Tuthmosis reached manhood and took over the reins of government he proved himself the best soldier king Egypt ever had. In spite of this his tomb decorations are so simple, stick figures, rather like the hieratic hieroglyphics..
The main photo shows a representation of the layout of the tomb.

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Address: Top end of the Valley of the Kings
Directions: At end of the valley and up a steep long flight of steps to near the top of the cliff.

Like all temples and monuments in Ancient Egypt, the walls are decorated with representations of the gods, usually taking part in the cermonies at the death of the pharaoh, or being offered gifts by the pharaoh.
The different gods can be recognised by their head-dresses or animal heads,:
Amun has 2 tall feathers on his head, Osiris is like a mummy with the tall helmet with plumes on either side, Isis has a throne head-dress, Maat has the feather of justice, Ptah seems like a mummy but with no head-dress, Thoth has a strange anteater like head, Anubis is a jackal, Horus has a hawk head, Hathgor represented as a cow or cow-headed woman, Bes is a dwarf-like god always shown full face, Bast /Bastet is a catheaded goddess.
Other things to look for are the false doors where the dead were believed to come from in order that they could eat the sacrifices .

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Directions: On the west bank of the Nile.

I think it is a good idea to see the sound and light show at Karnak, and then next morning visit the temple again. Itis vast, and although it takes a long time to see, the columns provide so much shade that you do not feel the heat too much.
Many of the columns show that the inscriptions have been changed- by the deeper cut into the stone. Many parts have been usurped by later pharaohs.
The scenes are so interesting- particularly notice where women have been stroking the erect member of Amun-MIn in the hope that they will have a child.
The temple is basically devoted to Amun-Ra, Khonsu and Mut [The Theban Triad]
Various pharaohs built here: Ramses II and III, Akhnaton, Tuthmosis III,, Hatchepsut, Seti II, Amenhotep I and II, and Seusert I. Others left their mark like Hatchepsut [obelisks] and Taharqa [column] and Horemhab [colonnade].

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This temple is amazing. It lies at the foot of the hills and rises up in tiers. Unfortunately after the massacre that took place, the upper levels were closed when we went. However the temple must be seen for its beauty alone.
the main god visible here is Hathor, the cow or cow=headed goddess. She has been given the likeness of Hatchepsut herself.

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Luxor Temple is smaller and more compact than Karnak. It was the capital of the 11-20 Dynasties.
At some time in the 19th Century a mosque of Abu el Haggag was built.
In Ancient Egyptian times there was a ceremony every year where the god was taken from Karnak to Luxor [or vice versa] in some sort of fertility ritual.

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