%cr%b%s4 Luxor Temple and other Luxor, Egypt Things to Do Tips

Luxor Temple

by Kuznetsov_Sergey , 1 more photos

Luxor temple has been stretched more than on a quarter of kilometer from the north to the south, along the Nile. It is devoted to the god of Amon. Pharaoh Amenhotep III started to build the temple. He has built a colonnade, a court yard framed columns of more modest sizes, a hypostyle hall and a sanctuary.

Pharaoh Ramesses II has considerably expanded the temple. In front of the colonnade he constructed one more court yard, powerful pylon (width - 65 m, height-24) which frames its entrance. Pylon is a characteristic element of religious Egyptian architecture since time of the Average Empire. It is similar to a two quadrangular in the basis tower with oblique walls. It reminds original truncated pyramids connected by the stone crosspiece. Pylon represented the ceremonial entrance into the temple.

Open 6.00-17.00, entrance fee - LE 35.

You may see Luxor Temple in 1881 on the second pic.

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Things To Do: Luxor Temple Statues

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 17, 2007

Luxor Temple Statues

by Kuznetsov_Sergey , 3 more photos

Six statues of Ramesses II (by height 20 m everyone) have originally been installed near pylon. Two statues at the each side of the entrance represented him sitting on a throne, and the others represented him standing at the entrance. Sitting figures are kept till now, from standing statues is kept only one.

In the beginning of the XIX century Mohammed Ali has presented two statues to France and now they are in Louvre, and the third statue, possibly, was broken.

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Things To Do: Luxor Temple Obelisk

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 17, 2007

Luxor Temple Obelisk

by Kuznetsov_Sergey , 1 more photos

The obelisk is kept also at the left part of pylon. The right obelisk, which was a pair to the left obelisk in 1819 has been presented by Egypt to France and later was established on the square of the Consent (Place de la Concord) in Paris (look at the second pic).

Walls of pylons are decorated with bas-reliefs narrating about operations of the army of Ramesses against hetts.

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Things To Do: Luxor Temple Colonnade

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 17, 2007

Luxor Temple Colonnade

by Kuznetsov_Sergey , 2 more photos

There is the colonnade which consists of two lines of columns (16 m) in the court yard of Ramesses II (the size 57m x 51m). Their capitals are executed in the form of buds of a lotus - a symbol of Egypt. The walls of the court yard are strongly destroyed and decorated by bas-reliefs.

The spacious court yard of Amenhotep III (the size is 50m x 45m) is the next part of the temple. Originally it has been framed from three sides by two lines of columns. Columns on both sides of the court yard are kept till now. Their capitals are executed in the form of buds of a lotus.

You may find more detailed information here.

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Things To Do: Mosque of Abu el-Haggag

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 17, 2007

Luxor Temple - Mosque of Abu

el-Haggag

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

In the XIII century in the left side of the court yard have been constructed the Mosque of Abu el-Haggag. When the temple has been completely cleared away, it has appeared highly above the ground. To the right of the Mosque there is the chapel which was constructed by Tutmos II and restored by Ramesses II.

Perched above the colonnade several meters above the ground is a colorful mosque. It has been rebuilt many times, and when the Temple was excavated in the last century, the town that had grown up over the temple had to be demolished. Even though another mosque has been built nearby, locals still prefer this one and it is in use -- although I assume that the door that opens thirty feet off the ground is barred!

Most of the mosque is 19th century, although the northern minaret is much older. The people of Luxor refused to allow the mosque to be demolished, so it remains on top of the bricked in columns.

You may find more detailed information here.

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Things To Do: Luxor Museum

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 17, 2007

Luxor Museum

by Kuznetsov_Sergey

The Museum was inaugurated in 1975. It is housed in a small, purpose-built building.
The museum is situated between the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. It houses pharaonic relics from Luxor and the nearby areas.

The museum is insignificant; there is no even a tenth part of exhibits of the Egyptian museum in Cairo. But the exposition is picked up and issued very carefully. It consists only of local finds of the dynastic period. There are sculptures, bas-reliefs, utensils among exhibits and several of them were taken from the tomb of Tutankhamun.

The new hall has been attached recently to the museum. About 20 statues found in a hiding place in Luxor temple in 1989 are exposed there. Apparently, they were hidden by priests to be saved from overseas aggressors. Statues are superb executed and well kept.

Quay of the Nile, 37 05 69,
09.00-13.00, 16.00-21.00, entrance fee - LE 55.

You may find more detailed information here.

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Things To Do: Mosque

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Written by Kuznetsov_Sergey

on Jul 18, 2007

Luxor - Don't know name Mosque

by Kuznetsov_Sergey , 2 more photos