"The Theban Necropolis" Thebes by illumina

Thebes was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, and was the city of the god Amun-Re. It had various names in Egyptian during different periods, such as Waset (The Foremost), Niwt "(The) City" and Niwt-rst "(The) Southern City". It was named 'Thebai' by the Greeks, who also knew it as Diospolis Megale, which became Diospolis Magna to the Romans.

The Nile divides Thebes into two halfs, the East bank and the West bank. The East bank has now become the city of Luxor, with the temple of Karnak just outside, while the west bank is famous for the mortuary temples and necropoles which include the Valley of the Kings.