Luxor Temple
Entrance of Luxor Temple
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Location |
Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt |
Region |
Upper Egypt |
Coordinates |
view on map |
Type |
Sanctuary |
Part of |
Thebes |
History |
Founded |
1400 BCE |
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UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Official name |
Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis |
Type |
Cultural |
Criteria |
i, iii, vi |
Designated |
1979 (3rd session) |
Reference no. |
87 |
Region |
Arab States |
Ramses II in Luxor Temple
Closeup of temple entrance
Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was founded in 1400 BCE. Known in the Egyptian language as ipet resyt, or "the southern sanctuary". In Luxor there are six great temples, the four on the left bank are known to travellers and readers of travels as Goornah, Deir-el-Bahri, the Ramesseum, and Medinet Habu; and the two temples on the right bank are known as the Karnak and Luxor.
To the rear of the temple are chapels built by Tuthmosis III, and Alexander. During the Roman era, the temple and its surroundings were a legionary fortress and the home of the Roman government in the area.