Luxor Temple

Luxor Temple stands in the heart of modern Luxor, a short walk from the Nile Corniche on the east bank. The ancient Egyptians knew it as Ipet-resyt, the southern sanctuary, and it was closely tied to the Opet Festival, when the sacred statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were carried here from Karnak each year in a celebration that renewed the power of the king.

Unlike many Egyptian temples, Luxor Temple was not built mainly for the cult of a dead king or for the daily worship of a single god. Scholars generally see it as a place where the divine nature of kingship itself was celebrated, with Amun in a special form linked to fertility and renewal. That idea runs through its reliefs, from the festival processions to the scenes of the king's divine birth.

It is also one of the easiest major monuments in Egypt to fit into a trip. It is compact, central and lit after dark, so you can see it at the end of a day of sightseeing, when the stone glows under the floodlights and the town around it comes alive.

History in brief

Most of what you see was built by two New Kingdom pharaohs. Amenhotep III, in the 14th century BC, raised the core of the temple, including its tall colonnade, the sun court behind it and the inner rooms around the sanctuary. The decoration of the colonnade was completed under Tutankhamun, whose names were later replaced by those of his successors. About a century after Amenhotep III, Ramesses II added the great entrance pylon, a large columned court and the colossal statues of himself that face the city.

The temple's story did not end with the pharaohs. Alexander the Great appears in the reliefs of a barque shrine rebuilt in his name, a way of presenting the new ruler as a legitimate Egyptian king. Roman soldiers built a military camp around the temple and turned one hall into a chapel of the imperial cult. Later, churches were built in and around the site, and in the medieval period the Mosque of Abu al-Haggag was built on top of the sand and debris that had filled the court. That mosque is still in use, and its old door now hangs high above the temple floor, showing how much material once buried the temple.

Large-scale clearing of the temple began in the late 19th century. In 1989, work in the sun court uncovered a pit of buried statues, now known as the Luxor Temple Cachette. Many of these fine statues are displayed in the Luxor Museum nearby.

What to see

• The Avenue of Sphinxes, which runs north toward Karnak, about 3 kilometers away. The sphinxes closest to the temple, with human heads, date mainly to the 30th Dynasty king Nectanebo I, long after the temple was first built.
• The First Pylon and obelisk of Ramesses II. Two obelisks once stood here; the second has stood in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since the 1830s. The pylon's faces carry scenes from the Battle of Kadesh, the king's famous campaign against the Hittites.
• The colossal statues of Ramesses II, seated and standing, in front of the pylon and inside the court beyond it.
• The Court of Ramesses II, surrounded by papyrus columns, with standing statues of the king between them and the Mosque of Abu al-Haggag rising on its eastern side.
• The Colonnade of Amenhotep III, two rows of tall papyrus columns that once formed a processional corridor. Its walls show the Opet Festival procession in detail, with boats, musicians, dancers and offerings.
• The Sun Court of Amenhotep III, with its double rows of clustered papyrus columns, especially beautiful in the late afternoon light.
• The Roman chapel, where painted plaster from the imperial period survives over the older pharaonic reliefs. Conservation work has made these paintings much easier to see.
• The Birth Room, where reliefs show the divine conception and birth of Amenhotep III, presenting him as the son of Amun.
• The Barque Shrine of Alexander the Great, where the Macedonian ruler is shown as a pharaoh making offerings to Amun.

Architecture and details worth noticing

Stand at the back of the sun court and look toward the entrance, and you will notice that the temple's axis bends. The court of Ramesses II and his pylon are set at an angle to the older temple of Amenhotep III. Several explanations have been suggested, including the wish to align the entrance with the route to Karnak or to respect older shrines already on the site. No single explanation is certain, so treat any confident answer with caution.

As at Karnak, you will see the work of many periods layered together. Look for names recut in cartouches, Roman paint over pharaonic carving, Christian traces and the Islamic mosque above it all. Few places in Egypt show so clearly how a sacred site was reused across the centuries without ever being fully abandoned.

The Opet reliefs in the colonnade are worth slow attention. They show the procession leaving Karnak on the river, the arrival at Luxor and the return journey, with priests carrying the gods' barques on their shoulders and crowds celebrating along the way.

How to get there

Luxor Temple is in the center of town, within walking distance of many east bank hotels and the Nile cruise moorings. Its entrance faces the Corniche side of the city, and taxis and horse-drawn carriages can drop you nearby. From Karnak, it is a short drive south, or a longer walk along the Avenue of Sphinxes.

How long to spend and when to go

An hour to an hour and a half is enough for most visitors, and keen photographers may want a little longer. The temple usually stays open into the evening, which makes it a good choice after the heat of the day, but opening hours and ticket prices change, so check current details before you go.

Many travelers combine it with Karnak on the same day, visiting Karnak in the morning and Luxor Temple toward sunset. From October to April the weather is pleasant at most times of day. In the hot months, from about May to September, late afternoon and evening are the most comfortable times. Evenings in the high season can be busy, so arriving just before sunset rather than after dark often gives you more space.

Tips from our specialists

• Arrive about an hour before sunset to see the temple in daylight and then under the lights, without needing two visits.
• Look for the old mosque door high above the floor of the Ramesses court; it shows how deeply the temple was once buried.
• Light clothing that covers shoulders and knees is comfortable and respectful, especially if you want to look at the mosque.
• The site is flat and easy to walk, which makes it a good choice for travelers with limited mobility or young children.
• Bring a lens or camera that handles low light well if you plan to stay after dark, and avoid using flash on painted surfaces.
• Follow your visit with a stroll along the Corniche or a felucca ride on the Nile.

Nearby sights to combine

Karnak Temple, about 3 kilometers north, completes the story of the Opet Festival. The Luxor Museum, a short drive or walk along the Corniche, holds many statues from the Luxor Temple Cachette and is a good companion visit. The Mummification Museum is also close by. Across the Nile, the West Bank temples and tombs make a full separate day.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Luxor Temple at night?

The temple is usually open into the evening and is floodlit after dark, which many visitors find a highlight. Hours can change with the season, so check current times before you go.

How long does a visit take?

Most travelers need an hour to an hour and a half. If you want to study the Opet reliefs and the Roman paintings closely, allow a bit more.

Where is the second obelisk?

The second obelisk from the entrance was taken to France in the 19th century and now stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The one you see in Luxor is still in its original position.

Is Luxor Temple connected to Karnak?

Yes. The Avenue of Sphinxes links the two temples, and in antiquity the Opet Festival procession traveled between them. Parts of the avenue are open for walking.

Is Luxor Temple good for families?

Yes. It is compact, flat and central, and the large statues and evening lights tend to appeal to children. It is one of the easiest major sites in Egypt to visit with a family.

Luxor Temple pairs naturally with Karnak on an east bank day and is an easy evening addition to any Luxor stay or Nile cruise.