Luxor

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The Cult Temple of Amun of Luxor

Temple Approach

Luxor Temple was at one time linked to the Temple of Amun at Karnak by a sphinx-lined avenue. Some of this avenue has been uncovered at Luxor Temple and it is believed that the rest of the avenue still lies untouched beneath the modern town.

The Obelisk

Before the pylon stands an obelisk; one of a red granite pair which Ramesses erected (its twin now in the Place de la Concorde in Paris). On the pedestal are carved the four sacred baboons who were the first to greet the morning sun. Three lines of vertical inscription on every face of the obelisk repeat the names and titles of Ramesses the Great:

1. The Horus, Mighty Bull, Exalter of Thebes, Favourite of the Two Goddesses, establishing monuments in Luxor for his father Amun, who placed him upon the throne;

2. Golden Horus, seeking excellent things for him who fashioned him;

3. King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Usermaatre, Chosen of Ra.

It is of interest to note that when the one obelisk was lowered, in order to be transported to France, Ramesses name was also found inscribed on the bottom. Pharaohs were notorious for usurping other pharaohs monuments, and Ramesses was determined that this was to remain his own. The pyramidal tip of the tall shaft was covered in sheet gold which flashed in the sunlight, symbolizing the sun god Ra in his brilliance. Colossal seated statues of Ramesses flank the gateway.

Pylons

On the face of the great pylon are carved episodes from the Battle of Kadesh, where Ramesses II and his army defeated/placed in check the forces of the Hittites and their allies. As these reliefs are quite difficult to see, the best time to view them is in the early morning or in the evening when the temple is floodlit (this throws a good shadow on the reliefs making them clearer).

Court of Ramesses II

The south end of the Temple of Luxor was an addition constructed by Ramesses II. The great court is surrounded with well proportioned papyrus bud capital columns. Placed between the columns are monumental statues of Ramesses accompanied by the Great Royal Wife, Queen Nefertari (a beautiful yet diminutive figure carved by Ramesses' right leg - a high and unusual honour/mark of respect). Reliefs cover the interior walls. Within the court can be seen the tip of the minaret of the mosque of Abu'l Hagag. On the north side of the Court stands a small sandstone shrine to the Theban Triad (Amun, Mut and Khonsu). It was here that Amun and his two companions rested during the Opet Festival. This court is also built at a slight angle to the main axis of the temple (it is likely that Ramesses designed it this way so that the avenue linking it with Karnak could join the pylon at an appropriate angle).

 
The Colonnade

The processional colonnade was originally built by Amenhotep III, the court was abandoned by Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) and only later decorated by Tutankhamun and Horemheb. The Colonnade consists of 14 columns with papyrus capitals. At the entrance to the Colonnade are two wonderful statues bearing the cartouche of Ramesses II but the feathers of Tutankhamun.

 The Court of Amenhotep III

The east and west side of the court has well preserved double rows of papyrus columns with bud capitals. The Hypostyle Hall, on the south side, had four rows of eight columns. Reliefs are on both side of the south wall depicting the coronation of Amenhotep III by the gods. A roman altar, dedicated to Constantine, is located to the left of the central aisle.

The Antechambers

The reliefs of Amenhotep III were whitewashed and painted over in the 3rd or 4th century when this part of the temple was used as a Christian church. However, the stucco is crumbling, and now the reliefs underneath are visible. The first antechamber has eight columns and was used in Roman times as a chapel for the Roman legion that had taken up residence in the temple compound. The second antechamber was the Offering Hall and has four columns and is decorated with reliefs of Amenhotep III making offerings to Amun. Beyond the Offering Hall is the barque shrine (or shrines – since within Amenhotep’s shrine room is a free standing chapel built by Alexander the Great).

A small hall to the east opens onto the opet or private apartments of the gods. There is a so-called Birth Room, built because of Amenhotep III's claim that he was the son of Amun (Amenhotep III claimed that Amun disguised himself as Thuthmosis IV, entered the queen's chambers and breathed the child into her nostrils). Arranged around and behind the shrine are the Holy of Holies, the Birth Room, store rooms and a 12-pillared hall with cosmic significance (12 pillars representing the hours in the day and depictions of the day and night barques of the sun at each end of the hall).