Luxor - An Open-Air Museum

The Luxor region was first inhabited by humans in prehistoric times, and many flint tools have been found in the rocks surrounding the modern city.

Predynastic settlements grew up on the edge of the western desert throughout the Qurna area on the West Bank. In the early Dynastic period and the Old Kingdom, Thebes became an integral part of Egypt. Thebes is the Greek name of the city; in classical times it was called Diospolis Magna.
The Thebans became rulers of the country, holding control over politics, religion and administration and the unification of Egypt. The seat of the ruler remained at Thebes during the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties under the Thutmoside and Ramesside kings, and the local god Amun became the chief deity of the whole land.

Thebes was at the height of its glory during the New Kingdom, and many magnificent temples were built in honour of Amun, his consort Mut and their son Khonsu. It was an age of splendour, when Egypt was politically very stable. As well as building temples, the New Kingdom pharaohs and officials chose to be buried in the Theban hills on the West Bank. The Valley of the Kings is perhaps the most famous place in Upper Egypt, with the huge and magnificent tombs of the pharaohs cut deep into the rock at the edge of the western desert.
The flowering of these massive building works, which tell us so much about the pharaohs, their history and the cult of the god Amun, brought very high standards of art and craftsmanship. A community of expert workers, sculptors, artists, architects and scribes lived in the village of Deir el-Medina on the West Bank and had skills previously unseen. On the east bank, the main monument, the Karnak temple, was built over the reigns of many kings. Newly crowned pharaohs often dismantled the monuments built by their predecessors and constructed their own from previously used blocks.

This can often make the identification of buildings confusing, but by piecing together countless inscriptions egyptologists are able to provide much information about Egyptian history and administration, and especially that of Thebes, from the Old Kingdom to the Roman conquest.
The glory of Thebes lasted until the city was sacked by Assyrian invaders during the Nubian 25th dynasty; after that it was never the same. Thebes was then ruled by the Saites, Persians, Greeks and Romans, each leaving their mark on the history of the buildings. We can see the remains of the ancient city, its monuments on both banks - east and west of the Nile - and a wonderful collection of works of art in the Luxor Museum.

Archaeologists uncovered many wonders in this ancient land, and wealthy European and American visitors came to Luxor as the first tourists.
Today the modern city of Luxor has a rich tourist front, and much of the income of Egypt comes from here. But besides the restored monuments, the rows of cruise ships and coaches along the promenade and the bustling tourist bazaars, there is the Thebes of ancient times. The way of life has changed little in the ramshackle streets of Luxor and in the lanes of the West Bank villages.

The Theban people are friendly and hospitable; their customs have remained the same for hundreds of years, and it is easy to forget that most of them depend in some way on tourism for their living. The spirit of ancient Thebes is still very much alive in Luxor - a spirit that makes tourists want to come back again and again to this magical place.