Egypt

Luxor Temple and the Avenue of the Sphinxes

The Luxor Temple is an impressive complex located in the city of the same name in ancient Thebes. Neighboring the impressive Temple of Karnak and very close to the Valley of the Kings, it is one of the most visited temples in Egypt and one of the most spectacular.

The impressive Luxor Temple was discovered in 1884 and is dedicated to the god Amun. We consider his visit essential on a trip to Egypt.

We recommend you take this guided tour of the Temple of Luxor and the Temple of Karnak, in which you will discover both temples in depth and you will know them like no one else.

Get to know the Luxor Temple and the Avenue of the Sphinxes

Egypt - Luxor TempleThe temple, which took 400 years to build, is fundamentally due to the pharaohs Amenophis III, who was the one who commissioned its construction, and to Ramses II, who added various elements to the temple and which we can admire today.

But during its construction other pharaohs also contributed, such as Tutankhamun, giving it a size of 260 meters long by 60 meters wide.

It should be noted that this temple was linked to the Karnak Temple through a large dromos, the Avenue of the Sphinxes, flanked by 600 sphinxes representing rams, and 2 km long. Today only a part of this great avenue is preserved.

What to see in Luxor Temple

Egypt - Avenue of the SphinxesNormally in the agendas of organized excursions, the visit to the Temple of Luxor is done at night seeing it illuminated.

If possible, in addition to the night visit, it is also recommended to do it during the day to be able to observe all the details. The most important points of interest of the Luxor Temple are the following:

  • Entrance to the temple. The pylon was built by Ramses II. In front of it, there were two large obelisks, but one of them was donated to France in the 19th century and is now in Paris. Also at the entrance we can see the large seated statues of Ramses II made of gray granite and 15 meters high. Originally there were 4 more seated statues made of pink granite but now only one remains representing one of the pharaoh’s daughters.
  • The Peristyle Courtyard of Ramses II. After crossing the pylon we find this 55-meter-long patio. Its 74 columns stand out and are located in rows of 2 around the patio and the central sanctuary.
  • Egypt - Luxor Temple - InteriorColonnade of Amenhotep III. Formed by 14 columns 16 meters high. The room is 50 meters long and 20 meters wide and the entrance is flanked by two seated statues of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari.
  • The Peristyle Courtyard of Amenhotep III. It is the next room and the columns it contains are only around 3 of its faces, in rows of two.
  • Hypostyle room. Formed by 32 columns arranged in 4 rows. From there you can access 4 rooms, the vestibule, the offering room, the birth room and the sanctuary.

Useful information

To get to the temple you can use the taxi. It is in the same city so it will not cost you much. You can arrange with the taxi driver to also take you to the Karnak Temple or even hire him all day to go to the rest of the monuments around Luxor.

The entrance costs about 50 LE and can be visited from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visits should be avoided in the middle of the day.

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