Entrance ticket to Luxor Temple. Located at the southern most end of the East Bank of Ancient Thebes stands the Temple of Amun-Ra (Luxor Temple). It was also known as "Southern harem of Amun", the "Southern Opet" and the "Place of Seclusion". It is built of Gebel Silsila sandstone and is 260 metres long. A general view of Luxor as seen by David Roberts in 1838-39. Courtesy of Mr Bill Petty of Museum Tours at http:www.museum-tours.com The god, Amun-Ra was worshipped here in two forms, the sky god and the ithyphallic fertility god. Luxor Temple was host to one of the main Theban festivals, Opet. During this festival,Amun came from his Karnak residence to Luxor, along with his wife, Mut, and their son, Khonsu. Amun then consummated his marriage and fathered the king. The Opet festival was celebrated in the second month of the inundation season of Akhet (August). It was closely linked to the flooding of the Nile and its symbolic fertility. A side view of Luxor Temple. Courtesy of Eternal Egypt at:- http://www.eternalegypt.co.uk A stone paved dromos flanked by sphinxes with rams heads originally linked Luxor Temple to the Temple of Karnak. The sphinxes were replaced with ones with human heads by the 30 th dynasty pharaoh, Nectanebo I. Photo of Sphinx Lined Causeway of Nectanebo I from the entrance pylon of Luxor Temple. The avenue reaches the current entrance to Luxor temple, the massive pylon of Ramesses II. The walls are decorated with bas-reliefs, showing scenes from the "Battle of Kadesh" (1285 BC). Originally the pylon had two obelisks, two seated colossi and 2 standing colossi in front of it.Only one obelisk now remains and is 25 metres tall. The other obelisk now stands in the "Place de la Concorde" in Paris, where it was moved to in October 1836. The two black granite seated colossi show the Pharaoh sitting on his throne and are 15.5 metres tall, on a 1 metre base. Luxor Temple Pylon, with two Rameses II statues and his obelisk. Obelisk of Ramesses II in front of his pylon and his colossal statues. Having passed through the pylon entrance, the Peristyle Court of Rameses II is entered. Two rows of papyrus bud columns surround this. On the right hand side, in the photo below, is the Abu el-Haggag mosque, at the 19th century ground level.The Triple Barque shrine for visiting deities, Amun, Mut and Khonsu form Karnak, can be seen at the back of the picture below, just in front of the pylon. Peristyle Court of Rameses II. Colonnade of the Great Courtyard of Rameses II, with the Osiride form statues standing between the columns. Behind the Rameses II courtyard is the colonnade of Amenophis III, which is fronted by two more seated statues of Rameses II. Courtyard Of Rameses II with seated Rameses II statues in front of the entrance to the Colonnade of Amenophis II. The Colonnade leads to the Great Sun Courtyard of Amenophis III. It has two rows of closed papyrus capital columns, on three sides.Some of this courtyard was decorated in the reign of Tutankhamun, Ay and Horemheb. The Opet procession is the theme of the decoration. The Great Courtyard of Amenophis III. The Hypostyle Hall is then reached, which was the original entrance to Amenophis II`s temple. It is made up of 4 rows of papyrus columns. This is followed with a portico containing 8 columns, with two side chambers. These chambers may have been where the barque and statue of the king were housed during the Opet Festival. Behind this is the innermost sanctuary, the "holy of holies". A block still remains which was where the statue of the gods image would have been placed. Lotus shaped columns in the Birth room of Amenophis II, leading to the innermost sanctuary. The "Birth Room" contains wall decorations showing Amenophis II`s divine conception and birth, his presentation to the gods and their protection. Wall decoration in the Birth Room at Luxor temple. Part of the temple was adapted during the Roman period. The Roman legions stationed at Luxor worshipped the Roman emperors here. The entrance to the Inner Temple was sealed and a niche created, flanked by Corinthian columns. It was the focus of Roman legions based here. The remains of the Roman military complex at Luxor Temple and the Chapel of Serapis. To see some photographs of the Luxor Temple complex at night please got to Luxor Temple At Night All content on this page unless otherwise specified © Diane Day 2001-2004