Luxor history

Ancient Roots: Waset and Thebes

Modern Luxor stands on the ruins of a great ancient Egyptian city, which the Egyptians themselves called Waset ("The Powerful"), and the Greeks later named Thebes. The history of the settlement goes back to ancient times, but its true greatness began to form during the Middle Kingdom era.

• First Mentions: Although people have lived in this territory since prehistoric times, the city first emerged as a significant administrative centre during the 11th Dynasty (around 2134 BC).
• Capital Status: During the New Kingdom, Thebes reached the peak of its power, becoming the religious and political capital of all Egypt and one of the largest cities of the ancient world.

Factors of Prosperity

The transformation of a provincial settlement into an imperial metropolis was driven by a combination of strategic advantages:

• Geography and the Nile: The city is located in a wide and fertile part of the Nile Valley. This location was ideal for agriculture and controlling river routes leading to Nubia, from where gold and exotic goods arrived.
• Political Will: The Theban princes played a key role in unifying Egypt after periods of fragmentation, which secured the city's status as the "cradle of dynasties".

Culture and Economy of the Early Period

The economic power of ancient Luxor was based on military spoils, tribute from conquered peoples, and a developed temple economy.

• Cult of Amun: The elevation of the local god Amun to the status of the supreme deity Amun-Ra turned the city into the country's main religious centre. This stimulated grandiose construction, including the famous Karnak complex.
• City of the Living and the Dead: A unique city structure formed early on: the East Bank of the Nile was designated for palaces and temples of the gods (City of the Living), while the West Bank became the resting place for pharaohs and nobility (City of the Dead).

Major Milestones in the History of Luxor

• 22nd Century BC — The city, then known as Waset, first becomes the capital of unified Egypt under the pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty.
• Around 1550 BC — The expulsion of the Hyksos by Pharaoh Ahmose I marks the beginning of the New Kingdom and the golden age of Thebes as a religious centre.
• 15th Century BC — Queen Hatshepsut erects her unique terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari on the West Bank.
• 14th Century BC — Pharaoh Amenhotep III begins the construction of the grandiose Luxor Temple dedicated to the god Amun.
• 13th Century BC — Ramesses II the Great significantly expands the temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor, adding pylons and statues.
• 663 BC — Assyrian troops led by Ashurbanipal capture and plunder Thebes, striking a blow to the city's political influence.
• 27 BC — A powerful earthquake damages many monuments, including the famous Colossi of Memnon.
• 3rd Century AD — The Roman administration transforms Luxor Temple into a fortified military camp (castrum).
• 7th Century — After the Arab conquest of Egypt, the city receives its modern name Al-Uqsur ("The Palaces") due to the abundance of majestic ruins.
• 13th Century — The Mosque of Abu Al-Haggag is built on the ruins of the ancient Egyptian temple, which remains active to this day.
• 1799 — Scholars from Napoleon's expedition conduct the first systematic studies and sketches of Theban monuments.
• 1881 — A cache of mummies of the greatest New Kingdom pharaohs, hidden by priests to protect them from robbers, is discovered at Deir el-Bahari.
• 1922 — Howard Carter makes the sensational discovery of the intact tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings.
• 1979 — Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• 2021 — After massive restoration, the Avenue of Sphinxes is ceremoniously opened, reconnecting Luxor and Karnak temples.

Stages of Urban and Cultural Development

The history of Luxor is an example of how an ancient religious centre transformed into a modern tourism cluster of global significance. Below are the key stages that defined the city's appearance.

• Rise of the Imperial Capital (New Kingdom)

  The transformation of a local settlement into Thebes — the political and administrative centre of the empire. This led to rapid population growth, an influx of resources from conquered lands, and the beginning of monumental construction that set the city's structure for millennia to come.

• Creation of the Temple Economy

  The construction of the Karnak and Luxor Temple complexes formed the city's economic core. Temples were not just cult structures but major landowners and employers, around which crafts, trade, and granaries developed.

• Organization of the Necropolis on the West Bank

  The division of the city into the "sphere of the living" (East) and the "sphere of the dead" (West) created a unique logistical structure. Entire settlements of artisans (such as Deir el-Medina) with high social organization emerged to service the tombs.

• Adaptation of the Urban Environment (Roman and Islamic Periods)

  Unlike many ancient cities, Luxor was not abandoned but adapted. The conversion of temples into Roman military camps, and later the construction of the Abu Al-Haggag Mosque directly inside the ancient walls, ensured the continuity of urban life and the preservation of monuments.

• Scientific Discovery and Musealization (19th–20th Centuries)

  The beginning of systematic excavations changed the city's status. From an ordinary provincial settlement, Luxor turned into the centre of world Egyptology. This necessitated the protection of monuments and the creation of the first exclusion zones to safeguard antiquities.

• Infrastructural Breakthrough (Late 20th Century)

  The construction of the bridge across the Nile (1998) and the expansion of the international airport became turning points. The bridge connected the two banks, previously linked only by ferries, which simplified logistics for tourists and boosted the hotel business on both banks.

• Urban Renovation "Largest Open-Air Museum"

  The modern stage of development is characterized by large-scale projects, such as the restoration of the Avenue of Sphinxes. This project required the demolition of hundreds of later buildings to recreate the historical axis that visually and physically united Karnak and Luxor Temple into a single tourist route.

Urban Planning Philosophy and Zoning

The architectural appearance of Luxor is unique in that its master plan was dictated not so much by utilitarian needs as by the religious worldview of the ancient Egyptians. The Nile River became the main axis, dividing the city into two conceptual zones that define its structure to this day.

• East Bank (City of the Living): Here the sun rises, symbolizing birth and life. This part was built up with pharaohs' palaces, administrative buildings, and monumental temples of the gods. Residential construction was made of mud brick, so the ancient quarters of ordinary citizens have hardly survived, giving way to modern buildings.
• West Bank (City of the Dead): The realm of the sunset, belonging to the afterlife. Architecture here is represented by mortuary temples and tombs hidden in the rocks (Valley of the Kings). The landscape here is desert and mountainous, which was ideal for eternal rest.

Architectural Styles and Eras

Although one cannot find architectural styles familiar to Europe in Luxor, the city represents an encyclopedia of Egyptian architecture with interesting interspersed layers of later history.

• Ancient Egyptian Monumentalism (New Kingdom)
  Era: 15th–11th centuries BC

  The dominant style of the city. Its main feature is the colossal scale, designed to overwhelm humans and glorify the gods.

  • Characteristic features: Massive pylons (trapezoidal tower-entrances), hypostyle halls (forests of huge columns imitating papyrus), obelisks, and colossi. The use of sandstone and granite ensured the preservation of these structures for millennia.
  • Landmark sites: Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III (Medinet Habu).
• Rock-Cut Architecture (Speos)
  Era: 18th Dynasty (approx. 1470 BC)

  A unique style where architecture blends organically into the natural landscape, becoming a visual extension of the cliffs.

  • Characteristic features: Terraced layout, porticoes with strict geometric columns, absence of massive walls typical of plain temples.
  • Landmark site: Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari — a recognized masterpiece of harmony between man-made structure and nature.
• Greco-Roman Eclecticism and Early Christian Style
  Era: 3rd century BC — 4th century AD

  During this period, new rulers often did not destroy but rebuilt Egyptian monuments for their own needs. The Egyptian structure was supplemented with antique elements or Christian symbolism.

  • Characteristic features: Application of plaster with frescoes over ancient reliefs, creation of apses inside pagan sanctuaries, conversion of temples into Roman forts (castrums).
  • Landmark site: The sanctuary converted for the Roman imperial cult inside Luxor Temple.
• Islamic Architecture and Layering of Cultures
  Era: 13th century — Present

  A vivid example of architectural symbiosis, where new religious structures were erected literally on the roofs of sand-buried ancient temples, creating a multi-level history.

  • Characteristic features: Use of traditional minarets and domes integrated into the structure of ancient ruins.
  • Landmark site: Mosque of Abu Al-Haggag, built directly into the structure of Luxor Temple several metres above the ancient floor.
• Colonial Style (Victorian Era)
  Era: Late 19th — early 20th century

  With the development of tourism, European-style buildings appeared in Luxor, bringing an atmosphere of aristocratic luxury and comfort for early travellers.

  • Characteristic features: Spacious terraces overlooking the Nile, high ceilings, grand staircases, a blend of Victorian classics and Oriental motifs.
  • Landmark site: Old Winter Palace Hotel — a symbol of the golden age of travel, preserving historical interiors.

Rulers of Ancient Egypt

The history of Luxor is inextricably linked with the names of great pharaohs who turned this city into the capital of the world and the centre of religious life in antiquity.

• Amenhotep III — Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
  The initiator of the massive reconstruction of Thebes. It was he who began the construction of the famous Luxor Temple and built his mortuary complex, of which only the giant Colossi of Memnon survive today.
• Ramesses II the Great — Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty
  One of the most famous builders of Ancient Egypt. He significantly expanded Luxor and Karnak temples, adorning them with monumental pylons and statues, and also erected the majestic Ramesseum mortuary temple on the West Bank.
• Hatshepsut — Female Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
  A ruler under whom the city flourished thanks to trade and art. Her main legacy was the unique terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari, harmoniously inscribed into the rocky landscape.
• Tutankhamun — Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty
  Although his reign was short, it is his name that attracts millions of tourists to the city. The discovery of his virtually intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings became the loudest archaeological sensation in history.

Religious Figures and Explorers

In later eras, the life of the city was defined by spiritual leaders and European pioneers who restored Luxor's global fame.

• Yusuf Abu Al-Haggag — Sufi Sheikh and Saint (13th Century)
  Revered as the heavenly patron of Luxor. His mosque, built directly into the structure of the ancient Egyptian Luxor Temple, symbolizes the continuity of history and religious traditions in this land.
• Giovanni Battista Belzoni — Traveller and Adventurer (19th Century)
  A pioneer of Egyptology who discovered one of the most beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Kings — the tomb of Seti I. His findings and sketches revealed the grandeur of the Theban necropolises to Europe.
• Howard Carter — British Archaeologist (20th Century)
  The man whose persistence forever changed the fate of the city. In 1922, after long years of fruitless searches, he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, gifting the world the greatest collection of ancient Egyptian art.