Everything You Need to Know About Luxor
Everything You Need to Know About Luxor in Egypt Located on the east bank of the River Nile in southern Egypt, the city of Luxor has gone by many names. To the Ancient Egyptians, it was Waset; the Greeks and Romans who came afterwards knew it as Thebes. Today, visitors flock to the city to gaze in wonder upon the great temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak; and to explore the vast Theban necropolis that lies directly opposite on the Nile’s west bank. Together these three ancient areas are recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are often referred to as the world’s greatest open-air museum. The History of Luxor Luxor, or Thebes, has been continuously inhabited since approximately 3200 BC, but only started to gain importance during the 11th Dynasty when it grew from a minor town to a major city. By the beginning of the 18th Dynasty and the rule of the New Kingdom pharaohs, it was the capital of Ancient Egypt and the heart of its political, military, and religious activ...