News — Luxor

The Valley of the Kings is a famous archaeological site located on the western bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt. It is renowned for being the burial place of many ancient Egyptian pharaohs, including some of the most well-known rulers from the New Kingdom period (approximately 1550–1070 BCE).  The valley's location was carefully chosen by the ancient Egyptians due to its secluded nature, which provided a level of protection for the tombs against tomb robbers and natural elements. The valley contains around 63 known tombs, though the exact number might vary as new discoveries are made over time....

The Tomb of Nefertari, also known as the "Tomb of Queen Nefertari," is one of the most exquisite and well-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Queens, located near Luxor, Egypt. Nefertari was the principal wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, who reigned during the 19th Dynasty of ancient Egypt. The tomb was believed to have been constructed around 1255 BC. The tomb's exquisite artwork and colorful wall paintings make it one of the most remarkable and significant ancient Egyptian tombs.   The decorations within the Tomb of Nefertari depict various scenes from the Book of the Dead, including religious rituals, scenes...

Luxor Temple is a large ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River in the city of Luxor, in southern Egypt. It was built during the New Kingdom period, around 1400 BC, and was dedicated to the god Amun, his wife Mut, and their son Khonsu. The temple was buried for thousands of years. A mosque was built on top of the temple and was preserved during excavating and still remains at the temple's site. When we visited recently, the call to prayer was playing from speakers outside of the mosque. We visited the temple...

On a recent trip to Luxor, Egypt, I was in the backseat of a van on the way to Medinet Habu. I looked out the window and noticed two giant statues sitting in an open field by the road. Our guide turned the car around so we could get a closer look. This was the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III.   The two 60 foot statues of Amenhotep III stand at the gates of the pharaoh's funerary temple. Behind the large statues, you can see that archeologists are working to excavate and reconstruct the rest of the temple. The...

  On my most recent trip to Luxor, I went to visit my favorite spot in Medinat Habu (Habu Temple). I was surprised to see scaffolding on a large section of the columns, with a team of young students working diligently on it.  I must admit, I liked the idea of removing dust, dirt, bird poop, etc. However, when I realized that the colorful sections were changing color, I was a bit concerned.   As a purist, I much prefer the 'weathered by thousands of years' look, but I am hopeful that this deepening of the colors will lighten over...