In the evening we visited the Luxor temple. Very nice, air-conditioned, dimmed light. Luxor was known in ancient times as Thebes (Waset in ancient Egyptian) the city of a hundred gates. It was the capital of Egypt from the 12th dynasty (1991 BC) and reached its zenith during the New Kingdom. Built largely by Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, and dedicated it to Amon-Ra, king of the gods, his consort Mut, and their son Khons. During the Christian era the temple's hypostyle hall was converted into a Christian church, and the remains of another Coptic church can be seen to the west. For thousands of years, the temple was buried beneath the streets and houses of the town of Luxor. Eventually the mosque of Sufi Shaykh Yusuf Abu al-Hajjaj was built over it. This mosque was preserved when the temple was uncovered and forms an integral part of the site today

Shopping facilities are extensive here, with silver, gold, cotton goods, leather goods and spices among the best bargain to be had. Again I had to play the pitiful husband with four wives.

return to the top - home