Town History:
In last times, Luxor was the ancient town of Thebes, the great capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom, and the glorious town of the God Amon Ra. Also the town was regarded in the Ancient Egyptians as T-APT (meaning “the shrine”) and then, in a later period, the Greeks called it tea pie, which the Arabs later pronounced as Thebes. The importance of the town started as early as the 11th Dynasty by King Mento-hotep
In that then the town of Thebes was the capital of the 4 Nome of Upper Egypt. The main local god was the God Amon Ra, who was worshipped with his wife, the Goddess Mutt, and their son, the God Khonsou, the God of the moon. However Thebes was also known as “the town of the 100 gates”, sometimes being called the southern town, to distinguish it from Memphis, the early capital of the Old Kingdom.
In that then, Thebes also played a great role in expelling the invading forces of the Hykos from Upper Egypt. From the time of the 18th Dynasty, through to the 20th Dynasty, the importance of the town had risen as the major political, military and religious capital of Ancient Egypt. Such importance faded during the Late Period, but the God Amon Ra remained the main God until the Greco-Roman period.
When Thebes declined politically, Luxor remained the populated part of the city, which huddled around the Ramesside pylon. A Roman legion had its headquarters inside the 18th dynasty temple, and Coptic churches were built around the temple and in the Ramesside court.
The town of Luxor together with other Theban sites, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and the Valley of the Queens was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979. Excavations and preservation efforts are ongoing. In 1988 the Egyptian Antiquities Organization uncovered numerous 18th dynasty statues at the court of Amenhotep III, and in 1995 work was initiated to preserve the columns and foundations of the court
Location:
Luxor is a city located in Upper Egypt, in the province of Qena. It was the ancient city of Thebes – the capital of Ancient Egypt.
Population:
Approximately 150,000
Language:
Arabic is the official language. French and English are widely spoken.
Tourist Information:
Luxor Airport TEL: +2095 383294
Library:
Arabic, English,and French books. Open 9am to 1pm & 7pm to 10pm.
Cinema:
Cinema with outdoor theater in summer and indoor theater in winter. Open 6 to 10 pm next to Winter palace hotel.
Luxury Hotels:
The Winter Palace, built in Victoria’s reign, is the place to stay in Luxor. It is very central, well-appointed, and has good service and quite a bit of history. It was on the bulletin board in their lobby that Howard Carter first announced his discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Prices are reasonable for this class of hotel.
Internet Cafes – Al Sokarya:
This internet cafe is located in the temple of Karnak street. It’s directly next to the Amoun Restaurant, It has good quality computers, with high speed internet access.
Shopping:
There is plenty to buy in the city of Luxor and shopping is a lively experience very pleasant. Usually decide what you want to pay and be prepared to haggle. Normally the Silverware is well priced in Luxor and alabaster figures, bowls and candle holders are made here near the Valley of the Kings and really very beautiful.
In the city of luxor, of course there are several statues and other souvenirs of this wonderful town, the quality of which does vary, so it is better to shop around before purchasing. Shopkeepers want your business so they will call you to their premises but they are mostly genuinely friendly and kind, so a gentle push back if you are not interested is sufficient.
Where to get best deals:
Aboudy Bookshop: If you want to buy books then the Aboudi Bookshop next to the Winter Palace is the best in town. Here you will find a selection of both Egyptian and foreign newspapers (German/English/French) all at a fixed price.
King Mina Bazaar: This shop is great for 2 reasons:
1. You are left in peace to browse.
2. The souvenirs are good quality and not like other shops goods that I saw in Luxor.
Luxor is not a big town, it is really more of a large village. The town streets south of the Luxor Temple are the most active, with normal shops, some cafes, some cheap (but good) restaurants and crowds of locals in the evenings.
