Thebes in Egypt: A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor

The remains of ancient Thebes constitute one of the largest and most remarkable archaeological sites in Egypt and the world. The discoveries made at the site, now the modern town of Luxor, are responsible for much of the current knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization. After excavating and researching the city of Thebes for many years, the authors here offer a comprehensive introduction to it - one aimed at both tourists and armchair travellers. After reviewing the topography of the site, the authors recount the history of Thebes from the city’s rise in the late Old Kingdom to the peak of its power in the New Kingdom and to its gradual decline in the Greco-Roman period. They discuss the central role played by the gods in the community’s religious life, and take readers on a tour of the great temples of Karnak and Luxor on the East Bank of the Nile and of the temples and tombs of kings, queens, princes and ordinary individuals on the West Bank. Drawing on their knowledge of ancient Egyptian society, the authors recreate the lives of Thebans during the New Kingdom. They conclude by assessing Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic influences on the area as it exists today and by providing an overview of the archaeological research undertaken there.