Thebes Luxor, the Capital of Ancient Egypt


Thebes, Egypt

Thebes Luxor is an amazing city, wedding the modern world with the ancient. The stunning ruins of the ancient past stand side-by-side with the everyday, and adventure abounds!


Capital City in Ancient Egypt


Thebes was the capital city in Ancient Egypt and is found on the east bank of the Nile River. It was once known as the capital of Waset, the fourth Upper Egyptian nome, and was also used as the capital of Egypt during the 11th Dynasty and 18th Dynasty.


"Heaps of Precious Ingots Gleam"


Don’t confuse Egypt’s Thebes with the Greek town of Thebes. They are two different places and in fact, Thebes Luxor is now regarded as the modern city of Luxor, though originally it encompassed both Luxor and Karnak. Thebes still exists today and is home to many ruins and tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers. In fact, the remains of Thebes serve as a testimony not only to Egyptian life but also to the pinnacle of all Egyptian civilization. The Greek Poet Homer once wrote about the majesty of Thebes, labeling it a place where “heaps of precious ingots gleam.”

In history Thebes was known as a prominent city to house royal residents as well as a dedicated city given to the worship of the Egyptian god Amon.


Once a Wealthty City


For a time Thebes Luxor was a wealthy city under the rule of the Egyptian Empire but was later sacked by Assyrians (an event referred to in the Hebrew Scriptures), then by Persians, and later by the Romans. It’s hard to believe that anything could survive several generations of destruction, but Thebes has. Some tombs and temples still remain such as the Temple of Amon at Karnak, the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, and mortuary temples of Ramses II and Hatshepsut.


A UNESCO World Heritage Site


You can thank UNESCO for protecting this landmark region (something ancient civilizations could never quite do) and declaring its properties a World Heritage site in the year 1979. You can still tour Ancient Thebes, and many tourists prefer doing this by bicycle. It only takes about 15 minutes to arrive at the location. Along with Luxor and Karnak, the ruins of Thebes have been called the “world’s greatest open air museum.” There are a number of artifacts to see and most of the structures are very well preserved.

The sites in and around Thebes Luxor are major tourist attractions and have always been, from the days of the New Kingdom to the end of the Roman Empire. Luxor, Thebes and surrounding areas are very friendly to tourists and offer many hotels, shopping centers and restaurants. One thing you will notice about the area is that all building seems to be built according to a tourist code - that is they are designed to look pharaonic, adding Egyptian style grandeur to the area.



Egypt Tours and Travel


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12 Days: Egypt Nile Cruise Tour
Enjoy a truly grand journey on the classical Egypt Nile Cruise Tour. It takes in some of the most famous, notable, and treasured sites of Cairo, Alexandria, Aswan-Luxor Nile Cruise, and Red Sea Hurghada.


12 Days: Egypt and Jordan Tour
History, Biblical truths, and ancient worship all mingle together during the 12 Days: Egypt and Jordan Tour, offering much to ponder and enjoy. Visit Cairo, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Wadi Rum, and Amman plus Petra in Jordan.


12 Days: Egypt Luxury Tour
With the Egypt Luxury Tour guests experience twelve days of fascinating history, gorgeous scenery and world-class treatment. Expect the best of ancient Egypt and the Red Sea. Explore Cairo, an Aswan-Luxor Nile Cruise, and scuba diving near Red Sea Hurghada.


8 Days: Egypt Adventure Tour
The Classic Egypt Adventure Tour is an eight day exploration that takes in the most famous sights of the region, but begins with a day in Cairo where the Giza Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum are on the itinerary. Tour Cairo, Thebes Luxor, Aswan and the majestic temples of Abu Simbel.


5 Days: Cairo Luxor Tour
The Classical Cairo Luxor Tour is a short and sweet five day experience that introduces visitors to some of the most famous historic sites in Cairo and Luxor.


LUXOR DAY TOURS
All our Egypt tours are private and fully customizable. We can easily add Thebes Luxor to your Luxor tour itinerary.