LuxorTemple
On the east bank of the Nile at Luxor lies the magnificent Luxor Temple, that Egyptians call "Harem of the South", dedicated to the great god Amun, his wife Mut and their son Khonsu (the moon god) - together representing the Theban triad. Like Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple is an accretion of structures erected by succeeding kings. It was started by Amenhotep III, enlarged by Tuthmosis III and finished by Ramsis II. The temple is joined to the temple of Karnak by a 3 km-long avenue of sphinxes with ram's heads.
The principal entrance today is the 65 metre wide First Pylon, built by Ramses II, and decorated with reliefs depicting scenes of his military campaigns. In front of the pylon are two seated statues of the king, wearing the royal “nemes”, headdress topped by the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, in addition to another standing statue. The remaining obelisk of pink granite, 25 metres high, is situated in front of the easternmost seated statue. The Other obelisk stands in the Place de la Concorde in Paris since 1836 and up to this day.
Passing through the pylon entrance, the visitor enters the court of Ramses II with numerous statues of the pharaoh and colossal papyrus-type columns with lotus-bud capitals. The crowns of several of these figures sit on the ground beside them because they were carved separately and have fallen off. The Mosque of Abu El-Haggag is situated above the north-eastern corner of the court, where a festival is held there every year.

There also stands the little temple of Tuthmosis III, which possesses three chapels dedicated to the triad of Amun, Mut and Khonsu, worshipped in the sanctuary of Karnak. Beyond the court lies the impressive, 25 metre long Colonnade erected by Amenhotep III. The inside of the walls on either side of the Colonnade were carved during the time of Tutankhamun and depict the important annual “Opet” festival during which the god Amun visited his southern harem. The reliefs show the sacred barges being brought from Karnak to Luxor. In the 3rd or 4th century AD the temple was used by Roman Legionaries as a chapel.
At the southern end of the temple complex is the sanctuary which is surrounded by various chambers including a so-called Birth Room in which the birth of Amenhotep III is depicted in reliefs, where, in1989, an important cache of statues was found, now hosted in the Luxor Museum. The outside of the temple is also quite interesting. The external wall has numerous doors leading into the various side chapels in which are depicted scenes from the battle against the Syrian-Hittite coalition and also scenes from religious ceremonies.