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luxor: general info
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Although there is evidence that a small settlement was founded on the site between 3400 and 3100 BCE, the earliest monuments remaining in what is now called Thebes date from the 11th dynasty (2081-1939 BCE), the period during which regional governors consolidated Egypt under their rule and made the city its capital. Over the centuries, even when the capital briefly shifted elsewhere, rulers continued to erect temples in honor of Thebes' chief god, Amon. By the 15th century BCE, Thebes was filled with colorful palaces, gardens and noble estates, and its streets were bustling with citizens, merchants and traders. Successive Pharoahs strove to outdo each other with grand monuments signifying their power, wealth and piety.
During the reign of Akhenaton (1353-1336 BCE), worship of Amon was prohibited and the court abandoned the city, which fell into decline. Tutankhamun, however, restored Thebes to its glory during his reign (1333-1323 BCE), and the city continued to develop and prosper until roughly 1111 BCE, when there is evidence of poor administration and unrest. As the empire crumbled, the power center shifted to the Nile delta, and Thebes slipped into a decline from which it never recovered. The city was sacked in 661 BCE by the Assyrians and again by the Romans in 29 BCE.
The splendid tombs and temples remaining on the site of Thebes write the history of Egypt in architecture, and have been a rich source of archaeological discovery. One of the greatest archaeological finds happened in 1922, whenTutankhamun's hidden tomb was discovered. Its rich, haunting treasures ignited worldwide interest, and the West became fascinated with all things Egyptian. The influence spread to fashion, literature and the budding Hollywood film industry.
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