Half of ancient Luxor, located on the left bank of the Nile, is called the City of the Dead. This place, which attracts tourists from all over the world, is also called the Valley of Kings and Queens. Luxor itself in ancient times was called Thebes and for a long time was the capital of Egypt.
In the City of the Dead, tourists, in addition to the Valley of Queens and Kings, can see, for example, sights such as the temples of Hatshepsut and Ramessium, necropolises, statues of Memnon.
Sights history
There is a private city of the dead in almost every major settlement in Egypt. However, the most remarkable necropolis in this country is still in Luxor. The dead have been buried in the City of the Dead in this settlement since ancient times.
Today, on the left bank of the Nile in Luxor, tourists from local residents can only meet, perhaps, beggars. But once upon a time in the City of the Dead in Thebes lived a brotherhood of rich priests, whose symbol was a jackal. These servants of the gods guarded the treasures of ancient tombs and had guards and trained animals at their disposal.
At the end of the New Kingdom with the decline of Egypt, the priests sealed and closed the entrances to many tombs. But some of them were open for veneration and visiting until the last centuries of the existence of this ancient country.
Later, with the spread of Christianity, the necropolis of Thebes began to gradually lose its sacred significance. In even later times, Muslims came to this land. It was they who founded the new city of Luxor in this place.
Description
The main attractions of the City of the Dead are the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut. Once upon a time, grass and trees grew in this place, waterfalls rustled. Today, the territory of this Egyptian landmark is covered with desert sands.
In the Valley of the Kings, there are more than 60 burials of the pharaohs who ruled from the 16th to the 11th century. BC. This elite tomb appeared at the behest of Pharaoh Thutmose I, who lived at the very beginning of the New Kingdom. Subsequently, the kings on the left bank of the Nile in Thebes were buried for about 500 years.
Temple of Hatshepsut was built by one of the few female pharaohs who ruled in Egypt. In total, this queen sat on the throne for about 22 years. A temple was built on the left bank in ancient Thebes under Hatshepsut for about 9 years.
Of course, in the City of the Dead, tourists should definitely see the Colossi of Memnon. The weight of each of these statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III is almost 700 tons.
The Valley of the Queens is located not far from the burial places of the kings in the City of the Dead in Luxor. The relatives of the pharaohs were once buried here. The tombs of the confidants were decorated, of course, much poorer than the kings themselves. However, these necropolises once looked very impressive.
Tours
Most often, our compatriots, vacationing in Egypt in Hugard, go on excursions to Luxor. You can, of course, buy such a mini-tour in Sharm el-Sheikh. However, the trip in this case will, unfortunately, be quite costly.
Experienced travelers advise purchasing excursions for tourists vacationing in Hugard or Sharm el-Sheikh not from their tour operators, but from local travel agencies. In this case, a trip to Luxor with a visit to the City of the Dead will cost almost half the price.
Usually excursions to ancient Thebes include visiting in turn: Karnak Temple, Colossi of Memnon, Valley of the Queens, Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings.
Where is
Of course, there is no exact address for such a landmark as the City of the Dead. Tourists from Hugarda can get to Luxor itself, for example, by bus. The schedule of such flights may change, but most often tourists leave Hugarda for Luxor at 8:00. In total, there are usually 3 flights per day between these cities.
From Sharm el-Sheikh to this city, you can fly independently only by plane. To get to the City of the Dead itself in Luxor, tourists need to cross to the left bank of the Nile. This can be done mainly only on the motorboat of local residents. Such a trip will cost about 250-300 rubles.
