LUXOR TEMPLE 1400 BC

Luxor Temple (Arabic: معبد الأقصر) is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River

Built first by Amenophis III (on the site of an earlier sandstone temple), it was known as "the southern harem of Amun" and was dedicated to Amun, his consort Mut, and their son the moon god Khons.

In the Egyptian language it was known as ipet resyt, "the southern sanctuary". It was one of the two primary temples on the east bank, the other being Karnak. Luxor temple is dedicated to the rejuvenation of kingship

Like all Egyptian temples, it comprises the chapels of the deities, with their vestibules and subsidiary chambers; a large Hypostyle Hall; and an open Peristyle Court, which was approached from the north by a great colonnade.

The temple was added to and changed by a parade of pharaohs... Amenophis IV obliterated all references to the god Amun within the temple and added the Sanctuary of the god Aten, Tutankhamun had the walls of the colonnade embellished with reliefs and destroyed the Temple of the Aten, Seti I restored the reliefs of Amun), and Ramses II extended the temple significantly, adding a new colonnaded court at the north end).

During the Christian era, the temple underwent a transformation into a church, while in the Islamic period, the Mosque of Abu el-Haggag, dedicated to a revered holy man, was built inside the complex grounds.

The pylon gate at the temple entrance was built by Ramesses II. Statues of Ramesses II at the entrance through the first Pylon of Luxor Temple

Mosque of Abu el-Haggag

The tomb of Yusuf Abu al-Hajjaj is located under the dome of the mosque.

The mosque stands within the court of Ramesses II. This part of the Luxor Temple was converted to a basilica by the Coptic Christians in 395 AD, and then to a mosque in 640.

The site therefore has seen 3400 years of continuous religious use, making the Luxor Temple the oldest building in the world at least partially still in use, for purposes other than archeological or tourist use.