Ancient site · Luxor
Medinet Habu Temple
Ramesses III's mortuary temple on Luxor's West Bank, superbly preserved, with carved and painted walls recounting his victories over the Sea Peoples.
Listen to the guide
The story
King Ramesses III of the Twentieth Dynasty built this mortuary temple in the 12th century BC, and it also served the worship of the god Amun. A massive mudbrick wall encloses the complex, and its eastern gate is flanked by tall towers inspired by Syrian fortresses. The walls carry religious scenes and reliefs of the king's campaigns against the Libyans and the Sea Peoples. After pharaonic times a Coptic town called Djeme grew up inside the walls and was lived in for centuries. The University of Chicago's expedition has been recording the site since the 1920s.
Good to know
- It is among the best-preserved of Egypt's mortuary temples, and some of its carved walls still retain colour.
- Its walls depict Ramesses III's battles against the Sea Peoples and the Libyans, among the best-known war scenes of ancient Egypt.
- The eastern gate has towers modelled on Syrian fortresses and leads into a fortified enclosure.
- A Coptic town named Djeme grew up inside the site's walls and stayed inhabited for centuries after pharaonic times.
Visiting tips
Per the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities site: listed hours are 06:00 to 17:00, and the foreign-visitor ticket is EGP 230 (EGP 110 students). Please check hours and prices before visiting, as they can change.