Thebes City has located on the east side of the Nile around 800 km from the south of the Mediterranean Sea. It was known as Waset to the ancients. Thebes was the main capital of Egypt during the middle & the New Kingdoms of ancient Egypt. It was rich with different mineral resources and it had a strategic location between Nubia and the eastern desert.
Thebes City
The History of Thebes City Through the Different Eras
The city of Thebes is one of the richest cities in the world with Pharaonic monuments, it occupies an important historical place in Egypt and the whole world. The history of ancient Thebes can be divided into different eras starting from:
Thebes City During Egypt Old Kingdom
People lived in Thebes city from 3200 BC. Thebes city was once the capital of Waset and it was a small trading center while Fustat was the large capital of ancient Egypt. A few constructions have survived during Egypt Old Kingdom including Karnak Temple from Egypt Middle Kingdom, part of the 5th dynasty pharaoh, Nyuserre, and a statue of the 12th dynasty pharaoh Senusret.
Thebes City During the First Intermediate Period
The eleventh dynasty ruled part of Upper Egypt and they took Thebes city as their headquarters. Intef was probably the first in his family to reach a partial pharaonic titulary. Although he was, a great king but his power didn’t extend much away from Thebes.
Thebes City During Egypt Middle Kingdom
In 2050 BC, Mentohotep II, the son of Intef III, was able to reunite Egypt again. He ruled for about 51 years and he built the first mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. The Thebes city continued its rule as a religious center during the 12th dynasty.
Thebes City During the Second Intermediate Period
Hyksos moved to Egypt in the 15th century and started their attempt to take Memphis. The Thebans stood over their immediate region and resisted Hyksos from moving further in the country by asking them to sign a peace treaty. Ahmose I was able to capture the capital of Hyksos, Avaris and got them out of Egypt.
Thebes City During Egypt New Kingdom
Ahmose I took the Thebes city to be his capital to unify Egypt during the 18th dynasty. Thebes in that time became an important center of civil service. Religion flourished so much in Thebes that Amenhotep III used his wealth to build temples of Amon and that is why god Amun became a principal state deity. Then Thutmose I started the construction of Karnak Temple in addition to the renewal construction activities by Queen Hatshepsut. During the reign of the 18th dynasty, Thebes flourished a lot and many temples and tombs had been built by Amenhotep III, who built a large mortuary temple and made huge achievements to his country. He also built the Luxor Temple and constructed the Sphinxes that lead to Karnak.
Interesting Facts about Thebes City
The site of Thebes includes many terrific attractions of Luxor including Karnak & Luxor Temples. This city was built on the alluvial plains of the Nile Valley, which follows a great bend of the Nile. There were about 40,000 inhabitants in 2000 BC in Thebes. And by 1800 BC, the population in Thebes became 30,000 people, which made it the largest city in ancient Egypt.
There were many festivals that were held in Thebes such as the beautiful Feast of Opet, the Khoiak Festival, Festival of Shemu I, Festival of Shemu II. There were also the Halloween festivals like Beautiful the Valley Festival.
The Importance Decline of Thebes
Thebes city faced its dark age under the reign of Akhenaton who abandoned the worship of god Amun and closed all temples related to that god. He encouraged his people to worship god Aten. The seat of government moved during the 19th dynasty from Thebes to Delta. Thebes got its importance again during the reign of Seti I & Ramesses II.
Thebes started to decline when there were some economic problems during the reign of Ramesses IX. Taharqa abandoned lower Egypt and fled to Thebes after being attacked by the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal’s army in 667 BC. The relationship between the Thebans and the power in the north ended when the Egyptian pharaohs were replaced with the Greeks. Although Thebes became part of the Roman province of Thebais, the city continued to decline.
Major Sites in Thebes City
The Great Temple of Amun at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Khonsu Temple, Precinct of Mut, Precinct of Montu, the Village of Deir El-Medina, Ramesseum, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Valley of the Nobles, Queen Hatshepsut Temple, Ramesses III, Amenhotep III, and Seti I.
Take A Ride to Upper & Lower Egypt with “Trips in Egypt”
Finally, we offer a variety of Egypt tour packages & Nile cruise to stunning destinations in Egypt such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Alexandria, Hurghada, and Sharm El Sheikh. Don’t miss the chance and enjoy a journey to the wonders of Egypt through these tours:
Enjoy a majestic 2 days trip to Aswan and Abu Simbel from Lu...
Duration
2 Days / 1 Night
Availability
Everyday
Enjoy a magical day trip from Luxor to Cairo by plane with a...
Duration
1 Day
Availability
Everyday
Enjoy a Day Trip to Aswan from Luxor to Remember Joined by a...
Duration
1 Day
Availability
Everyday
Enjoy a day trip to Luxor east bank Attractions " Karnak and...
Duration
1 Day
Availability
Everyday
FAQ
What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?
You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?
You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.
Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?
Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.
Why book Trips in Egypt?
We have experience in vacation planning for more than 10 years & our staff consists of the most professional operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort create the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time advisors to fit your every possible need during your time in egypt. we always keep in mind that your safety & comfort are our main priority until you return home.
Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to egypt, You will feel secure in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is very peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt and construct an entire environment dedicated for ensuring the lives of all tourists.
What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?
They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.
What is the Weather is Like?
The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 23 ¡ÆC in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 ¡ÆC in the wintertime to 32 ¡ÆC in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.
What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?
It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.
Should I Give Tips in Egypt?
It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.
Can I Enter the Pyramids?
Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.
How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?
Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.
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