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.
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:
Day Trip to Luxor East Bank
Unforgettable Day Trip to Luxor East Bank Day trip to Luxor East Bank is a royal adve...
- Duration 1 Day
- Location Luxor
- Type Historical Tour
From114$/per person
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Full Day Tour to Luxor West Bank
Wonderful Full-Day Tour to Luxor West Bank Full-Day tour to Luxor West Bank will open...
- Duration 1 Day
- Location Luxor
- Type Historical Tour
From57$/per person
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Day Tour from Luxor to Edfu & Kom Ombo
Day Tour from Luxor to Edfu & Kom Ombo Day tour from Luxor to Edfu & Kom Ombo...
- Duration 1 Day
- Location Aswan
- Type Historical Tour
From114$/per person
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Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride
Breathtaking Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride Luxor Hot Air Balloon Ride will feel like a d...
- Duration 1 Day
- Location Luxor
- Type Historical Tour
From80$/per person
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