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Medinat Habu at Luxor

Temple of Ramses III on the West Bank of the Nile

By , About.com Guide

Medinat Habu is an interesting temple complex near the Valley of the Kings. It is the second largest temple complex in Luxor, with only Karnak being larger. Medinat Habu was the last great pharaonic project, and is primarily the mortuary temple of Ramses III (1184-1153 BC).

Sitting in a quiet village at the foot of the mountains of Thebes, Medinat Habu is a good place to get away from the crowds at the Luxor Temple or Karnak, but still enjoy a wonderful archaeological site. In later years, Medinat Habu served as more than a temple. Thebes' citizens used the walled enclosure of Medinat Habu as a refuge from invaders, and later it was (sadly) a rock quarry.

I thought Medinat Habu was an excellent choice for the last temple complex to visit on our Silver Whisper cruise ship excursion to Luxor.

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Medinat Habu at LuxorMedinat Habu at LuxorEntrance to Medinat HabuEntrance to Medinat HabuAncient Hieroglyphics at Medinat Habu at LuxorAncient Hieroglyphics at Medinat Habu at LuxorPylon at Medinat Habu at LuxorPylon at Medinat Habu at Luxor
Columns and Carvings at Medinat Habu at LuxorColumns and Carvings at Medinat Habu at LuxorColumns at Medinat Habu at LuxorColumns at Medinat Habu at LuxorWall Carvings Tell a Story at Medinat Habu at LuxorWall Carvings Tell a Story at Medinat Habu at LuxorWall Carvings Tell a Story at Medinat Habu at LuxorWall Carvings Tell a Story at Medinat Habu at Luxor
Carvings Showing Thebes "Olympics" at Medinat Habu at LuxorCarvings Showing Thebes "Olympics" at Medinat Habu at LuxorColorful Columns at Medinat Habu at LuxorColorful Columns at Medinat Habu at LuxorHieroglyphic Carvings at Medinat Habu at LuxorHieroglyphic Carvings at Medinat Habu at LuxorCut Columns at Medinat Habu at LuxorCut Columns at Medinat Habu at Luxor

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