Luxor Temple 3D Scanning Project - WORLD SCAN PROJECT’s Challenge
The Luxor Temple, located on the east bank of the Nile River in Luxor, Egypt, is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex constructed approximately 1400 BCE. In Ancient Egyptian it was known as the "Southern Sanctuary", this temple served as a center for both worship and governance, making it a significant archaeological heritage site.
This time we present the Luxor Temple, a World Heritage Site, along with the results of the World Scan Project (W.S.P.) investigation.
Luxor Temple: Dedicated to the Royal Ka
Luxor, formerly known as Thebes, flourished as the capital of Egypt from the Middle Kingdom through the New Kingdom. There are many archaeological sites, including the Karnak Temple, the largest existing ancient Egyptian temple, and the Luxor Temple, which is a subsidiary temple of Karnak.
Unlike typical temples, the Luxor Temple was not built for the deification of gods or deceased pharaohs, but primarily for the "rejuvenation of kingship", dedicated to the "Ka" of the royal family. "Ka", translated as "life force", is one of the spiritual aspects of human beings. It is believed that the kings inherited the "Royal Ka" of the Creator God and returned it to the Creator God upon their death.
Opet Festival
Luxor Temple also served as the base for the annual "Opet Festival", in the hopes of rejuvenating the "Royal Ka". The "Opet Festival" is a grand celebration where the statues of the god Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu, placed at Karnak Temple, are carried on a portable barque to Luxor Temple. By performing rituals in front of the enshrined statues at Luxor Temple, they tried to strengthen the connection between the king and the gods.
During the Opet festival, the portable barque carrying the statue of the god would pass along the Nile and the Avenue of Sphinxes. Even today the Avenue of Sphinxes still exists about 2,700 meters between the Luxor Temple and the Karnak area as if awaiting the arrival of the god Amun.
The Pylon and Courtyard of Ramesses II
Although Luxor Temple became an important venue for festivals, it was not built by a single pharaoh. Based on a temple constructed during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, subsequent pharaohs such as Amenhotep III, Ramesses II, Tutankhamun, and Horemheb expanded and renovated it to its present scale.
In particular, Ramesses II, who significantly enlarged the temple, decorated the first pylon with reliefs depicting the "Battle of Kadesh" against the Hittites. He is depicted as overcoming adversity with the help of divine power, defeating enemies one after another. He also erected two obelisks in front of the pylon, one of which now stands on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Beyond the pylon is a courtyard lined with colonnades. It is known that during the period of construction, the common people could enter the courtyard through a dedicated gate to observe the festivities. In front of the sacred barque shrine of Amun, Mut, and their son Khonsu a granite base remains where a portable barque carrying a divine statue was placed.
Statue of the "Royal Ka"
At the entrance of the second pylon stands the statue of the "Royal Ka" with the gods Hapi, the god of the Nile, and Thoth, the god of knowledge, beautifully carved on its sides. Thoth is shown measuring the length of Ramesses II's reign, with hieroglyphs symbolizing eternity, suggesting that it was depicted with the hope that Ramesses II's reign would last forever.
The Great Hypostyle Hall of Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III mainly built the interior of Luxor Temple. The Great Hypostyle Hall, which is said to have been a prototype for the Karnak Temple, features about 20-meter-high open papyrus blossom columns and royal statues, presenting a magnificent landscape that demonstrates the precision of ancient Egyptian architectural techniques and their high artistic sense. In addition, the walls of the great hypostyle hall are decorated with reliefs depicting scenes from the Opet festival, including priests carrying a portable barque with a divine statue and military processions.
Sun court of Amenhotep III
During the time of Amenhotep III, the courtyard he built at the center of the temple was called the "Court of the Sun" because the light beautifully illuminated the entire area. Numerous statues unearthed from beneath the "Court of the Sun" testify to Luxor Temple's former grandeur. It is believed that these statues of pharaohs and gods, installed at Luxor Temple, were buried underground when Emperor Diocletian changed the worship of Amun to the Imperial cult.
Barque Shrine of Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great, who conquered Egypt, built a barque shrine within the sanctuary of Amenhotep III at the innermost of Luxor Temple to house the sacred barque to carry the divine statues of the gods. The walls depict Alexander the Great as an Egyptian king offering tribute to the god Amun.
Making the world, the future, and curiosity closer
The Luxor Temple is an extremely important heritage site that preserves traces from centuries of rule, from successive Egyptian kings to Alexander the Great. However, many parts of the temple have been damaged and require restoration. To address this, the World Scan Project is employing state-of-the-art 3D scanning technology to digitize key sites, including the Luxor Temple, recording their original condition to support precise restoration efforts.
Our mission is to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage, passing on ancient knowledge and culture to future generations. If you are interested, please follow the activities of the World Scan Project and support us.
Please also check out this video about the Luxor Temple.
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