Thebes, Egypt - Great Cities of the Ancient World (sitios de interés)
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Thebes, Egypt
Image Credit -Eliseo Oliveras.
Thebes, although existing in the shadow of Memphis, was the capital city of Egypt for a time from 2040BC. However, Thebes is home to many important religious sites such as the famous temples of Luxor and Karnak. The city of Thebes grew its repute after a civil war led to the local government declaring themselves to be the 11th Dynasty of Pharaohs, angering the established royalty at Memphis. Egypt descended into chaos, and after a century, Theban Montjuhotep II took the war to its finale, and Thebes prevailed for the following 1500 years.
The city lives on to this very day in Luxor, with some of the most startling heritage sites - the temples of Deir el-Bahri, Karnak and Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon, and of course the famous Valley of the Kings. Though Memphis may have been the larger city with more political clout, it is the city of Thebes which has spawned some of the greatest archaeological finds in the modern era.
Many of the Lost Tombs of Thebes have been photographed by the renown Sandro Vannini as you can see in this great video which features Dr Zahi Hawass and Dr Janice Kamrin, and the images are published in "The Lost Tombs of Thebes: Life in Paradise". You can also view other Heritage Key videos shot in Thebes - Dr Farouk Gomaa's search for the diplomat Montuemhat, and Dr Hourig Sourouzian explaining the excavations and work being carried out at the Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III.