Theban Community Library

Luxor

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The latest project from Professor Kent Weeks and the Theban Mapping Project is the first open library in Luxor, a free service with general books in Arabic and English, and a good collection on archaeology and issues related to conservation. There are regular evening lectures. More information is available from the librarian, Ahmed Hassan, or via their website or Facebook page.

Open to all, the library is used by local archaeologists and guides, school children (there is no other library that serves them) and people from the villages. The latest additions include books on diet and prenatal care for local mothers. The library is self-funding and welcomes donations.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Decorated columns of the Great Hypostyle Hall in the Amun Temple enclosure in Karnak, Egypt; Shutterstock ID 2287618019; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 2287618019

    Amun Temple Enclosure

    1.77 MILES

    Amun-Ra was the local god of Karnak (Luxor) and during the New Kingdom, when the princes of Thebes ruled Egypt, he became the preeminent state god, with a…

  • LUXOR, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 5 2016 - Unique shot of the Ramesses VI tomb in Valley of the Kings. Obtaining permission for taking images there is painstaking but worth it.; Shutterstock ID 467883095; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Southern Egypt temples article africa, ancient, archaeology, architecture, art, burial, culture, editorial, egypt, egyptian, faraon, great, heritage, hieroglyph, history, interior, kings, luxor, monument, of, pharaoh, ramesses, ramses, stairway, the, tomb, tourist, travel, valley, vi, walkway

    Valley of the Kings

    3.08 MILES

    The west bank of Luxor had been the site of royal burials since around 2100 BC, but it was the pharaohs of the New Kingdom period (1550–1069 BC) who chose…

  • Ram-headed sphinxes ,Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt. 179121524 old, ram, sky, amun, tomb, rock, amon, wall, blue, path, stone, ruins, egypt, sheep, luxor, place, cairo, nobody, karnak, travel, thebes, statue, yellow, africa, famous, temple, sphinx, museum, culture, history, african, tourism, antique, ancient, sunlight, alphabet, landmark, corridor, entrance, building, egyptian, outdoors, religion, monument, sandstone, archeology, horizontal, destinations, civilization, architecture

    Karnak

    1.68 MILES

    Karnak is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad but also to the greater glory of pharaohs…

  • Tomb of Seti I (KV 17)

    Tomb of Seti I (KV 17)

    2.95 MILES

    One of the great achievements of Egyptian art, this cathedral-like tomb is the finest in the Valley of the Kings. Long closed to visitors, it is now…

  • Medinet Habu temple.

    Medinat Habu

    2.15 MILES

    Ramses III’s magnificent memorial temple of Medinat Habu, fronted by sleepy Kom Lolah village and backed by the Theban mountains, is one of the west bank…

  • The Luxor Museum.

    Luxor Museum

    0.75 MILES

    This wonderful museum has a well-chosen and brilliantly displayed and explained collection of antiquities dating from the end of the Old Kingdom right…

  • Ramesses VI tomb in Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt.

    Tomb of Ramses VI (KV 9)

    3 MILES

    With some of the broadest corridors, longest shafts (117m) and greatest variety of decoration, KV 9 is one of the most spectacular tombs in the valley…

  • Statues of Amenemopet, the Chief Steward of Amun, and his wife in his tomb, Valley of Nobles in Thebes, Luxor, Egypt.

    Tombs of the Nobles

    2.28 MILES

    These tombs are some of the best least-visited attractions on the west bank. Nestled in the foothills opposite the Ramesseum are more than 400 tombs…

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Nearby Luxor attractions

1. Art from People to People

0.21 MILES

A new venture in Luxor, this art gallery and centre is located in a small place behind the Nile Valley Hotel. Run by Eiad Oraby, it showcases local…

2. Mummification Museum

0.56 MILES

Housed in the former visitors centre on Luxor’s corniche, the Mummification Museum has well-presented exhibits explaining the art of mummification. The…

3. Luxor Temple

0.65 MILES

Largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), this temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the…

4. Luxor Museum

0.75 MILES

This wonderful museum has a well-chosen and brilliantly displayed and explained collection of antiquities dating from the end of the Old Kingdom right…

5. New Gurna

0.83 MILES

Hassan Fathy’s mud-brick village lies just past the railway track on the road from the ferry to the Antiquities Inspectorate ticket office. Although built…

6. Colossi of Memnon

1.65 MILES

The two faceless Colossi of Memnon, originally representing Pharaoh Amenhotep III, rising majestically about 18m from the plain, are the first monuments…

7. Mut Temple Enclosure

1.66 MILES

From the 10th pylon, an avenue of sphinxes leads to the partly excavated southern enclosure – the Precinct of Mut, consort of Amun. The Temple of Mut was…

8. Karnak

1.68 MILES

Karnak is an extraordinary complex of sanctuaries, kiosks, pylons and obelisks dedicated to the Theban triad but also to the greater glory of pharaohs…