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Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor

History

Medinet Habu Temple is situated on the western bank of the Nile in Luxor, it is also called the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III. This Temple of Ramses III (1186-1155 BC) who is buried in KV11 in the Valley of the Kings, modeled his great mortuary temple on the Ramesseum of his ancestor Ramses II.

First Pylon

The First Pylon of Medinet Habu is nearly same size as the one in the Luxor Temple on the eastern banks of the Nile. The temple has lots of well preserved reliefs from the Egypt’s ancient past. This reliefs depicts prisoners being held by their hair while being smited with a club. On the front of the great pylon, king is depicted slaughtering the groups of enemies before his god. On the inner wall of the First Pylon shows Ramesses III scatters the Libyans with his chariot. 

A statue of Sekhmet goddess sits close to the entrance. She was originally the warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing for Upper Egypt. Often she was depicted as lioness who would assist the ancient Egyptians during the wars.

Entrance of the Medinet Habu Temple - the ticket office is just behind the palm trees
Entrance of the Medinet Habu Temple - the ticket office is just behind the palm trees
Entrance of the Medinet Habu Temple is on the eastern side
This reliefs on the external wall depicts prisoners being held by their hair while being smited with a club
External wall of the temple on the eastern side (seen from the north)
A statue of Sekhmet goddess Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor
A statue of Sekhmet goddess Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor
Lower part of the goddess
Lower part of the goddess
A small temple built just beside the First Pylon of Medinet Habu
This black stone depicts Scarabs and birds
This black stone depicts Scarabs and birds
Looking at the First Pylon and it also shows the doors which allow access to the inner courts
Looking at the First Pylon and it also shows the doors which allow access to the inner courts
On the front of the great pylon, king is depicted slaughtering the groups of enemies before his god
On the front of the great pylon, king is depicted slaughtering the groups of enemies before his god
Reliefs on the internal walls
Reliefs on the internal walls
This relief shows animals being herded
This temple has lots of well preserved reliefs from the Egypt's past
This temple has lots of well preserved reliefs from the Egypt's past
Here on the inner wall of the First Pylon shows Ramesses III scatters the Libyans with his chariot
Inner wall of the First Pylon shows Ramesses III fighting the Libyans
A closer look at the First Pylon - Medinet Habu Temple Luxor
A closer look at the First Pylon - Medinet Habu Temple Luxor

First and Second Courts of Medinet Habu Temple

The First Court of Medinet Habu Temple has tall columns and statues in it and reliefs show great details of Egyptian wars and other historical events. A beautifully decorated door leads to the Second Court. Nekhbet is depicted on the ceiling of the door between the first and the Second Court. She was a goddess patron of the city of Nekheb. 
Second Court of the Medinet Habu has colourful depiction of it’s past and a great effort was put in, in order to create reliefs and frescoes in this temple. In the past, this court was also used as a Christian Church in the past. When the church was active here, the walls of the temple were covered with the mud.

 

Looking back at the entrance of the Medinet Habu Temple
Looking back at the entrance of the Medinet Habu Temple
Columns inside the First Court of the Medinet Habu
Columns inside the First Court of the Medinet Habu
Statues in the First Court and from here a door leads to the Second Court
Statues in the First Court and from here a door leads to the Second Court
A painted ceiling shows Nekhbet
The goddess Nekhbet is depicted here on the ceiling of the door between the first and the Second Court
The goddess Nekhbet is depicted here on the ceiling of the door between the first and the Second Court
These details on a wall tell us the story of a war fought by the Egyptians
These details on a wall tell us the story of a war fought by the Egyptians
Reliefs on the inner walls of the temple
Reliefs on the inner walls of the temple
Here pigeons are seen residing in the Second Court for much needed shade
Here pigeons are seen residing in the Second Court for much needed shade
A relief on the archway of the door which leads to the Second Court, showing Ramesses III
A relief on the archway of the door which leads to the Second Court, showing Ramesses III
Columns and ceiling of the Second Court
Columns and ceiling of the Second Court
Beautiful paintings adorn this cloumn
Beautiful paintings adorn this column
Columns inside the Second Court - Medinet Habu Temple Luxor
Columns inside the Second Court - Medinet Habu Temple Luxor
Looking towards the entrance of the temple from the Second Court
Looking towards the entrance of the temple from the Second Court
The Second Court of the Medinet Habu has colourful depiction of it's past
The Second Court of the Medinet Habu has colourful depiction of it's past
This photo shows the religious ceremonies being carried out in the Second Court
This photo shows the religious ceremonies being carried out in the Second Court

The text to the right shows the details of an attack on the Egyptian frontiers by the invaders from the north during the reign of Ramesses III.

Crumbling ruins beside the north wall are making their last stand, the material used here seems to be darker in colour as compared to the other site. This temple is less visited by the tourists as compared to the other sites in the area and hence it has less graffiti but not entirely without it. 

This photo shows how much effort was put in, in order to draw reliefs and paintings in this temple
This photo shows how much effort was put in, in order to draw reliefs and paintings in this temple
Broken columns in the Third Court of the Ramesses III Temple
Broken columns in the Third Court of the Ramesses III Temple
Columns inside the Third Court of Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor
Columns inside the Third Court of Medinet Habu Temple - Luxor
A small roof of an arch which also forms a door to the square courtyard
A small roof of an arch which also forms a door to the square courtyard
The text to the right shows the details of an attack on the Egyptian frontiers
The text to the right shows the details of an attack on the Egyptian frontiers
This depiction on the wall shows pharaoh riding a chariot and making his enemies scared
This depiction on the wall shows pharaoh riding a chariot and making his enemies scared
Exterior of the northern wall of the Medinet Habu
Exterior of the northern wall of the Medinet Habu
Ruins beside the wall - Medinet Habu Temple
Ruins beside the wall - Medinet Habu Temple
The material used here is darker in colour as compared to the other site
The material used here is darker in colour as compared to the other site
Doors and walls of the Medinet Habu Temple
Doors and walls of the Medinet Habu Temple
Graffiti on one of the walls of the temple
Graffiti on one of the walls of the temple