Luxor Museum
Thebes - The PlacesWhat: The Museum which displays a raft of artefacts from ancient Thebes
When: Established in 1975
Where: On the Corniche in Luxor, next to the River Nile
Who: Established by the Ministry of Culture for Egypt
What is in the Museum?
Coffins and Mummies
Stunning examples of Pyramid Texts, and the drawings and care taken by ancient Embalmers. For more information about Mummification, please click here.
Weapons
These are from the New Kingdom Period and reflect the Military strength that Thebes and the Pharaohs bore during this Period.
Canopic Jars
These Jars are displayed in their original box which is decorated with paintings from the Tomb of a Priest of Montu, found in the Tombs of the Nobles at Deir El Bahri. In the process of Mummification, Embalmers handled the Organs which were also dried out using Natron and then ritually placed into Canopic Jars which were guarded by the 4 sons of Horus and 4 Goddesses:
the Liver: guarded by God Imsety and Goddess Isis; Human headed Canopic Jar
the Lungs: guarded by God Hapi and Goddess Nephthys: Baboon headed Canopic Jar
the Intestines: guarded by God Qubehsenuf and Goddess Selket; Falcon headed Canopic Jar
the Stomach: guarded by God Duamutef and Goddess Neith: Jackal headed Canopic Jar
For more information about Mummification, please click here.
Model Boats
From the Tomb Cache of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. This Model is thought to be for Pharaoh’s use in the Afterlife as a Ceremonial Boat which would carry the revitalised Pharaoh with Sun God Ra across the sky, hence the name Solar Boat. For more information about Solar Boats, click here.
Statues
Including a Greywacke Statue of Pharaoh Thutmose III which was found in Karnak Temple; a Statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and a Statue of God Sobek
Wall of Akhenaten; depicted in Talatats
Originally placed inside Pharaoh Amenhotep IV’s Chapel inside Karnak Temple before Pharaoh became Akhenaten and left Thebes for Amarna. For more information about Amarna, click here.
After Egypt returned to the normal religious status quo his buildings inside Karnak Temple was taken apart and the demolished remains were used as “rubbish” to fill the interior of the 9th Pylon at Karnak Temple.
