The West bank of the Nile at Luxor is what most people think of when they think of Egypt. Sites here include the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Tombs of the Nobles, the Memnon Colossi, and many temples, including that of Hatshepsut.

The odds of my doing justice to history or Maged’s descriptions are slim, but I’ll do my best.

The height of ancient Egyptian history is basically divided into three main periods - Old Kingdom (2575 - 2134 BC), Middle Kingdom (2040 - 1640 BC), and New Kingdom (1550 - 1070 BC). Please note that dates vary by source used. Also note that the years between these dates are referred to as Intermediate Periods and indicated a point in time when Pharaonic rule was in decline or when Egypt was under foreign rule. Greeks ruled from Alexander the Great in 333 BC until Cleopatra VII was defeated by Caesar Augustus in 30 BC.

The beginning of the Old Kingdom dates from the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Note that since the southern part of the country has a higher elevation than the northern, and the Nile runs South to North, that the south of Egypt is Upper Egypt and the north is Lower Egypt.

The capital during the Old Kingdom was Memphis. The first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, was built during this period, as were the famous pyramids of Giza. Every pyramid was built to be the tomb of one and only one king.

During the Middle Kingdom, the capital was moved to Thebes (now Luxor). The New Kingdom saw the creation of the temples and tombs surrounding Luxor.

 The symbolism of the unification of Egypt can be seen throughout the country and spans all eras. The crown of Egypt was a combination of the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt - which looks somewhat like a champagne bottle (Upper Egypt) placed in a champagne bucket (Lower Egypt).

That’s about as Much history as I can muster... On to our first New Kingdom tombs...

Note: I know I’ve missed a lot, and I probably got things wrong too. Please send corrections and additions to me and I’ll include them!