These
begin with a dark antechamber. Of particular
interest here are the Roman stuccoes than
can still be seen atop the Egyptian carvings
below; in Roman times this area served
as a chapel, where local Christians were
offered a final opportunity to renounce
their faith and embrace the state religion.
Moving further in stands a Barque Shrine
for use by Amun, built by Alexander, with
the final area being the private quarters
of the gods and the Birth Shrine of Amenhotep
III (his divine origin is depicted in
precise, almost touching detail on the
walls). A cache of 26 New Kingdom statues
was found under the floor in the inner
sanctum area in 1989 – hidden away
by pious priests, presumably, at some
moment of internal upheaval or invasion.
These splendid pieces are now on display
at the nearby Luxor Museum.
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