Temple of Medinet Habu

About

The Temple of Medinet Habu dates back to at least 1500BC when it was known as Djanet. Said to be where Amun first appeared, at its height, it was the economic center of Thebes, crowned by Ramses III’s majestic mortuary temple. After the ancient Egyptian religion was banned, Medinet Habu was an important Christian center until the 9th century AD when it was wiped out by a plague. Today, the Temple of Medinet Habu is second only to Karnak is terms of size, but much better preserved. Nearly every surface of the complex is covered in ornate engravings, with many areas retaining their original coloring. Those detailing Ramses III’s military exploits are perhaps the most important, with the outer walls detailing his of the enigmatic Sea Peoples, and the first pylon recording his victory over the Libyans. One particularly gruesome depicts his scribes counting the number of vanquished foes by tallying severed hands and genitals.