It's a somewhat confusing assortment of structures reflective of the many rulers that added his or her mark over hundreds of years. Much of the temple was built by New Kingdom pharaoh Amenophis III in 1380 BC at the site of an older sanctuary, built by Queen Hatshepsut a century earlier. She dedicated the temple to the god of creation Amun, his wife Mut and son Khon. Hatshepsut was also responsible for the avenue of sphinxes that led from Luxor Temple to Karnak Temple, to provide easy transportation for the gods in their annual procession during the Festival of Opet. Today most of the sphinxes are buried under the city of Luxor.

The original Temple of the Theban Triad still stands, although several statues of Hatshepsut have been beheaded and walls defaced by her bitter successor, Tuthmosis III. He believed that he was the rightful heir to the throne when his grandfather died in 1495 BC, but his aunt Hatshepsut declared herself pharaoh, assuming dress and manners of a man, and peacefully led Egypt for 20 years. After her death, Tuthmosis III apparently took his revenge by destroying her monuments and defacing her image throughout the area temples.

Amenophis III added a Colonnade and a Court, both decorated with fourteen massive papyrus columns, and a sanctuary. Young King Tutankhamun decorated the walls in the Colonnade in great detail, illustrating the Opet Festival.

Ramses II added huge granite statues of himself which flank the entrance, and built a Great Court containing 76 papyrus columns, statues and vivid pictures of his victorious battles on the walls. Ramses II simply removed the heads of Amenhotep III and sat them on the ground, so that his own statues would be more imposing.

Alexander the Great had the Barque Shrine rebuilt to his liking, and added images of himself and Amun interacting and communing. Even the Arabs built to the Luxor Temple by creating a mosque in one of the courts in the 13th century.

Admission is 20 pounds and hours are from 6 am to 9 pm.