# The Timeline of Ancient Thebes Source: https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/timeline Language: en # Timeline Compare the featured sites and rulers within the same historical overview. Dates and period boundaries are approximate. Compare the sites on a shared time axis. Solid bars mark the main period of building and use; dashed sections indicate later use, alteration or reoccupation. They do not establish uninterrupted occupation. The eleven-period overview above gives the wider context, while the chart focuses on the dates most relevant to Luxor. FIG. 1 — Where we are in history ## Monuments and their periods of use. Site New Kingdom Standing / in use Karnak Temple Complex East bank · Temple complex c.2000 BCE–100 CE Luxor Temple East bank · Temple c.1400 BCE–600 CE Valley of the Kings West bank · Necropolis c.1539–1075 BCE Temple of Hatshepsut West bank · Temple c.1473–1458 BCE Valley of the Queens West bank · Necropolis c.1300–1075 BCE Medinet Habu West bank · Temple c.1190 BCE–800 CE Deir el-Medina West bank · Village c.1550–1070 BCE The Ramesseum West bank · Temple c.1290–1180 BCE Colossi of Memnon West bank · Monument c.1390–1350 BCE Luxor Museum East bank · Museum c.1975–2025 CE Tombs of the Nobles West bank · Necropolis c.1550–1070 BCE 2000 BCE 1500 1000 500 BCE 0 500 CE Text alternative for this figure Proportional chronology figure: one horizontal bar per site on a shared time axis running from about 2100 BCE to 600 CE, with the New Kingdom marked as a band behind the bars. | Site | Type | Built and in use | Continued in use, altered or reoccupied | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Karnak Temple Complex | Temple complex | c.2000 BCE–100 CE | Not after antiquity | | Luxor Temple | Temple | c.1400 BCE–0 CE | c.0–600 CE | | Valley of the Kings | Necropolis | c.1539–1075 BCE | Not after antiquity | | Temple of Hatshepsut | Temple | c.1473–1458 BCE | Not after antiquity | | Valley of the Queens | Necropolis | c.1300–1075 BCE | Not after antiquity | | Medinet Habu | Temple | c.1190 BCE–0 CE | c.0–800 CE | | Deir el-Medina | Village | c.1550–1070 BCE | Not after antiquity | | The Ramesseum | Temple | c.1290–1180 BCE | Not after antiquity | | Colossi of Memnon | Monument | c.1390–1350 BCE | Not after antiquity | | Luxor Museum | Museum | c.1975–1975 CE | c.1975–2025 CE | | Tombs of the Nobles | Necropolis | c.1550–1070 BCE | Not after antiquity | Solid = built and in use. Dashed = continued in use, altered or reoccupied. Conventional chronology; the axis is a shared scale, so the bars are comparable between sites. The eleven eras ## Period by period. Text alternative for this figure The eleven periods, their dates and dynasties, and what belongs to each in Luxor | Period | Dates | Dynasties | Sites in Luxor | Rulers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Predynastic Period | c.5300–3100 BCE | None | None | None | | Early Dynastic Period | c.3100–2686 BCE | 1st Dynasty · 2nd Dynasty | None | None | | Old Kingdom | c.2686–2181 BCE | 3rd Dynasty · 4th Dynasty · 5th Dynasty · 6th Dynasty | None | None | | First Intermediate Period | c.2181–2055 BCE | 7th Dynasty · 8th Dynasty · 9th Dynasty · 10th Dynasty · 11th Dynasty (Theban) | None | None | | Middle Kingdom | c.2055–1650 BCE | 11th Dynasty · 12th Dynasty · 13th Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex | Mentuhotep II · Senusret I | | Second Intermediate Period | c.1650–1550 BCE | 14th Dynasty · 15th Dynasty · 16th Dynasty · 17th Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex | None | | New Kingdom | c.1550–1069 BCE | 18th Dynasty · 19th Dynasty · 20th Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Valley of the Queens · Medinet Habu · Deir el-Medina · The Ramesseum · Colossi of Memnon · Tombs of the Nobles | Thutmose I · Hatshepsut · Thutmose III · Amenhotep III · Akhenaten · Tutankhamun · Ay · Horemheb · Seti I · Ramesses II · Ramesses III | | Third Intermediate Period | c.1069–664 BCE | 21st Dynasty · 22nd Dynasty · 23rd Dynasty · 24th Dynasty · 25th Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple · Medinet Habu | None | | Late Period | c.664–332 BCE | 26th Dynasty · 27th Dynasty · 28th Dynasty · 29th Dynasty · 30th Dynasty · 31st Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple · Medinet Habu | None | | Ptolemaic Period | 332–30 BCE | Macedonian Dynasty · Ptolemaic Dynasty | Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple · Medinet Habu · Deir el-Medina | None | | Roman Period | 30 BCE–395 CE | None | Karnak Temple Complex · Luxor Temple · Medinet Habu | None | Read from the earliest period down to the latest. Dates and boundaries are approximate; a monument can span more than one period. 1. c.5300–3100 BCE ### Predynastic Period Farming communities and regional powers develop along the Nile. Writing emerges towards the end of this long period, before the conventional start of dynastic history. No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet. 2. c.3100–2686 BCE Dynasties 1st Dynasty · 2nd Dynasty ### Early Dynastic Period Early kings consolidate the Egyptian state. Writing, royal titles and institutions develop forms that later generations adapt over a long history. No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet. 3. c.2686–2181 BCE Dynasties 3rd Dynasty · 4th Dynasty · 5th Dynasty · 6th Dynasty ### Old Kingdom The age of the great pyramids at Giza and Saqqara, and of a strongly centralised state ruled from Memphis. Thebes is still a provincial town. No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet. 4. c.2181–2055 BCE Dynasties 7th Dynasty · 8th Dynasty · 9th Dynasty · 10th Dynasty · 11th Dynasty (Theban) ### First Intermediate Period Central authority breaks down and power passes to regional governors. Thebes emerges for the first time as one of the two rival centres. No standing site in this guide belongs to this period. No ruler in this guide belongs to this period yet. 5. c.2055–1650 BCE Dynasties 11th Dynasty · 12th Dynasty · 13th Dynasty ### Middle Kingdom Egypt reunified from Thebes. The earliest substantial building at Karnak belongs to this period, and the god Amun begins his long rise. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank Rulers - [Mentuhotep II](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/mentuhotep-ii) — c.2055–2004 BCE · 11th Dynasty - [Senusret I](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/senusret-i) — c.1965–1920 BCE · 12th Dynasty 6. c.1650–1550 BCE Dynasties 14th Dynasty · 15th Dynasty · 16th Dynasty · 17th Dynasty ### Second Intermediate Period Rule divided between the Hyksos in the Delta and Theban kings in the south, until Thebes drove them out and reunified the country by force. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank 7. c.1550–1069 BCE Dynasties 18th Dynasty · 19th Dynasty · 20th Dynasty ### New Kingdom A period of extensive Egyptian power and major royal building at Thebes. Many of Luxor’s best-known temples and tombs date to these centuries, alongside important earlier and later remains. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank - [Luxor Temple](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple) — Temple · East bank - [Valley of the Kings](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/valley-of-the-kings) — Necropolis · West bank - [Temple of Hatshepsut](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/temple-of-hatshepsut) — Temple · West bank - [Valley of the Queens](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/valley-of-the-queens) — Necropolis · West bank - [Medinet Habu](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu) — Temple · West bank - [Deir el-Medina](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/deir-el-medina) — Village · West bank - [The Ramesseum](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/ramesseum) — Temple · West bank - [Colossi of Memnon](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/colossi-of-memnon) — Monument · West bank - [Tombs of the Nobles](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/tombs-of-the-nobles) — Necropolis · West bank Rulers - [Thutmose I](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/thutmose-i) — c.1504–1492 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Hatshepsut](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/hatshepsut) — c.1473–1458 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Thutmose III](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/thutmose-iii) — c.1479–1425 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Amenhotep III](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/amenhotep-iii) — c.1390–1352 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Akhenaten](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/akhenaten) — c.1352–1336 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Tutankhamun](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/tutankhamun) — c.1336–1327 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Ay](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/ay) — c.1327–1323 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Horemheb](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/horemheb) — c.1323–1295 BCE · 18th Dynasty - [Seti I](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/seti-i) — c.1294–1279 BCE · 19th Dynasty - [Ramesses II](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/ramesses-ii) — c.1279–1213 BCE · 19th Dynasty - [Ramesses III](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs/ramesses-iii) — c.1184–1153 BCE · 20th Dynasty 8. c.1069–664 BCE Dynasties 21st Dynasty · 22nd Dynasty · 23rd Dynasty · 24th Dynasty · 25th Dynasty ### Third Intermediate Period Power splits between kings in the north and the High Priests of Amun at Thebes, then passes to Libyan and later Kushite rulers. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank - [Luxor Temple](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple) — Temple · East bank - [Medinet Habu](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu) — Temple · West bank 9. c.664–332 BCE Dynasties 26th Dynasty · 27th Dynasty · 28th Dynasty · 29th Dynasty · 30th Dynasty · 31st Dynasty ### Late Period Native dynasties alternate with Persian rule, and Egyptian art deliberately looks back to the models of the Old Kingdom. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank - [Luxor Temple](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple) — Temple · East bank - [Medinet Habu](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu) — Temple · West bank 10. 332–30 BCE Dynasties Macedonian Dynasty · Ptolemaic Dynasty ### Ptolemaic Period Greek-speaking kings descended from one of Alexander’s generals. They build in Egyptian style and finish temples begun centuries before them. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank - [Luxor Temple](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple) — Temple · East bank - [Medinet Habu](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu) — Temple · West bank - [Deir el-Medina](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/deir-el-medina) — Village · West bank 11. 30 BCE–395 CE ### Roman Period Egypt as a province of Rome. Emperors appear on temple walls dressed as pharaohs, and the last hieroglyphic inscriptions are cut. Sites in Luxor - [Karnak Temple Complex](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/karnak) — Temple complex · East bank - [Luxor Temple](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/luxor-temple) — Temple · East bank - [Medinet Habu](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/medinet-habu) — Temple · West bank [Ancient Egypt in 15 minutes](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/ancient-egypt-101) [Pharaohs](https://luxor101.com/ancient-luxor/pharaohs)