Story: Temples of Karnak & Luxor / Avenue of Sphinxes
Episode: 2
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 7 March 2026

Karnak and Luxor Temples form the ceremonial heart of ancient Thebes, connected by the restored Avenue of the Sphinxes that once hosted grand festival processions.

• Luxor sits on the Nile’s east bank and served as capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom, now celebrated as a UNESCO site and famed open-air museum.
• Karnak is among the largest religious complexes ever built, functioning as a sacred city dedicated primarily to Amun-Ra and expanded over nearly 2,000 years.
• Its Hypostyle Hall contains 136 towering columns arranged in rows, intricately carved with royal cartouches and religious scenes that Egyptologists decode for guests.
• The Avenue of the Sphinxes once stretched between Karnak and Luxor, lined with hundreds of statues and used for ritual parades during major festivals.
• Luxor Temple, built mainly by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, is linked to the Opet Festival celebrating kingship renewal and the promise of a good harvest.

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