Ancient Thebes: City of Antiquity

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Questions and Answers

Match the ancient Egyptian city with its modern name:

Thebes = Luxor Wase = Luxor Nowe = Luxor Ta-ope = Luxor

Match the location with its significance:

Nile's east bank = Main part of the city West bank = Necropolis Valley of the Kings = Royal tombs Karnak = Mortuary temples

Match the ancient name with its English equivalent:

Wase = Thebes Wo'se = Thebes Nowe = Thebes Ta-ope = Thebes

Match the geographical area with its UNESCO designation:

Luxor = UNESCO World Heritage site Valley of the Kings = UNESCO World Heritage site Valley of the Queens = UNESCO World Heritage site Karnak = UNESCO World Heritage site Signup and view all the answers

Match the historical period with the establishment of Thebes as royal capital:

11th dynasty (2081–1939 bce) = Egyptian rulers united under nomarchs 4th dynasty onward = Existence of nome (province) of Wase Nowe era = Frequent use as royal capital Greek period (Thebai) = Derived from Ta-ope Signup and view all the answers

Match the following Egyptian dynasties with their corresponding time periods:

12th dynasty = 1938–1756 BCE 18th dynasty = 15th century BCE New Kingdom pharaohs = around 1111 BCE Napatan pharaohs = 7th century BCE Signup and view all the answers

Match the following events with their descriptions:

Hyksos invasion = Seizure of dynastic power about 1630 BCE Plundering of royal tombs in Thebes = Uncovered proof of corruption in high places Sack of Thebes by Assyrians = Occurred in 663 BCE Rebuilding of Thebes by Saite governors = After being sacked, it was never fully recovered Signup and view all the answers

Match the following places with their significance:

Memphis = Royal residence during the 12th dynasty Thebes = Capital during the 18th dynasty and later declined under Ramessids Dayr al-Baḥrī = Tomb-shaft where plundered royal mummies were deposited Tanis = Pharaoh's location after death of last Ramses Signup and view all the answers

Match the following roles with their responsibilities in Thebes:

High priests of Amon = Controlled local affairs and shared government after last Ramses God's Wife of Amon = Installed from Tanite kings' daughters to wield power at Thebes Mayor of the east bank = Made accusation against colleague on the west bank regarding corruption Priests of Amon = Deposited plundered royal mummies in tomb-shaft Signup and view all the answers

Match the following descriptions with their eras in Thebes history:

Greatest prosperity for Thebes = Era after driving Hyksos out (c. 1530–20 BCE) Decline of Thebes under later Ramessids = Began during reign of Ramses IX (1126–08 BCE) Maladministration and unrest in Thebes = Led to control by high priests of Amon and shared government after last Ramses Rebuilding and embellishing temples in Thebes = 18th-dynasty pharaohs made it their capital Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ancient Thebes

Located on either side of the Nile River at approximately 26° N latitude
Covered an area of around 36 square miles (93 square km)
The main part of the city was situated on the east bank of the Nile
The necropolis, or "city of the dead", was located on the west bank, containing royal tombs, mortuary temples, and houses of priests, soldiers, craftsmen, and labourers

History of Thebes

The nome (province) of Wase, the fourth of Upper Egypt, existed from the 4th dynasty onward
The earliest surviving monuments date from the 11th dynasty (2081–1939 bce), when local nomarchs united Egypt under their rule
Thebes frequently served as the royal capital of Egypt and was called Nowe, or Nuwe ("City of Amon"), named for its chief god
The Greek name Thebes (Thebai) may have been derived from Ta-ope, the ancient Egyptian name for Luxor

Thebes During the 12th and 18th Dynasties

During the 12th dynasty (1938–1756), the royal residence was moved to the area of Memphis, but the kings of Egypt continued to honour Amon and built temples at Thebes
The 18th-dynasty pharaohs rebuilt Thebes, making it their capital, and embellishing its temples with spoils from Asia and tribute from Nubia

Thebes' Decline and Later History

Under the later Ramessids, Thebes began to decline due to economic difficulties
During the reign of Ramses IX (1126–08), around 1111 bce, investigations into the plundering of royal tombs uncovered proof of corruption in high places
The high priests of Amon gained control of local affairs, leading to a situation where the government of Egypt was shared between the pharaoh in Tanis and the high pontiff at Thebes
The Napatan (Nubian) pharaohs made Thebes their capital in the 7th century bce
In 663, it was sacked by Ashurbanipal's Assyrians, and although rebuilt, it never fully recovered

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Description

Explore the history and geography of Ancient Thebes, a famed city of antiquity and the capital of the ancient Egyptian empire. Learn about its location along the Nile River, its modern counterpart Luxor, and the significance of the necropolis on its west bank.