The Luxor Temple in the 19th Century

The Luxor Temple in 

the 19th Century

Around 1884 the French Egyptologist Gaston Masperot initiated a large-scale and systematic excavation clearing the courtyards and pillars of the temple revealing crucial parts of the temple now located in the village of Luxor. With support from the Egyptian government Masperot began systematic excavations of the ruins clearing the courtyards pillars and colonnades which led to the discovery of significant sections of the Luxor Temple buried underground. 19th-century efforts focused on excavation laying the foundation for the restoration and reinforcement of the colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II and the surrounding architecture.

This photograph shows a group of Western tourists or explorers dressed in 19th or early 20th-century attire posing with a giant statue of Ramses II

The original structure of the temple was almost entirely buried under centuries of accumulated rubble. The statue was broken and the pillars were covered in sand. The massive statue of Pharaoh Ramses II was reassembled to its former glory. The site became a permanent archaeological site with centuries of accumulated rubble forming an artificial hill approximately 14.5 to 15 meters high.

The Luxor Temple constructed using sandstone from the Gebel el-Silsil region is located in southwestern Egypt. Behind the temple is a smaller chapel. Other parts of the temple were built by Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Pharaoh Ramses II. The sandstone is known as Nubian sandstone. The temple is known as Ipet Resit which translates to "Southern Temple"

The temple and its surrounding area served as a military fortress and the seat of Roman government in the region. Much of the temple remained buried under the sand along with other buildings of Luxor before later excavations and restoration. This photograph captures a historical moment at the Luxor Temple in Egypt showing a group of Western tourists or explorers dressed in 19th or early 20th-century clothing posing with the colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II dating back to approximately 1400 BC. This sandstone was used in the construction of monuments in Upper Egypt including past and present restorations. Excavations continued periodically until the 1960s.