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Luxor Temple is one of the two primary temples located on the eastern bank of the Nile in Luxor City. Amenhotep III started building the temple in 1400 BCE. Ramses II and Tutankhamun added some parts to the temple. Luxor Temple is called "Ipt Resyt," which means the southern sanctuary. Luxor Temple is dedicated to the triad of Thebes: Amun, his consort Mut, and their son Khonsu.
The temple was believed to be the venue of the annual celebration of the Opet Festival, in which the god Amun-Re moves from Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple through the Avenue of Sphinxes, connecting the two temples, to meet his wife Mwt. The Avenue of Sphinxes has 34 human-headed sphinxes on each side. The festival's main purpose was to emphasise the fertility of Amun-Re and the Pharaoh. The famous mosque of Abu Haggag lies within the temple. The mosque belongs to Sheikh Abu Youssef Abu Haggag, also called Abu Haggag by locals, a Muslim saint venerated by the people of Luxor, whose birthday, "Mawlid," is celebrated every year in the city. The temple also has some ruins of old churches.