Thebes, or modern-day Luxor, was the greatest cultural capital of the ancient world. Founded between the hills on the banks of the "Nile," its ancient Egyptian name, "Waset," means "the Scepter," a symbol of power and rule. It was the center of resistance against the "Hyksos" invasion, led by King "Ahmose," who restored Egypt's unity and made it his empire's capital. Luxor city included the "Karnak" and "Luxor" temples to the east and the royal tombs to the west. Thebes remained a symbol of unity and identity, mentioned in holy scriptures, and called "the city of a hundred gates" by the Greeks. The Arabs named it "Al-Uqsur" (The Palaces), and "Champollion" described it as "the grandest word in all the world's languages."

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