Temple of KhonsuAbout Temple of Khonsu
The Temple of Khonsu is a New Kingdom temple within the Precinct of Amun at Karnak near Luxor, with major construction phases during the Ramesside period.
The temple complex includes a pylon, forecourt and inner sanctuaries decorated with relief scenes and inscriptions; many reliefs remain legible despite later reuse. It is compact compared with the great Amun-Re structures but is accessible as part of a visit to Karnak and offers close-up views of New Kingdom carving.
Built and decorated in the New Kingdom era, the temple received major additions under Ramesses III and later modifications in the Third Intermediate and Ptolemaic periods. It functioned as the cult house for the moon god Khonsu and formed part of the wider ritual landscape of Thebes.
The temple stands inside the Karnak temple complex on the east bank of the Nile at Luxor in Upper Egypt, immediately north of the modern town of Luxor.
- Scale and setting: Located inside the Karnak temple complex, it is much smaller than the main Amun-Re precinct but contains finely carved New Kingdom reliefs and inscriptions.
- Dating: Major building phases include substantial work under Ramesses III, whose reign dates to c. 1186-1155 BCE.
Nearby Attractions to Temple of Khonsu
Best Time to Visit Temple of Khonsu
Best in winter months for cooler temperatures and more comfortable touring of Luxor's open-air temples.
Weather & Climate near Temple of Khonsu
Temple of Khonsu's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with very hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 40°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Excellent | 7° - 22° | 14° | 0 mm | clear | 45% | 2.9 m/s | 1.0 high | 10.6h |
| February | Ideal | 8° - 24° | 16° | 0 mm | clear | 36% | 3.1 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.2h |
| March | Ideal | 12° - 29° | 20° | 0 mm | clear | 26% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Ideal | 18° - 35° | 26° | 0 mm | clear | 20% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.6h |
| May | Ideal | 22° - 38° | 30° | 0 mm | clear | 18% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 13.3h |
| June | Ideal | 24° - 40° | 32° | 0 mm | clear | 18% | 3.2 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 13.6h |
| July | Ideal | 26° - 40° | 33° | 0 mm | clear | 20% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 13.4h |
| August | Ideal | 25° - 39° | 32° | 0 mm | clear | 21% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 extreme | 12.9h |
| September | Ideal | 23° - 38° | 30° | 0 mm | clear | 25% | 3.0 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.2h |
| October | Ideal | 19° - 35° | 27° | 0 mm | clear | 30% | 2.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.4h |
| November | Ideal | 13° - 28° | 20° | 0 mm | clear | 40% | 2.5 m/s | 1.2 high | 10.8h |
| December | Ideal | 8° - 24° | 16° | 0 mm | clear | 47% | 2.6 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.4h |
How to Get to Temple of Khonsu
Khonsu Temple is within the Karnak Temple Complex in Luxor. From Luxor city center, taxis and microbuses reach Karnak in about 15-20 minutes; the temple is a short walk from the Karnak entrance.
Tips for Visiting Temple of Khonsu
- Check opening hours as part of a Luxor temple circuit-often combined with Karnak and Luxor temple visits.
- Look closely at the Roman graffiti left by soldiers on some column bases-unexpected human voices from later occupations.
- Visit in the late afternoon to see the setting sun pick out the carved hieroglyphs on the hypostyle columns.