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Thebes Capital City

Type Object Region Egypt Time c. -1000–-500

A major Upper Egyptian city on the Nile's west bank; though the political center moved north around 1000 BCE, it remained the core of Amun worship an…

Timeline

  1. c. -1000–-900Thebes · Upper EgyptDuring the north-south split, Thebes' Amun priestly class held vast lands and wealth, mediating between local powers through religious authority and sustaining the city's prosperity.
  2. c. -747–-656Thebes · Upper EgyptKushite pharaohs used Thebes as their spiritual capital for coronations and festivals, investing in temple restoration and making the city a core node of a trans-Nile African power network.
  3. c. -664–-500Thebes · Upper EgyptThough the administrative center moved to Sais, Thebes remained the country's most important pilgrimage and sacrificial destination, with tomb-temple complexes on both banks continually drawing tribute and labor.

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